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    Canada’s best charities 2020: Best by category

    Whether you want to help at home or around the world, we’ve got you covered

    Claire Brownell
    Content image

    Sooke, British Columbia (Pamela Joe McFarlane/iStock)

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    Canada is one of the best places to live in the world, but there are many social, economic, environmental and health issues that demand our resources and attention. Alleviating poverty, stopping the climate crisis and finding cures for deadly diseases don’t just require spending more money, but spending it wisely. These are Canada’s best charities broken down by major sector.

    Environment

    Charity Final grade Financials grade (worth 60%) Transparency grade (worth 40%) Need for donations Percentage of revenue spent on administrative costs Percentage of donations spent on fundraising costs Percentage of revenue spent on administration and fundraising Salary of highest-paid employee compared to similar-sized charities
    Bruce Trail Conservancy 97.5% 100% 94% High funding need 11.3% 11.1% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Nature Canada 92.5% 100% 81% High funding need 3.5% 10.0% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Nature Conservancy Canada 91.5% 90% 94% High funding need 11.3% 21.0% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society 90.0% 100% 75% High funding need 12.3% 7.3% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Evergreen 90.0% 100% 75% High funding need 6.5% 3.8% N/A Acceptable pay range
    David Suzuki Foundation 89.5% 95% 81% High funding need 4.6% 17.8% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Ecojustice 89.0% 90% 88% High funding need 14.0% 17.7% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Jane Goodall Institute 89.0% 90% 88% High funding need 7.0% 22.0% N/A Acceptable pay range
    World Wildlife Fund 86.0% 85% 88% High funding need 4.4% 25.0% N/A Acceptable pay range

    Fundraisers

    Charity Final grade Financials grade (worth 60%) Transparency grade (worth 40%) Need for donations Percentage of revenue spent on administrative costs Percentage of donations spent on fundraising costs Percentage of revenue spent on administration and fundraising Salary of highest-paid employee compared to similar-sized charities
    United Way of Calgary and Area 97.5% 100% 94% High funding need 9.1% 7.0% N/A Acceptable pay range
    United Way of the Alberta Capital Region 97.5% 100% 94% High funding need 7.8% 10.4% N/A Acceptable pay range
    United Way Ottawa (now called United Way East Ontario) 97.5% 100% 94% High funding need 10.9% 11.6% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Centraide of Greater Montreal (United Way Montreal) 95.0% 100% 88% High funding need 6.8% 7.1% N/A Acceptable pay range
    United Way of Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo 95.0% 100% 88% High funding need 7.0% 8.5% N/A Acceptable pay range
    United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern New Brunswick Region 95.0% 100% 88% High funding need 8.3% 14.5% N/A Acceptable pay range
    United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto 92.5% 100% 81% High funding need 8.1% 7.1% N/A Acceptable pay range
    United Way of Winnipeg 92.0% 95% 88% High funding need 2.6% 18.1% N/A Acceptable pay range
    United Way Greater Toronto 90.0% 100% 75% High funding need 5.1% 12.7% N/A Acceptable pay range
    United Way of Regina 90.0% 100% 75% High funding need 3.9% 14.7% N/A Acceptable pay range

    Health

    Charity Final grade Financials grade (worth 60%) Transparency grade (worth 40%) Need for donations Percentage of revenue spent on administrative costs Percentage of donations spent on fundraising costs Percentage of revenue spent on administration and fundraising Salary of highest-paid employee compared to similar-sized charities
    Victoria Hospice Society 97.5% 100% 94% High funding need 9.6% 13.9% N/A Acceptable pay range
    World Federation of Hemophilia 94.5% 95% 94% High funding need 2.0% 18.9% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Hospice of Greater Saint John 94.0% 90% 100% High funding need 7.7% 23.9% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Brain Canada 92.5% 100% 81% High funding need N/A N/A 5.4% Acceptable pay range
    Central Toronto Community Health Centres 92.0% 95% 88% High funding need 13.8% 7.4% N/A Acceptable pay range
    ALS BC 90.0% 100% 75% High funding need 12.0% 12.7% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada 89.5% 95% 81% High funding need 7.1% 16.2% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Huntington Society of Canada 89.5% 95% 81% High funding need 11.6% 15.2% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Philip Aziz Centre for Hospice Care 89.5% 95% 81% High funding need 8.2% 16.6% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Casey House 89.0% 90% 88% High funding need 10.7% 24.4% N/A Acceptable pay range

