![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
![]()
What is the OutCare Foundation? The OutCare Foundation is a self-sustaining and independent, charitable foundation that exclusively supports community-based, out-of-hospital healthcare providers that receive little or no funding from other sources. How long has the OutCare Foundation been working in our community? The OutCare Foundation has been active in the Ottawa-area for more than 20 years. Previously known as the Riverside Hospital Foundation, the organization was renamed after the restructuring of Ottawa-area acute care hospitals in 1998. Under the direction of its Board of Directors and with approval of its donors, the Foundation refocused its mission to assist “out-of-hospital” healthcare service providers specifically. Does the OutCare Foundation deliver health care services? No. The OutCare Foundation does not deliver any healthcare services or provide any patient care. The Foundation is a fundraising and granting organization that supports healthcare service providers who deliver community-based care to patients and their families. How are funds used by the healthcare organizations the OutCare Foundation supports? Funding from the OutCare Foundation has resulted in the creation of new programs and the expansion of existing programs for hospice, palliative and respite care, Alzheimer/dementia care, as well as rehabilitation programs for victims of stroke and other illnesses. Where does the OutCare Foundation get the money to grant funds? The OutCare Foundation is the custodian of an endowment that has been accumulated through generous support and contributions from patrons, donors and businesses over many years. Interest accrued from investing the endowment responsibly provides the Foundation with a budget that covers all its administrative and operating costs. In addition, the investment interest forms the basis for an annual Grants Budget, which is used to provide grants and seed funding to the community-based health care service providers the Foundation supports. Does the OutCare Foundation receive funding from any level of government? No. The OutCare Foundation is completely self-sustaining and independent. It does not receive any government funding whatsoever. The Foundation’s endowment is its sole source of funds to support all operating/administrative costs and its granting activities. What kind of organizations does the OutCare Foundation grant funds to? The OutCare Foundation supports registered, not-for-profit healthcare service providers that deliver care and services to patients and their families in the community and often times, at home. Typically, grants or seed funding are awarded to organizations that deliver services such as Alzheimer day clinics, hospice, respite and palliative care, occupational and rehabilitative care, home nursing and homemaking services. Please click here for a list of projects we’ve recently funded. How are funds granted by the OutCare Foundation usually used? Based on demonstrated need, funds from OutCare Foundation must be used to initiate new programs and services or to expand existing programs and services so more people in the community may be served. Although one-time grants are sometimes made, most grants serve as seed funding disbursed over a period of up to three years so a program can be launched or expanded. Once the program is operating successfully, the partner organization will have the necessary data and track record required to secure on-going funding from government or other sources. Why should I donate money to the OutCare Foundation rather than donating directly to one of the healthcare organizations it supports? When the OutCare Foundation receives a donation, 100% of the entire donation is used for granting purposes or to grow the size of the endowment which in turn generates greater investment income that will be used in future grants. Not a single penny of any donation is used to pay for administrative or operating costs; these costs are covered through investment income from the Foundation’s endowment. This is significant because usually some portion of a donation made directly to a charitable organization is allocated to pay for administrative and operating costs. However, when donating to the OutCare Foundation, the entire donation or the proceeds generated from interest on a donation added to the endowment goes directly to meeting needs of the patients and families served by the Foundation’s partners. What else is different about making a donation to the OutCare Foundation? Many of the organizations the OutCare Foundation supports have limited resources available for fundraising. Given the Foundation’s experience in this area, and the expertise of its Board Members, it can often develop fundraising programs very cost-effectively and share the proceeds with its funded partners. These fundraising activities are paid for through investment income from the endowment so, neither the Foundation nor its partners have to finance fundraising initiatives from donations that donors expect will be used for helping patients and their families. Does the OutCare Foundation grant funds for the care of individuals? No. Grants are not made available to individuals. Only registered, not-for-profit charitable organizations may receive grants or seed funding. Can funds from the OutCare Foundation be used as “core funding” by the organizations it grants to? No. Funding will not be granted if it is requested for any of the following purposes:
How else does the OutCare Foundation support funded partners other than by granting funds? In addition to granting funds, the Foundation may create, organize and implement fundraising events or programs that designate a specific community-based healthcare service provider as the primary beneficiary of the funds raised. Relying on the Foundation’s expertise in this area, it may be able to reduce potential costs the funded partner might encounter if they tried to stage a similar event on their own given that often times they have limited resources and staff availability. This cooperative, partnership approach is flexible and beneficial to both the Foundation and the organizations its supports. How often does the OutCare Foundation accept applications for funding? Requests for funding are reviewed on a quarterly basis by a committee of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Applications for funding are accepted on an ongoing basis; grants are awarded within the parameters of available funds. Who guides the OutCare Foundation in its operations and activities? The Executive Director manages and executes the daily operations and activities of the OutCare Foundation. The Executive Director reports to and is guided by a highly experienced Board of Directors. Board of Directors 2003-2004 Does the OutCare Foundation accept In Memoriam donations and bequests? Yes. Please contact the OutCare Foundation directly at (613) 232-2273 to discuss options for supporting the Foundation in these ways. For more information, please email admin@outcarefoundation.org or call (613) 232-2273. |