Impact at a Glance
Impact at a Glance
Distributed
during the 2024-2025 fiscal year
18 Years
Over the past 18 years, the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation has provided funding of more than $113+ million to support various community organizations, contributed to post-secondary institutions, and contributed to research and care at the hospital’s medical centres of excellence.
Thanks to generous support from donors, the Foundation was able to increase revenues by 35% this past fiscal, further enabling the Foundation’s ability to make a significant and meaningful impact in the lives of those who need it most.
30 Endowment funds 72 Donor Directed Funds
Increase
For Growth in investments market value
in Revenues
A Message From Our Foundation Leadership
For 125 Years, Donor Generosity has Shaped Healthcare Outcomes
In 2024–25, the Royal Alexandra Hospital and its medical centres of excellence reached impressive new heights—delivering life-saving treatments, pioneering research, and providing compassionate care to patients from every corner of our province.
Donor generosity delivered this lift.
This year, our donors advanced cardiology, ophthalmology, urogynecology, cancer care, community health, diagnostics, minimally invasive procedures, and vital new collaborations. Donors made it possible to meet urgent challenges head-on, set new benchmarks, and open doors to the next generation of medical innovation.
And in this remarkable year—the hospital’s 125th anniversary—donors added a new chapter to a story more than a century in the making. Since 1900, the Royal Alexandra Hospital has been the intersection where compassion meets innovation. Every milestone can be traced to the generosity of donors. These investments radically change the trajectory of care for Albertans today and for generations to come. It is both a privilege and an honour for our Foundation to hold this trust and to lead this work.
On behalf of the hospital, the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation, and its Board of Directors, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all donors, past and present, for improving the lives of Albertans through support for the ‘Royal Alex.’ Once again, we’re pleased to invite you to explore our Impact in Review report and see how donor generosity continues to change lives, every day.
Sincerely,
Sharlene Rutherford, BPA, MBA
President & CEO
Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation
Dan Lefaivre, FCPA, FCMA, ICD.D
Chair of the Board, 2024-25
Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation
On behalf of our hospital and the advanced care that you have enabled and inspired, the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation and its Board of Directors extend sincere thanks to you, our community of donors.
For 125 Years, Donor Generosity has Shaped Healthcare Outcomes
In 2024–25, the Royal Alexandra Hospital and its medical centres of excellence reached impressive new heights—delivering life-saving treatments, pioneering research, and providing compassionate care to patients from every corner of our province.
Donor generosity delivered this lift.
This year, our donors advanced cardiology, ophthalmology, urogynecology, cancer care, community health, diagnostics, minimally invasive procedures, and vital new collaborations. Donors made it possible to meet urgent challenges head-on, set new benchmarks, and open doors to the next generation of medical innovation.
And in this remarkable year—the hospital’s 125th anniversary—donors added a new chapter to a story more than a century in the making. Since 1900, the Royal Alexandra Hospital has been the intersection where compassion meets innovation. Every milestone can be traced to the generosity of donors. These investments radically change the trajectory of care for Albertans today and for generations to come. It is both a privilege and an honour for our Foundation to hold this trust and to lead this work.
On behalf of the hospital, the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation, and its Board of Directors, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all donors, past and present, for improving the lives of Albertans through support for the ‘Royal Alex.’ Once again, we’re pleased to invite you to explore our Impact in Review report and see how donor generosity continues to change lives, every day.
Sincerely,
Sharlene Rutherford, BPA, MBA
President & CEO
Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation
Dan Lefaivre, FCPA, FCMA, ICD.D
Chair of the Board, 2024-25
Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation
On behalf of our Foundation, our Board of Directors, and the hospital we support, please accept our sincere gratitude.
Land Acknowledgement
The Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation respectfully acknowledges that we are on the traditional lands referred to as Treaty 6 Territory, and that the City of Edmonton and all the people here are beneficiaries of this peace and friendship treaty. Treaty 6 encompasses the traditional territories of numerous western Canada First Nations such as the Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Metis, Dene and Nakota Sioux. We acknowledge all the many First Nations, Metis and Inuit people who have called this area home since time immemorial.
The 125-Year History of the RoyalAlexandra Hospital
1900-2025
The Alex—as the Royal Alexandra Hospital has been familiarly known most of its life—is one of the largest and busiest hospitals in all of Canada, and has been so since its founding in 1900.
To celebrate and commemorate our hospital’s 125-year anniversary in 2025, the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation recently published a limited edition history book, entitled “The Alex.” Contained within are stories from many of those who helped shape our hospital and our community—stories like those shared in the video below. We invite you to purchase a copy or learn more by clicking below.
The facts and figures outlined in this report represent activity from the Foundation’s 2024-25 fiscal year.
