Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation

Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation is a fundraising organization located at 3045 Baseline Road in Ottawa, ON, connected to the hospital's campus in the city's west end. It exists to raise money for medical equipment, facility upgrades, and patient-care projects at Queensway Carleton Hospital rather than to provide clinical care itself. For residents of west Ottawa neighbourhoods like Barrhaven, Stittsville, Kanata, and Bells Corners, this foundation is the local channel through which community donations turn into scanners, surgical tools, and expanded bed space at the hospital they rely on.

The Foundation raises funds earmarked for specific, publicly listed hospital needs rather than general operating costs. It runs a mix of direct giving programs and community fundraising events, then channels the proceeds toward equipment and space that the hospital has identified as urgent.

Fundraising priorities

Current priorities include an annual medical equipment and devices campaign aimed at replacing aging technology, a building-space campaign to create additional bed bays and reduce overcrowding, a surgical suite upgrade campaign to modernize operating rooms, and a campaign to replace an aging MRI machine. Each priority is tied to a stated dollar target and progress is tracked publicly, so donors can see which project their gift is supporting.

Ways donors can contribute

Options include one-time gifts, monthly recurring gifts, tribute gifts made in memory or honour of someone, and a way to formally recognize hospital staff or volunteers through a dedicated giving stream. A monthly lottery also runs as a recurring fundraiser, with proceeds directed toward medical device purchases. People can also choose to include a gift in their will or donate securities as part of longer-term giving.

Most people interact with the Foundation either as a one-time donor responding to a specific campaign, a monthly contributor, or a community member attending or organizing a fundraising event tied to the hospital. There is no in-person retail storefront in the way a shop or clinic would have walk-in hours; engagement happens through the Foundation's channels for giving and event participation.

A typical donation, start to finish

Someone deciding to give usually starts by reviewing the active funding priorities to choose which project resonates with them — equipment, surgical suites, MRI replacement, or general hospital needs. From there, the donor selects a one-time or monthly amount, or opts into a tribute or Champion of Care gift if the contribution is meant to honour a specific experience of care. Community fundraising, such as a golf tournament or a seasonal gala, works differently: local organizers plan an event and direct the proceeds to the hospital, with the Foundation acting as the receiving and administering body for those funds.

Budget considerations for donors

Because gifts range from small monthly contributions to large legacy or securities donations, there is no fixed "typical" amount — the Foundation structures its asks so that both modest recurring gifts and significant one-time contributions have a clear, visible purpose tied to a named campaign. Donors who want predictability often choose a monthly gift, since it spreads a contribution over the year rather than committing a lump sum at once. Various payment methods are available for those wishing to give directly.

Timing and seasonal rhythms

Fundraising activity tends to follow the calendar of community events, with galas, tournaments, and campaigns often timed to spring and fall when outdoor and banquet-style events are easiest to host in the Ottawa area. Winter and early-year periods tend to see more direct, at-home giving such as year-end and monthly gift sign-ups, which is common across the charitable sector regardless of season.

Funds raised support the hospital's ability to serve a population significantly larger than the one it was originally built for, given the growth of west Ottawa since the hospital opened. Investment areas mentioned by the Foundation include care for elderly patients, advanced surgical imaging technology, and expanded mental health services for people across west Ottawa. This means a donation is generally understood to support broad categories of patient care improvements rather than a single department alone, depending on which active campaign the gift is directed toward.

Local relevance for west Ottawa families

For households in the hospital's catchment area, the connection is direct: the Foundation's campaigns are framed around real capacity pressures, including emergency department volumes that have grown substantially over the years. Donors from Barrhaven, Riverside South, Kanata, and surrounding communities are effectively investing in the hospital infrastructure their own families are likely to use for emergency visits, surgeries, or imaging.

Frequently asked questions

Is Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation the same as the hospital itself?

No. The Foundation is a separate fundraising organization that raises money for equipment, facility upgrades, and campaigns at Queensway Carleton Hospital; it does not provide direct medical care.

Can I choose which project my donation supports?

Yes. The Foundation lists specific funding priorities, such as medical equipment, surgical suite upgrades, MRI replacement, and building space expansion, and donors can direct one-time or monthly gifts toward the priority that matters most to them.

Does the Foundation only accept large donations?

No. It offers both one-time and monthly giving options, so contributions of varying sizes are accepted, along with tribute gifts, workplace or community fundraising events, and planned giving options like gifts in a will or securities.

How can I contact the Foundation directly?

The Foundation can be reached by phone at 613-721-4731, and its office is located at 3045 Baseline Road in Ottawa, ON, alongside the hospital campus it supports.