Bridges Initiative

Against a backdrop of change, we’re transforming our approach to sustainability to unlock new growth opportunities, drive innovation and amplify Client impact. The Brighter Futures blueprint is our plan to help our Clients, communities and businesses thrive in changing times. As part of bringing this blueprint to life, we’re driving initiatives that advance our Purpose— helping people achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives.

The Bridges Initiative is a key part of this work, focused on addressing the needs of underserved groups1. This global initiative aims to close gaps and create paths to greater health and wealth for people that have been historically excluded from or deprioritized in the financial industry. 

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The world is changing fast.

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At Sun Life, we're changing with it.

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Our purpose in action: Bridges Initiative

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Through our Bridges initiative, we're closing gaps and creating paths to greater health and wealth for underserved communities.

Already in 2024, we've reached more than 29 million clients through solutions that target the needs of an underserved group.

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Term Insurance for Diabetes

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In Canada, our market leading term insurance for diabetes is unlocking access to affordable insurance for people living with diabetes.   

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DentaQuest

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In the US, DentaQuest is expanding access to affordable preventative dental care for millions,

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Life Insurance for ASHI

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and in the Philippines, a customized life insurance product is ensuring over 120,000 low-income women and families. We're innovating, finding new sources of growth, and accessing new markets to help more people achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives.

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These aren’t just solutions. They’re Bridges.

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These aren't just solutions, they're bridges, closing gaps and creating paths.

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Learn more in our 2024 Sustainability Report.

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Our approach

Changing demographics, more diverse Client needs, and declining trust are driving greater demand for inclusive financial services.2,3 Sun Life's global perception research4 conducted across four countries revealed that while at least 80% of underserved groups trust their primary financial services providers, significant trust gaps still exist. Better understanding the needs of underserved communities is the first step to improving health outcomes and financial security. To do this, we are researching and testing new ways of working – piloting new models to drive innovation across our business. Our approach is focused on three areas to drive meaningful impact:

Product and service innovation

Developing tailored solutions and enhancements for underserved groups, powered by data and insights.

Philanthropy

Investing strategically in community organizations across the globe that support underserved populations, backed by our commitment to donate $75 million by 2030.

Advocacy and thought leadership

Promoting a more inclusive industry and generating research to understand the unique needs of underserved groups.

Our progress

In 2024, we launched the Bridges Initiative and began testing an innovation accelerator to help us design more inclusive products and develop new capabilities for our business. The accelerator brings teams from across Sun Life together to address gaps, build practical skills, and improve how we measure real‑world impact. Our goal is to take a long‑term perspective, break down silos, and better consider the needs of various stakeholders—especially our Clients.

By 2025, the Bridges Accelerator moved from an idea into action, funding projects focused on demonstrating how Client-centered design and prevention can create value for both Clients and our business. 

At the same time, we deepened our understanding of underserved communities. Building on in‑depth research completed in 2024 on how underserved groups view the insurance industry, we published the full research report in 2025. These findings have provided essential insights that have shaped our strategy. 

2025 Performance highlights

Client reach

Reached 28.8 million Clients through standalone solutions5 targeting underserved groups.

Philanthropic investment

Donated $33.1 million to causes that support underserved groups, marking significant progress toward our commitment to donate $75 million by 2030 and deepening our long-term impact.

Developing research

Released our first global research report, sharing insights externally to support our industry. Using insights from over 6,000 completed surveys across Canada, the U.S., the Philippines and Malaysia, we strengthened our understanding of underserved groups’ needs and perceptions.

Scaling innovation

Funded three projects across our markets globally through the Bridges Accelerator; each focused on addressing the needs of an underserved group within its market. To date, the Accelerator has supported projects across our Canada, U.S., and Asia business groups, demonstrating initial international footprint and scalability.

Bridges in action

Enabling access to insurance for underserved women across the Philippines

March 24, 2026

Sun Life Grepa Financial enables affordable life insurance in the Philippines, empowering underserved women through microfinance partnerships.

Building the future workforce of American oral health professionals

March 24, 2026

Sun Life advances access to specialized dental care in the U.S. by supporting geriatric dentistry and disability-focused training.

Explore sustainability spotlights

Bridging the Care Gap: Virtual Healthcare for low-income Canadians

November 26, 2025

Sun Life partners with community organizations to offer free virtual healthcare access to over 10,000 low- income Canadians.

Learn more about the initiative

Related links

Sun Life is improving prevention and care for diabetes

November 13, 2025

Our commitment to tackling diabetes reflects our deep understanding of the impact it has on people and communities. We’re helping those living with diabetes lead healthier, more financially secure lives.

The gender health gap continues to impact working women

September 19, 2024

Sun Life partnered with the Menopause Foundation of Canada to raise awareness of women's health and identify ways to better support women in the workplace.

Closing the savings and protection gaps in Asia

September 06, 2024

At Sun Life, our sustainability ambition is to maximize our positive impact and ensure the resiliency of our organization in support of our Purpose to help Clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives.

1 A group of people that have been historically excluded from or deprioritized in the financial industry, including underinsured or uninsured populations. Underserved groups will differ across countries but generally include low-income individuals, the emerging middle-class in developing economies, people with chronic health issues and disabilities, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, underrepresented ethnicities, religious groups, immigrants, and those living in rural communities.

2 Edelman Trust Institute. “2025 Edelman Trust Barometer: Trust and the Crisis of Grievance, Canada Report”. 2025.

3 Geneva Association. “Insurance and the Longevity Economy: Navigating protection in the era of 100-year lives”. 2025.

4 These findings are from an Ipsos poll conducted between December 12-23rd, 2024, on behalf of Sun Life. The survey was conducted across Canada, U.S., Malaysia and the Philippines. A total of 6,000 surveys were completed (1,600 in Canada, and 1,500 each in United States, Philippines and Malaysia) among those aged 25-64 (75 in PH) holding or intending to acquire at least one financial or insurance product.

5 Includes products and services that aim to address the unique needs of underserved groups, which is part of the Bridges Initiative that falls under the Purpose pillar of our Brighter Futures blueprint. Includes Canada (Individual Insurance and Wealth, Sun Life Health and Group Retirement Services), U.S. (Group Benefits and Dental), ASEAN Markets (Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia).