Where our funds go

Every donation to the Heart Foundation helps in the fight against heart disease, which is the number one killer of Australians. 

For more than 60 years the Heart Foundation has worked hard to ensure the money entrusted to us is used as efficiently and effectively as possible. Your support helps us to have a maximum impact by enabling us to: 

• fund world-leading research 
• develop care guidelines for health professionals 
• support high quality care for people living with heart disease 
• help Australians to live healthier lifestyles 
• advocate to government and industry across initiatives to improve heart health 

Where do we get our money?

The Heart Foundation relies on the generosity of everyday Australians; in 2018 80% of our funding came from your support. Other sources of income included grants for programs and research, as well as investment income. 

Where does the money raised go?

Of every dollar donated to the Heart Foundation, we invest: 

• 45 cents into the fight against heart disease, including health programs and public education  
• 21 cents into life-saving research 
• 20 cents into raising additional funds 
• 13 cents into communications and administration.

In 2017 the Heart Foundation spent $68 million to prevent heart disease and improve the heart health and quality of life of all Australians.

Through health programs and public education, we are making a difference to the heart health of all Australians. In 2017 we invested more than $26 million (45% of our income) in these activities.  

Research has the potential to save thousands of lives, and the Heart Foundation is the largest non-government funder of cardiovascular research in Australia. In 2017 we invested $13 million (14% of our income) to fund major research awards. 

Since 1959, we have invested the equivalent of $557 million towards research into the cause, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of heart disease. Heart disease is still the single biggest killer of Australians –there is still a lot of work to do.