When the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research established the Fund for Excellence in 2021, it did so based on an idea brought forward by Stuart Binder‑Macleod, PT, PhD, FAPTA. As a trustee at the time, and having seen firsthand the essential, day-to-day work required to run the Foundation, Stuart recognized the need for a dedicated fund to strengthen its operations. Stuart and his wife Catriona stepped forward to bring
this vision to life with an inaugural $50,000 gift that helped launch the Fund for Excellence.
“While a Board of Trustee member, I was able to see “behind the curtain” and get to know all of the absolutely necessary and important activities and expenses associated with running the Foundation,” Stuart shares. “I also saw how much work must go into raising these necessary funds each year.”
Now, the Binder‑Macleods are taking that leadership a step further and continue to help shape how the Fund for Excellence will operate. Through their newest contribution – a multi‑year commitment that brings their total giving to $250,000 – they are guiding the evolution of the Fund for Excellence from a single board-designated fund into a structure that can support multiple named funds within it.
Once their pledge is fulfilled, the Foundation will permanently recognize the Stuart and Catriona Binder‑Macleod Fund for Excellence, the first named fund within this structure. This fund will provide stable, unrestricted annual support where it’s needed most. This commitment reflects Stuart’s belief in one of the most impactful yet often overlooked forms of philanthropy: unrestricted funding. These flexible dollars make it possible for the Foundation to fuel core operations, launch strategic initiatives, and respond swiftly to emerging research needs.
“Individuals and components are interested in funding projects that are near and dear to their hearts, and I totally appreciate and support that,” he explains. “However, when I decided to create a lasting gift to the Foundation, I decided that rather than funding a research grant in an area of interest, my wife and I would create a fund to support the important operations of the Foundation and that we would encourage colleagues to provide similar support.”
By originating the idea for the Fund for Excellence, providing its inaugural gift, and now leading its evolution into a structure that welcomes named funds, the Binder-Macleods have created a model others can follow: Start with an unrestricted gift, build through multi‑year support, and create a named legacy that helps fortify the Foundation’s future.
Stuart’s return as a trustee in 2026, paired with his steady philanthropic leadership, reflects his deep belief in the Foundation’s mission and its ability to drive progress in physical therapy research. Through both service and vision, he hopes to inspire others to think boldly about how they, too, can make a lasting difference.