Victoria Hospice Society is a three-star charity. It has a B+ results reporting grade, which is above average and it is financially transparent. For every dollar donated to the charity, 72 cents are available to go to the cause.

Founded in 1980, Victoria Hospice Society (VHS) provides end-of-life care to residents of Greater Victoria. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for people dealing with life-limiting illness, death, and bereavement. VHS runs an 18-bed inpatient unit at Royal Jubilee Hospital for respite care, pain and symptom management, and ongoing end-of-life care. It also runs a 24-7 home care program, offers bereavement and counselling services, conducts research on best practices in pain and symptom management for palliative care, and educated doctors, caregivers, and other healthcare professionals (HCPs) through training programs and workshops.

VHS states that most of its services are free for clients. In keeping with BC government policies, there are daily charges for long-term and respite care beds in the inpatient unit at Royal Jubilee Hospital. The charity also states that some bereavement group services may include a charge to cover basic expenses after the first five counselling sessions.

VHS has three core programs: Hospice and Palliative Response, Counselling, and Education and Research. The charity spent $6.6m on its programs in F2022.

Hospice and Palliative Response received 73% ($4.8m) of program spending in F2022. Referrals to the Hospice are made by Home & Community Care Nurses who work in partnership with VHS. The Hospice accepts patients in advanced stages of progressive illnesses who usually have a prognosis of six to 12 months. The charity reports it has 18 inpatient beds in its hospice. The Palliative Response Team is VHS’s home care program. Nurses, who are on call 24-7, provide consultation and treatment to palliative patients in the comfort of their own homes, as well as counselling for patients and families. The charity reports it provides an average of 1,572 home visits each year.

Counselling received 19% ($1.3m) of program spending in F2022. VHS provided 1,778 individual counselling sessions in F2022, a 19% increase from F2021. The charity reports it received 417 new clients in F2022, a 24% increase from F2021.

Education and Research received 5% ($352k) of program spending in F2022. The charity does research in the development of information, tools, and resources that helps progress palliative care. VHS delivers workshops to educational institutions, governments, and community agencies based on its research findings. The charity ran a palliative care pharmacy course at the University of Victoria Continuing Studies in F2022.

The remaining 3% ($166k) of program spending was spent on communications. 

Ci consolidated Victoria Hospice Society and Victoria Hospice Society Foundation’s (the Foundation) financial statements for the purpose of this review.

Victoria Hospice Society received $5.1m in donations and $4.4m in government funding in F2022. Government funding represents 43% of revenue. Administrative costs are 14% of revenue (excluding investment income), and fundraising costs are 14% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 28%. For every dollar donated to the charity, 72 cents are available to go to the cause.

VHS has $23.1m in reserve funds, of which $2.1m is donor endowed. Excluding donor-endowed funds, the charity can cover 322%, or three years and three months of its annual program costs.

Victoria Hospice Society granted $1.3m to the Foundation in F2022 while the Foundation granted $526k to VHS.

This report is an update that has been sent to Victoria Hospice Society for review. Comments and edits may be forthcoming. 

Updated on August 2^nd, 2023 by Liam Chapleau.