Wishlist - Your local hospital charity

What Wishlist - Your local hospital charity does

Wishlist is a non-profit hospital charity established in 1998 that operates as the primary community fundraising vehicle for the Sunshine Coast and Gympie hospital and health service in Queensland, Australia. The organization supports five hospitals and directs funds toward priority medical equipment, patient and family accommodation, therapy programs, and other healthcare initiatives. Across 27 years, Wishlist has directed more than $25 million to local healthcare, with current annual direction exceeding $1 million to priority needs. The organization is staffed by approximately 25 employees and supported by a network of roughly 150 volunteers, and is governed by a board chair (Scott Williams) and CEO (Lisa Rowe).

The revenue model is diversified across individual donations, recurring monthly giving, large-scale community events (Give Me 5, Spring Carnival, Annual Giving Day), corporate partnerships organized through the Vision Circle program, merchandise, and on-site hospital coffee houses that process approximately 50,000 transactions annually. Strategic partners include 92.7 Mix FM (media partnership since 2000), Petstock Foundation (Therapy Dog Program), and Safewill (wills and bequests). Wishlist operates without proprietary technology infrastructure, relying on standard sector platforms (Stripe, GoFundraise, GiveEasy, GiveNow, MyCause) for donation processing, event registration, and beneficiary management.

The product portfolio centers on tangible healthcare outcomes rather than software: capital medical equipment purchases (most recently a BiPlane Unit for stroke patients and an MRI-compatible ventilator for the NICU in 2025), the Wishlist Centre accommodation facility (completed 2022), the Therapy Dog Program (scaled from 2 to 10 dogs), and grant flows to the local health service. Wishlist House Gympie was divested in 2025 with proceeds redirected to programs. The Give Me 5 campaign is transitioning from a single event to a year-round format in 2026, signaling a shift toward recurring revenue infrastructure. As a non-profit intermediary, Wishlist does not deliver clinical services directly; its outputs are measurable in dollars directed to the health service and the assets funded on its behalf.

Name

Wishlist - Your local hospital charity

Legal name

Sunshine Coast Health Foundation

Website

https://wishlist.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wishlist is a non-profit hospital charity, founded in 1998, that fundraises across the Sunshine Coast and Gympie region of Queensland to direct donations and equipment purchases to five local public hospitals, having directed over $25 million to local healthcare to date.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospital Charity and Healthcare Fundraising

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Health & Prevention Program Funding (HLAJALAF)

Keywords

• Hospital charity fundraising
• Community healthcare donations
• Medical equipment funding
• Hospital patient accommodation
• Volunteer support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Birtinya

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting local hospital healthcare services. All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.
2. Event Fundraising: Revenue from major events including Give Me 5 campaign, Spring Carnival, Giving Day, and community fundraising activities.
3. Coffee House Operations: Wishlist Coffee Houses at Nambour Hospital, Caloundra Hospital, and Gympie Hospital generate revenue through coffee and food sales, with proceeds funding medical equipment and services.
4. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling merchandise including therapy dog items, umbrellas, water bottles, coffee cups, bucket hats, tea towels, socks, caps, and daisy seeds.
5. Corporate Partnerships: Sponsorships and partnerships with local businesses including Vision Circle Partners and event sponsors.
6. Recurring Giving (GEM Program): Monthly giving program where donors commit to regular monthly contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Wishlist (Sunshine Coast Health Foundation) is a nonprofit hospital charity that raises funds from individuals, businesses, and the community to fund medical equipment, hospital accommodation, therapy programs, and patient transport services for five public hospitals across the Sunshine Coast and Gympie region in Queensland, Australia. The organization operates coffee houses, an online merchandise shop, recurring giving programs, and major fundraising events to direct community donations into local healthcare improvements.

Product overview

Wishlist is a local hospital charity supporting Nambour, Caloundra, Maleny, Gympie, and Sunshine Coast University hospitals since 1998. The organization operates as a unified charitable foundation directing community donations into local healthcare through multiple integrated programs: medical equipment funding, hospital accommodation (Wishlist Centre, Reed House), the Gympie Patient Transport Service, Wishlist Coffee Houses, the Therapy Dog Program, and various fundraising initiatives (Give Me 5, Wishlist Giving Day, Spring Carnival). The product portfolio also includes regular giving (GEM Program) and a merchandise shop selling daisy-themed items.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hospital Accommodation (Wishlist Centre and Reed House) Affordable accommodation for patients and families near Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Nambour Hospital, and other facilities, priced at $90 per room per night.
• Gympie Patient Transport Service Free transportation service for Gympie residents traveling from Gympie Hospital to clinical appointments at Nambour Hospital, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital, and Birtinya health hub. Operates Monday to Friday with a fixed timetable.
• Wishlist Coffee Houses Three volunteer-run coffee shops at Nambour Hospital, Caloundra Hospital, and outside Gympie Hospital serving staff, patients, and visitors with proceeds funding medical equipment.
• Therapy Dog Program Pet therapy program providing comfort visits to patients in Mental Health, Palliative Care, Cancer Care, Renal Services, and Rehabilitation Wards across multiple hospitals, supported by Petstock Foundation with $50,000 commitment.
• Merchandise Shop E-commerce store selling daisy-inspired merchandise including therapy dog items, apparel, and accessories with all proceeds supporting local health services.
• Regular Giving (GEM Program) Monthly recurring donation program that allows supporters to Give Each Month (GEM) to help locals experiencing a health crisis at local hospitals.
• Bespoke Will Writing Service Bespoke Will writing service offered through partnership with Safewill for $80 (special offer for supporters), generating proceeds for the charity.
• Meeting Rooms and Conference Facilities Meeting and conference room facilities at Wishlist Centre available for hire, generating additional revenue for the charity.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $25 million directed to local healthcare since 1998
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor, flagship, major and vision circle.

• Petstock FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 May 2025Committed $50,000 to expand the Wishlist Therapy Dogs Program. Partnership launch day with fundraising activities at Petstock stores across Queensland.
• GoodCompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Award-winning platform connecting businesses and employees with certified charities. Wishlist joined to facilitate workplace giving.
• Sunshine Coast LightningminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Netball team partnership extended for another year, connecting community organizations.
• 92.7 Mix FMflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2000Longest-serving partner and number one supporter since 2000. Annual Give Me 5 campaign has raised over $7.7 million for local healthcare. Media broadcasts live from hospitals during fundraising events.
• SafewillminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to offer supporters the opportunity to write a bespoke Will for $80 (reduced from standard rate).
• Pacific Land RovermajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor of Wishlist Spring Carnival 2026.
• Travis Schultz & PartnersmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint major sponsor of Wishlist Spring Carnival, recommitted for three years through to 20-year milestone of event.
• AUSMARvision circleGTM or Marketing PartnerVision Circle Partner and builder of Wishlist House Gympie. Contributed over $2.2 million to local health services through House the Coast Built projects.
• Sunshine Toyotavision circleGTM or Marketing PartnerVision Circle Partner and donor. Supporter of Spring Carnival and Give Me 5 matching.
• Wealthmedvision circleGTM or Marketing PartnerVision Circle Partner supporting Wishlist.
• Sunquestvision circleGTM or Marketing PartnerVision Circle Partner supporting Wishlist.
• Tecodavision circleGTM or Marketing PartnerVision Circle Partner supporting Wishlist.
• Prestige Inhome Carevision circleGTM or Marketing PartnerVision Circle Partner, provides MND care content and support.
• Butler McDermott Lawyersvision circleGTM or Marketing PartnerVision Circle Partner, long history with Wishlist with renewed partnership.
• Total Focus Groupvision circleGTM or Marketing PartnerVision Circle Partner supporting Wishlist.
• One Agency GympieminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSold Wishlist House Gympie for $825,000, proceeds fund local patient transport and hospital services.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Common Good (formerly Prince Charles Hospital Foundation): Queensland-based hospital foundation supporting research and equipment funding for The Prince Charles Hospital. Directly comparable as a regional hospital charity running community fundraising events and corporate partnerships in the same Australian state.
• Mater Foundation: Queensland hospital foundation supporting Mater hospitals across research, equipment, and patient care. Directly comparable as a multi-hospital health foundation with a community-led fundraising model and capital campaign focus.
• PA Research Foundation: Queensland-based health research and patient-care foundation supporting Princess Alexandra Hospital. Comparable as a regional hospital foundation funding equipment and translational research in the same Australian state.
• Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Foundation: Foundation supporting one of Queensland's largest hospitals through research grants, equipment funding and patient programs. Directly comparable mission and operating model as a hospital-aligned fundraising charity.
• Children's Hospital Foundation Queensland: Official charity for Queensland Children's Hospital, funding research, equipment and patient/family support. Comparable as a Queensland hospital foundation raising funds through community events, corporate partnerships, and individual giving.

Broad incumbents

• Ronald McDonald House Charities Australia: National charity providing family accommodation near children's hospitals, parallel to Wishlist Centre. Comparable accommodation and patient-family support mission, but operates at national scale across multiple hospital partnerships.
• Heart Foundation Australia: National health charity funding cardiovascular research and support. Adjacent in healthcare philanthropy space with established fundraising infrastructure; broader disease scope and national footprint than Wishlist.

Regional players

• Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation: Major hospital foundation supporting Sydney children's hospitals through capital campaigns, events, and major-gift fundraising. Highly comparable operating model but serves NSW rather than Queensland.
• Perth Children's Hospital Foundation: Hospital foundation supporting Perth Children's Hospital with similar mission to fund equipment, research and family services. Comparable model but Western Australia geography.

Emerging players

• Cancer Council Queensland: Queensland-focused health charity funding cancer research, prevention, and patient support. Adjacent as a state-level health nonprofit with similar community fundraising approach but distinct disease focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wishlistsc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wishlist - Your local hospital charity