It aims to provide provincial and national leadership in public health through "surveillance, detection, treatment, prevention and consultation" services.

[5] The BCCDC Foundation for Public Health is the charitable partner of the BCCDC, engaging donors and partners to raise funds for initiatives to address issues such as vaccine uptake, environmental health risks and communicable diseases.

[6] The foundation accepts donations from members of the public, government agencies, philanthropic organizations and the health care and pharmaceutical industries.

[7] Funds are allocated to broad or specific programs including supporting scientific research at academic institutions like the University of British Columbia, as well as agencies responding to public health emergencies such as COVID-19 and the opioid epidemic.

[8][9] Donors to the foundation include:[10][11][12][13][14][15] On April 30, 2020, the BCCDC published guidance alongside the BC Ministry of Health on interpreting the results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for detection of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.