International Goals of the CSMLS facilitate medical laboratory science in developing countries by identifying human and material resource needs that will:

• assist in the development of medical laboratory services
• assist the development of medical laboratory professional societies
• assist in education related to medical laboratory science
• identify and provide resources for medical laboratory training programs
• promote the exchange of ideas at the international level
• provide awareness of our Society to other countries

WMLDF History

The CSMLS Board of Directors established the World Medical Laboratory Development Fund (WMLDF) in 1989. The fund was developed with the intent of providing CSMLS members a financial mechanism for supporting projects which fulfill CSMLS’ International Goals.

Fundraising

The WMLDF is mainly supported by the CSMLS membership through individual and group donations. It does not have charitable status for income tax purposes.

These are a few ways that funds may be raised for the WMLDF:

• Voluntary contributions with annual membership payment
• Dress down day - pay to come to work on a designated day in less than normal attire (be sure to get management approval)
• Sharing the Wealth - several provinces have shared profits from conferences and other fund raising activities with the WMLDF
• Speaker Honorarium - CSMLS staff and Board officers, speaking on behalf of the CSMLS, cannot accept honoraria, but have accepted contributions to the WMLDF. Members have also contributed their speaker honorarium to the WMLDF.
• In Memoriam & Estate Bequests - Members have designated the WMLDF as recipient of ‘in memoriam’ gifts, as well as bequests from an estate. These are very special gifts to the fund.

Fund Allocation

The Board of Directors is the trustee for the funds and the International Committee is responsible for reviewing grant applications and making recommendations to the Board. Grant applications are available from the CSMLS National Office or from www.csmls.org

Examples of the support that the fund has provided include:

• support of member travel costs to work as a volunteer technologist in a foreign country
• purchase of educational materials or courses for the medical laboratory science training programs
• costs of shipping donated equipment and textbooks
• financial assistance to purchase laboratory equipment

The committee may consider applications for any activity which fulfils the criteria as outlined in the CSMLS International Goals.

Note: The fund does not support ongoing operational costs of a laboratory or travel costs to attend international meetings.

For additional information, contact CSMLS and download the World Medical Laboratory Development Fund form.