Sunnybrook Foundation is a financially transparent 3-star charity. It has an above average results reporting grade and reasonable overhead spending. It has funding reserves that can cover program costs for five years and five months. 

Founded in 2000, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Foundation (SHSF) raises money for Sunnybrook Hospital and Sunnybrook Research Institute. These institutions use the money to fund work in ten medical areas. These areas include cancer, bone and joints, trauma, women and babies, and brain sciences. Sunnybrook Hospital has a large trauma centre and cancer treatment program. SHSF states that three in five Canadian youth will not receive the mental health and addiction care they need.

SHSF grants money to fund three main areas, listed below. Charity Intelligence estimates SHSF spent $71.8m on its grants in its fiscal year ending March 2025 (F2025). The most recent impact report available at the time of this update was from F2024. As such, the most recent program spending breakdown is from F2024.

SHSF reports that Building and Equipment received 64% ($52.5m) of grant spending in F2024. The charity purchases new machines and equipment for Sunnybrook institutions. It also funds the development of new buildings. SHSF reports it funded 120,000 square feet of space for the Garry Hurvitz Brain Sciences Centre in F2024. It also funded the purchase of Sunnybrook Hospital’s first gynecological robotic system. SHSF reports that within six months of the purchase, doctors performed 67 robot-guided surgeries.

SHSF reports that Research and Innovation received 27% ($22.3m) of grant spending in F2024. The charity funds research on a variety of medical issues. It reports in F2024 that there are over 500 active clinical trials across all Sunnybrook program areas. Of those trials, 145 are part of the Odette Cancer Research program. The cancer research team has 55 members.

SHSF reports that Patient Care Initiatives received 9% ($7.0m) of grant spending in F2024. SHSF reports that Sunnybrook Hospital's Schulich Heart Program performed over 9,481 procedures in F2024. The Holland Bone and Joint program performed 1,232 spine surgeries and 1,627 hip replacements. Sunnybrook Hospital provided virtual care services to 41,513 patients with cancer in F2024.

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Foundation’s audited financial statements follow activity-based costing, a best practice. This means its expenses are clearly defined between program, administrative, and fundraising categories.

In F2025 SHSF received $81.3m in donations. It also received $23.9m in investment income. Investment income is 22% of total revenue.

Administrative costs are 7% of revenues (excluding investment income). Fundraising costs are 22% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 29%. For every dollar donated, 71 cents are available to go to the cause. This falls within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

In F2025 SHSF spent $71.8m on its grants, which is 66% of its revenue. In F2025 it had a surplus of $13.2m, which is 12% of its revenue.

SHSF has $389.8m in reserve funds (cash and investments). The reserves can cover 543%, or five years and five months of program costs. In F2025, the annual return on investment for SHSF was 6%. Its five-year annual return on investment is 7%.

The most recent T3010 filing available at the time of this update was from F2024. In F2024, SHSF reports on its T3010 that it paid external fundraisers $1.9m who collected $5.0m in donations. This means it cost SHSF 37 cents to raise $1 using external fundraisers. It is likely more cost efficient to directly donate to the charity.

This charity report is an update that has been sent for review to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Foundation. Changes and edits may be forthcoming. 

Updated on June 26, 2025, by Grady Simpson.