Why a charitable foundation?

Seizing the opportunity

A report on seniors’ care in Canada was completed in 2009 by a Senate Committee and is entitled "Canada’s Aging Population: Seizing the Opportunity."

• The report recognizes that seniors make an ongoing contribution to our society, and in turn care about the well-being of other seniors.
• The Senate Committee heard evidence about the current shortage of geriatric specialists; recent estimates suggest that Canada in 2010 needs about 630 geriatricians, but have fewer than 200 full-time equivalencies.
• The Senate Committee challenged volunteer organizations like RTO/ERO to be concerned with an aging population.
• The RTO/ERO Provincial Executive and the Senate have taken up the challenge. RTO/ERO is sending a message that seniors matter.

Planning for the foundation

During the past three years, at its annual planning meetings, the RTO/ERO Provincial Executive discussed undertaking a major project to give tangible and concrete expression to RTO/ERO’s Vision and Mission statements as well as its Strategic Goals.

• The foundation will:
  • aim to raise funds to increase the numbers of professional and support staff qualified and trained in geriatric care as well as to support research and programs that improve the quality of life of seniors in Ontario and Canada.
  • be a project so intrinsically worthy and easily understood that it will appeal intellectually and emotionally to a significant majority of our members.
  • build our brand and raise our profile with governments, organizations, active teachers and the wider community.
  • be a magnet that attracts funding, participation and engagement from multiple sources, but with RTO/ERO as the lead organization.

How will the foundation operate?

• The Senate has already approved that the RTO/ERO President, First Vice-President and the Executive Director will serve as incorporators and directors of the foundation.
• The foundation board will initially be comprised of RTO/ERO elected officers and members.
• Funds will be provided by RTO/ERO as a loan to be repaid with interest over a three-year period to allow for the start-up of the foundation.
• After consulting with an experienced fundraiser, a minimum sum of $150,000 has been determined to be needed to cover salaries, office requirements, publicity, and travel costs in the first year.
• Senior RTO/ERO staff are working with Legal Counsel to draft the organizational by-laws and resolutions of the foundation, as well as with senior staff from the Advancement Department of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto on a draft letter of understanding between The RTO/ERO Foundation (once legally established) and the University of Toronto relating to funds raised to endow the RTO/ERO Chair in Geriatrics, our first fundraising project.

What happens next?

•  The process to achieve incorporation and charitable status from the provincial and federal governments for the foundation is currently underway.
• In 2011, The RTO/ERO Charitable Foundation will hire a professional fundraiser to bring expertise, strategic planning and coordination to our fundraising initiatives. This is also to ensure funds raised by the charitable foundation will be professionally managed and documented.
• Every effort will be made to engage members and Districts and to provide opportunities for input.
• The RTO/ERO Provincial Executive is very conscious of costs to fundraising ratios and will seek to keep overall costs below 20 % of funds raised.
• The intent is to make much of our fundraising activities fun, bringing our Districts and communities together in a worthy cause.
• In the coming months resources about fundraising as well as an online, dedicated space on the RTO/ERO website will inform and keep our members updated on our progress.