Growth & Giving
The following five revenue categories have been combined and simplified for the sake of ease of understanding and do not necessarily imply operational procedures.
Community &Corporate Support
Through the generosity of individual donors, fellow foundations, community partners, corporations both local and across Canada, as well as ongoing support from the Lois Hole Hospital Women’s Society, we continue to open new doors and support a variety of causes and initiatives. We are proud and humbled to have earned support through efforts such as annual programs, direct mail, monthly gifts, gifts-in-kind, gifts made in tribute (including Amazing at the Alex staff recognition gifts), major gifts, national partnerships, charity of choice campaigns, and more.
InvestmentIncome
Investment Income
Through strategic financial investments and the maintenance of a number of endowed funds established by our donors and the Foundation alike, the Foundation generates steady to grow and earn modest revenues. A significant amount of these investment earnings are reinvested to grow further, or distributed toward specific, impactful initiatives that significantly enhance the quality of care across our centres of excellence.
Lotteries & Events
The Foundation is engaged in charitable gaming via three platforms: the Full House Lottery, a 30+ year-old dream home lottery; the 11-year-old WinWin Staff Lottery for healthcare staff, and the newly launched Split the Pot lottery. Being a beneficiary of a number of third-party events like the Shoppers Drug Mart Run for Women and signature annual events like Harvest Celebration, Luminaries, Heartbeat Hideaway and our upcoming Royal Ball–and of course the many sponsors, ticket and table purchasers, and engaged donors–we are able to provide significant financial support that impacts the hospital.
LegacyGiving
Legacy Giving
Legacy gifts to the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation–whether through gifts in one’s will, gifts of securities, annuities, insurance policies, or otherwise–help set the direction for the next 125 years of the Royal Alexandra Hospital. We are honoured to work with donors to ensure that their priorities will be realized through their estate plans. We celebrate our legacy donors for their contributions to the ongoing advancement of healthcare and welcome them to the Royal Willow Society. As a token of gratitude and a way to connect around long-term impact, we look forward to hosting and facilitating events, sharing regular news and updates, holding tours of the hospital, and more.
Grants
Grants offered by a wide variety of community-focused organizations have been a wellspring of possibility, enabling the Foundation to chart new paths—from supporting inclusive community‑driven campaigns to elevating women’s healthcare, evolving care for the diverse patient population served by the Royal Alex Hospital, and more. With deep gratitude, we celebrate how that collective generosity infuses innovation across every centre of excellence—from helping launch new initiatives to nurturing long‑term programs. We honour every grant as a vital thread in our tapestry of compassion, advancing equitable, transformative care at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.
Growing Historic Partnerships in Gaming
The 2024-25 fiscal year was a highlight for evolving and expanding charitable gaming efforts across the province—namely with the Foundation launching Split The Pot, a collaborative lottery initiative bringing together over 35 hospital and healthcare organizations across Alberta. This province-wide lottery offers Albertans the chance to support local healthcare while winning cash prizes. When members of the community buy a ticket in Split the Pot they are not only entering for a chance to win a significant cash prize—half of all ticket sales go directly to the winner—but they are also supporting local hospital and healthcare organizations across Alberta who rely on proceeds from initiatives like Split the Pot to fund vital medical programs, equipment, and patient care services at the over 50 facilities they support. By playing Split the Pot, our participants are helping improve healthcare in our community while having the chance to win big.
The Full House Lottery has also continued to evolve its structure and offerings and write the next chapters of its 30+ year legacy supporting both the Royal Alex and University hospitals through a historic partnership with the University Hospital Foundation.
partnership with UHF
A Year of Meaningful Distributions
Distributed During the 2024 | 2025 Fiscal Year
Inpatients
Medicine Program Inpatients
Surgery Inpatients
Outpatients (Ambulatory Care)
Endoscopy Procedures
Addiction Recovery Community Health (ARCH) Program Consults
Minimally Invasive Surgeries Performed via Da Vinci
Beds
Emergency Visits
Trauma Patients
Operating Room Cases Completed
A Year of Razor-Sharp Innovation
This past year was one of continued leadership in healthcare at the Royal Alexandra Hospital—a year that honoured a proud history while always championing innovative research and community impact. As one of Alberta’s busiest hospitals, the Royal Alex remained focused on advancing care that is precise, patient-centered, and built for the future.
Distributed During the 2024 | 2025 Fiscal Year
A Year of Legacy-Building Compassion
Distributed During the 2024 | 2025 Fiscal Year
A Year of Record-Breaking Impact
Distributed During the 2024 | 2025 Fiscal Year
A Year of Laser-Focused Advancements
Awarded Acclaim
Imagine Canada
The Standards Program Trustmark, granted by Imagine Canada, represents a nationally recognized symbol of excellence and leadership in the charitable sector. It signifies that an organization upholds the highest standards in accountability, transparency, and governance.
