Named Funds

The type 1 diabetes (T1D) community is at the heart and centre of everything we do at Breakthrough T1D, and our why. Curing T1D is our north star. Transformational donors accelerate our shared goal of a world without T1D. They share our vision of advancing breakthroughs in T1D and choose to invest in the most innovative research and critical advocacy initiatives.

Establishing a Named Fund

By establishing a named fund, donors play a vital role in advancing breakthroughs by funding high-impact research projects, creating a sustainable giving vehicle that ensures continued funding over multiple years. Named funds offer donors unique opportunities to focus on key areas of interest, advance their philanthropic investment goals, and engage directly in research.

Accelerating research
Named funds enhance our ability to prioritize the most promising T1D advances by providing uninterrupted support to ground-breaking projects, which is critical to ensure research does not stall due to funding delays. Multi-year gifts allow research to move at the pace of science versus the pace of funding. At the same time, named funds highlight donor leadership in advancing global T1D discovery. From cell therapies to 3D bioprinting to gene editing, we are on the cusp of critical life-changing breakthroughs in T1D research. By establishing a Fund at this pivotal moment, donors play a direct role in rewriting the future of those living with T1D.

Named Fund details
Named funds are established with $1 million or more, pledged over three to five years to an area of interest. Breakthrough T1D works closely with Named Fund donors throughout their pledge years to update them on research progress, allocate their funding, and facilitate meetings with Breakthrough T1D’s research team.

Named Funds at Breakthrough T1D Canada

The WB Cures Fund at Breakthrough T1D
The WB Family Foundation Type 1 Diabetes Cures Fund (“WB Cures Fund”) accelerates cure research by supporting a vast body of work focused on T1D cures, specifically disease-modifying therapies and cell-replacement therapies.

“Breakthrough T1D plays a pivotal role in identifying, supporting, and nurturing important research needed to cure type 1 diabetes. We know a cure is coming – researchers have identified ways of curing the disease. It will take significant investment to support them as they translate their findings into solutions for the growing number of Canadians living with T1D. We hope this gift inspires others to join us in funding a cure.”

–Susan Beamish, WB Family Foundation

The Brendan Hunt Diabetes and Mental Health Fund at Breakthrough T1D
The Brendan Hunt Diabetes and Mental Health Fund at Breakthrough T1D, established by Trish, Steve, and Evan Hunt and generous donors nationwide, supports our national and bilingual mental health initiatives in research, training and education.

“As was our experience with our son Brendan, we know that T1D can be the root cause of subsequent serious mental health challenges and the evolving diabetes distress that can have a profound impact on quality of life and longevity. Together, we can empower existing systems of care, providers, and teams to increase understanding of the mental health impacts of diabetes and provide evidence-based tools and support for individuals with T1D and their loved ones. Our hope is that the fund will continue to support a variety of key mental health strategies that are vital in helping those living with T1D and their families to build strength and resilience.”

–Trish and Steve Hunt

For more information about Named Funds, please contact Kim Lacombe at klacombe@BreakthroughT1D.ca