The year 2025 marked a significant turning point for the Alberta Diabetes Foundation. For decades, our work has been deeply rooted in funding world-class research and achieving excellence in life-changing discoveries.

While our core commitment to science remains our top priority, the evolving landscape of this disease demands a more comprehensive response.

To meet this challenge, we officially expanded our vision to:

• Enriching lives, from care to cure.

This means that we now serve as a vital conduit—a bridge—connecting scientific progress directly with practical care and treatment for families today.

A breakthrough in a lab is only half the victory, and we are dedicated to translating science into tangible real-world solutions.

Reflecting this evolution, our updated mission statement is:

• We strategically fund impactful research and serve as a conduit for prevention, treatment, care, and a cure.

Learn more about us HERE

Our funding strategy focuses on three core pillars:

• Advancing the Cure & Supporting Prevention, Treatment & Living Well with Diabetes (All Types): Investing in islet and stem cell research, prevention-focused initiatives, researcher support, and education programs.

• Diversity & Community Empowerment: Addressing health disparities and improving outcomes for underrepresented, rural, and underserved communities.

• Future of Research Excellence: Building the next generation of diabetes researchers by funding graduate studentships, tools/infrastructure, and the recruitment of top talent.

Learn more about our funding priorities HERE

Financial donations are the foundational pillar of everything we do at the Alberta Diabetes Foundation. Because we maintain a lean operational focus, the vast majority of our revenue goes directly into the hands of brilliant scientists and front-line clinicians.

Your financial support drives our mission forward, providing critical resources for initiatives including, but not limited to:

• Advance Pioneering Research: Move innovative scientific ideas from the laboratory bench to the patient's bedside.

• Provide Lab Equipment & Infrastructure: Secure the specialized, clinical-grade technology required for cutting-edge transplantation and genetic research.

• Funding the Future: Building the next generation of diabetes researchers by supporting graduate studentships, PhD candidates, and specialized ADF Scholars to ensure the brightest scientific minds stay right here in Alberta.

• Fund Active Clinical Trials: Support complex human trials—such as the Edmonton-based Tolimidone trial—bringing us closer to a functional cure.

• Sustain Vital Care Programs: Keep critical mobile hubs on the road and digital lifelines active for historically underserved and remote communities.

Beyond financial contributions, there are many diverse and meaningful ways you can join our mission:

• Host a Fundraising Event:Turn a personal passion, golf tournament, bake sale, or workplace challenge into a community mission by organizing your own independent fundraiser.

• Volunteer Your Time: Share your skills and energy to support our landmark campaigns, community car rallies, and annual events.

• Attend or Sponsor Events: Purchase tickets or align your organization with top-tier innovation by participating in signature experiences like the Hummingbird Awards Gala.

• In Memoriam Donations: Celebrate the life and legacy of a loved one by making a commemorative donation. This is a profound way to turn personal loss into a pillar of hope, funding the vital research and care that your loved one passionately advocated for.

• Leave a Legacy (Planned Giving): Create a lasting, generational impact by including the Alberta Diabetes Foundation in your estate planning, will, or life insurance policy. Choosing to Leave a Legacy ensures that your commitment to a diabetes-free future continues to fuel vital scientific breakthroughs for decades to come.

• Stay Connected: Subscribe to our newsletter and follow our official social media channels to get real-time updates on research breakthroughs, upcoming educational series, and inspiring community stories.

Our foundation is powered by the incredible energy of community-led events, including:

• The Hummingbird Awards Gala: Held annually in November in honor of World Diabetes Day, celebrating excellence in research and advocacy.

• Rock'n August: A premier classic car and music festival that has set a goal to raise $1 million for ADF by 2030.

• The Jules & Sharon Golf Tournament: A cherished golf tournament tradition welcomes golfers of all skill levels for a day of friendly competition, networking, and community building.

• Birdies for Kids: A province-wide matching campaign presented by AltaLink that multiplies the impact of your gifts.

Join Us All Year Round! Our signature experiences are just the beginning. We host and sponsor a wide range of engaging activities, and seasonal 50/50 draws to give back to the community that keeps us moving forward.

No matter the season, there is always a way for you, your business, or your family to get involved.

You can explore our full, up-to-date calendar of seasonal opportunities and purchase event tickets all year round right HERE.

We would love to partner with you! Whether it is a bake sale, a fun run, or a custom golf tournament, hosting your own independent event turns your personal story into a community mission.

Best of all, 100% of your community-raised funds directly support our life-changing research, treatment, and care initiatives. Visit our "Host Your Own Fundraiser"‍ webpage to get started!

COMING SOON! Spotlight on Learning is our upcoming webinar series covering vital diabetes topics—ranging from health, food, and exercise to psychological and financial issues.