Since 2015, the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation has proudly maintained its accreditation through this rigorous program—demonstrating our steadfast commitment to best practices in Board Governance, Financial Accountability and Transparency, Ethical Fundraising, Staff Management, and Volunteer Engagement.
This accreditation reflects not only our integrity but also the trust placed in us by our community, donors, and partners.
Alberta's Top Employers5 Years Running
Alberta’s Top Employers is a prestigious annual competition conducted by the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, recognizing organizations that lead their sectors in creating exceptional workplace environments.
Amid thousands of applicants each year, the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation is proud to have earned a place on this distinguished list for five consecutive years—a reflection of our enduring commitment to employee well-being, meaningful work, and a culture rooted in purpose, respect, and collaboration.
A Message of Thanks from Hospital Leadership
For 125 years, the Royal Alexandra Hospital has stood as a place of care, compassion, and hope.
Through decades of change, challenge, and innovation, our hospital has welcomed patients and families from every corner of our province—each one adding their own story to a legacy that continues to grow.
That legacy is made possible by the unwavering generosity of our community. Your support provides our teams with the tools, technology, and resources they need to deliver exceptional care. It fuels groundbreaking research, sustains vital community programs, and sparks innovation that shapes the future of medicine.
Equally important, your kindness lifts the hearts of our healthcare teams, reminding them that their dedication and hard work are deeply valued. This shared spirit of compassion strengthens the hospital from within and helps us extend care outward to all who need it.
As we celebrate 125 years of the Royal Alex, we thank you for standing with us — for honouring the history we’ve built together, and for helping us write the next chapter in exceptional care.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Heather Carew
Senior Operating Officer, RAH
Dr. Colin Peterson, MD, CCFP(EM), FCFP
Facility Medical Director, RAH
Thank You Janie Clink
Dear Janie,
For more than three decades, you have been a cornerstone of the Royal Alex Hospital.
From your very first days as a student nurse in the late 1980s—through your early work in the NICU as an RN, your years in public health as a nurse and educator, and your steady management and guidance of women’s health at the Royal Alex Hospital—to your most recent leadership of the Royal Alex as Senior Operating Officer, you have shaped countless chapters of our hospital’s story. Throughout your journey, you have championed not only healthcare improvements, patient safety and quality of care, but also the wellbeing of those who deliver care—ensuring they always felt valued, supported, and cared for in turn.
The legacy you created—often guided by the mantra, “It’s not what you do, it’s what you do next”—is one of dedication, compassion, and vision. We are deeply grateful for the many ways you have strengthened the Royal Alex, enriched its history, and inspired the Foundation. Your contributions will remain an essential part of who we are, and your example will continue to shine brightly in our hearts and minds.
With heartfelt thanks,
The Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation
The RAH has always been home for me. I am passionate about the hospital and the culture and feel so fortunate to have been able to lead such a dedicated and capable team. The team commitment and partnerships are incredible and support the amazing care provided to patients and families every day.
Board of Directors
Board ofDirectors
In 125 characters or less,
what does the Alex mean to you?
Financials
A Message From Our Financial Leadership
The Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation Board proudly announces the Audited Financial Statements for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. In this historic year of the Royal Alex Hospital’s 125-year anniversary, this past fiscal year serves as a similarly historic year for the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation. These statements highlight our significant accomplishments in fundraising, investment strategy and performance, and the Foundation’s ambition to support its centers of excellence through additional fundraising events and grants. These statements also reflect our dedication to financial transparency and our commitment to our donors.
Our strategically diverse portfolio, which includes alternative investments, has driven significant growth in our investment assets, achieving a remarkable net increase of 11% compared to the previous fiscal year. Moreover, the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation has experienced an impressive 35% surge in overall revenue. This outstanding performance enables us to increase our approved funding commitments to $23 million over the next five years, signifying a 28% increase.
We sincerely thank everyone for their outstanding generosity and contributions to our Foundation, our hospital, and community through various donation channels, including lotteries, grants, events, and estate giving.
The unwavering support from our community and donors continues to inspire teams at both the hospital and the Foundation. On behalf of the Foundation and Board of Directors, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to the donors and corporate partners who drive us forward in our collective pursuit of better health for all. Your historic contributions have shaped the hospital into a leader and allow the Royal Alexandra Hospital to continue delivering exceptional care to the hundreds of thousands of patients who rely on it each year, and many years into the future.
Thank you for your commitment, compassion, and many contributions.
Carlie Persson, CPA, CA, CIA
Chair, Finance Audit and Risk Management Committee for FY 2024-25,
Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation
