Frequently Asked Questions

A hospital foundation is a charitable organization that exists to support a hospital or health centre—primarily by raising and managing funds to improve patient care, equipment, infrastructure, programs, and services. Hospital foundations bridge the gap between what government funding provides and what hospitals truly need to deliver high-quality, modern healthcare.

Established in 1970, the mission of the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation is to support and enhance our hospital as a community and regional centre of excellence in healthcare. Our regional hospital serves the Tri-County area of Yarmouth, Digby and Shelburne.

Did you know that the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation is one of 42 hospital foundations in Nova Scotia? These foundations support hospitals and health centres operated by Nova Scotia Health, playing a crucial role in enhancing healthcare services and community-focused programs across the province.

They have very similar names, so the confusion is understandable. The Yarmouth Hospital Foundation is closely connected to the Yarmouth Regional Hospital; however, we are not technically part of it.

Here is how it works:

– The foundation is a separate registered charitable organization, with its own board of directors, governance, staff and financial structure.
– The foundation and the hospital work in close partnership. After all, hospital leadership and medical professionals are the experts who identify the most urgent needs and priorities for patient care.

There are many ways to donate. No gift is too small, and every dollar helps support your regional hospital and makes a difference!

You can donate online, via e-Transfer (info@yarmouthhospitalfoundation.ca), over the phone (902-749-1669), or by dropping by our office in the lobby at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital. Our office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm.

For further details, read about the many ways to have your donation make a difference!

It’s a common question, and it’s an important one! While government funding covers essential operations like staffing, basic infrastructure, and routine services, it doesn’t pay for everything. Many critical needs (such as advanced medical equipment, upgraded facilities, and enhanced patient comfort) fall outside of what public funding provides. That’s where hospital foundations play a vital role.

The Yarmouth Hospital Foundation raises funds through a variety of community-based and donor-driven initiatives, all focused on improving healthcare at Yarmouth Regional Hospital.

Our fundraising efforts include:

– Annual appeals and giving programs including our spring and fall mail appeals, as well as memorial and tribute giving.
– Events and community fundraisers such as the WE CARE Radiothon, Sou’West Walkathon, raffles, and events hosted by generous local supporters.
– Monthly and recurring donations from donors who want to make a lasting impact through consistent, ongoing support.
– Leadership and individual gifts, contributions from community members, grateful patients, and local businesses and organizations.
– Planned and estate giving including bequests, gifts of life insurance, and other legacy contributions.
– Corporate partnerships and sponsorships with businesses that are committed to giving back to their community.

Every donation, no matter the size, plays a role in helping us ensure the best possible care for patients in Yarmouth, Digby, and Shelburne counties.

At the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation, every dollar raised is invested with one goal in mind—to improve and enhance healthcare for the people of Yarmouth, Digby, and Shelburne counties.

The funds raised by the foundation help to:

– Purchase essential medical equipment, from life-saving diagnostic tools such as the digital radiography unit recently installed to modern patient care technology like the MOLLI® system used in breast cancer surgery — equipment that is not fully funded by government sources.
– Support capital improvements including renovations, upgrades, and major redevelopment projects such as the two minimal invasive surgery suites completed in 2024, and the up-coming Emergency Department Redevelopment.
– Enhance patient programs and services, improving comfort, care, and the overall patient experience across departments — with donor-funded items like ceiling lifts, virtual care mobile units in the Cancer Centre, specialized chairs for the ICU (Broda chairs), and the Mental Health and Addictions Pantry Program.
– Support healthcare professionals through recruitment, retention, and education initiatives that strengthen local healthcare such as the Southwest Family Medicine Residency program, the Community Navigator program, nine Dalhousie School of Nursing, Yarmouth Campus scholarships, three LPN NSCC LPN scholarships.
– Support community healthcare initiatives annual grants to registered charities or recognized non-profit organizations in Yarmouth, Shelburne or Digby Counties with initiatives that enhance healthcare services, projects or programs within the Tri-Counties.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we’re helping to ensure that exceptional care is available close to home — now and for generations to come.

We prioritize our fundraising based on the most urgent and strategic needs of the Yarmouth Regional Hospital, as identified by hospital leadership and clinical staff.

Here’s how the process works:

– The hospital team (medical staff, administrators, and department heads) identify critical priorities, such as outdated equipment that needs replacing, new technologies that improve patient outcomes, or infrastructure that requires upgrades.
– These needs are reviewed and evaluated in collaboration with the Nova Scotia Health.
– Once priorities are confirmed, the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation Board works to align fundraising efforts with the hospital’s highest-impact goals that improve healthcare outcomes

In 2021, we announced that a generous donor—who wished to remain anonymous—entrusted the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation with a transformational $22 million donation to enhance healthcare for the people of Yarmouth, Digby, and Shelburne counties, now and for generations to come. This extraordinary gift has been strategically invested under the guidance of expert financial advisors and the foundation’s Investment Committee. The goal: to ensure long-term, sustainable impact.

Each year, up to 5% of the total fund value—approximately $1.1 million annually—is made available to support:

– The purchase of vital medical equipment
– Special projects and patient care programs within Yarmouth Regional Hospital

Additionally, up to 15% of the annual investment income is directed toward community health organizations outside the hospital, expanding our reach to improve the overall healthcare initiatives of our region.

Since 2021, however, thanks to this exceptional legacy gift and the continued generosity of our donors, the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation has invested approximately $12 million into critical healthcare equipment, services, and programs—right here in our own community.

From life-saving medical technology to enhancements that improve patient comfort, these investments are not only transforming care at Yarmouth Regional Hospital but strengthening healthcare across Yarmouth, Digby, and Shelburne counties.

This extraordinary gift and the ongoing support of our donors ensures that the Foundation can continue to fund high-quality, compassionate care—not just today, but for generations to come.

To learn more, visit: Donor Dollars at Work (Your Impact) - YARMOUTH HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

We’re here to help! If you have any questions or would like to learn more about how your donation makes a difference, please contact us. We’d love to hear from you.

Yarmouth Hospital Foundation
phone: 902-749-1669
email: info@yarmouthhospitalfoundation.ca
yarmouthhospitalfoundation.ca