    Homelessness

    Charity Final grade Financials grade (worth 60%) Transparency grade (worth 40%) Need for donations Percentage of revenue spent on administrative costs Percentage of donations spent on fundraising costs Percentage of revenue spent on administration and fundraising Salary of highest-paid employee compared to similar-sized charities
    Calgary Food Bank 100.0% 100% 100% High funding need 3.8% 1.9% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Food Banks Canada 97.5% 100% 94% High funding need 2.0% 6.7% N/A Acceptable pay range
    The Mississauga Food Bank 97.5% 100% 94% High funding need 4.2% 11.4% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Wesley Urban Ministries 97.5% 100% 94% High funding need 6.8% 12.6% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Feed Nova Scotia 97.0% 95% 100% High funding need 4.5% 17.2% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Calgary Homeless Foundation 95.0% 100% 88% High funding need 9.5% 0.6% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Covenant House Vancouver 95.0% 100% 88% High funding need 5.1% 14.7% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Fresh Start Recovery Centre 95.0% 100% 88% High funding need 3.5% 13.7% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Greater Vancouver Food Bank 94.5% 95% 94% High funding need 10.6% 17.1% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Habitat for Humanity Manitoba 94.5% 100% 86% High funding need 5.9% 8.3% N/A Acceptable pay range

    Hospital foundations

    Charity Final grade Financials grade (worth 60%) Transparency grade (worth 40%) Need for donations Percentage of revenue spent on administrative costs Percentage of donations spent on fundraising costs Percentage of revenue spent on administration and fundraising Salary of highest-paid employee compared to similar-sized charities
    Jewish General Hospital Foundation 90.0% 100% 75% High funding need 4.2% 14.4% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation 87.0% 95% 75% High funding need 11.4% 17.4% N/A Acceptable pay range
    University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation 87.0% 95% 75% High funding need 6.4% 17.6% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation 85.0% 100% 63% High funding need N/A N/A 18.9% Acceptable pay range

    International

    Charity Final grade Financials grade (worth 60%) Transparency grade (worth 40%) Need for donations Percentage of revenue spent on administrative costs Percentage of donations spent on fundraising costs Percentage of revenue spent on administration and fundraising Salary of highest-paid employee compared to similar-sized charities
    Chalice Canada 97.5% 100% 94% High funding need 4.3% 5.9% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Canadian Foodgrains Bank 95.0% 100% 88% High funding need 6.7% 8.4% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Emergency Relief and Development Overseas 95.0% 100% 88% High funding need 5.2% 10.7% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Farm Radio International 95.0% 100% 88% High funding need 10.0% 8.0% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Opportunity International Canada 95.0% 100% 88% High funding need 3.4% 12.7% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Humanitarian Coalition 92.5% 100% 81% High funding need 10.4% 5.7% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Mennonite Central Committee Canada 92.5% 100% 81% High funding need 8.4% 2.5% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Primate's World Relief and Development Fund 92.5% 100% 81% High funding need 6.8% 4.0% N/A Acceptable pay range
    World Renew 92.5% 100% 81% High funding need 5.2% 8.9% N/A Acceptable pay range
    CODE 92.0% 95% 88% High funding need 5.7% 19.0% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Sleeping Children Around the World 92.0% 87% 100% High funding need 4.9% 1.6% N/A Underpaid

    Social Services

    Charity Final grade Financials grade (worth 60%) Transparency grade (worth 40%) Need for donations Percentage of revenue spent on administrative costs Percentage of donations spent on fundraising costs Percentage of revenue spent on administration and fundraising Salary of highest-paid employee compared to similar-sized charities
    Indspire 97.5% 100% 94% High funding need 9.9% 13.2% N/A Acceptable pay range
    George Hull Centre for Children and Families 97.0% 95% 100% High funding need 3.6% 17.9% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Canadian Red Cross 95.0% 100% 88% High funding need 2.0% 9.7% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Discovery House 95.0% 100% 88% High funding need 6.6% 11.2% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Hope Air 95.0% 100% 88% High funding need 3.8% 13.3% N/A Acceptable pay range
    MADA Community Center 95.0% 100% 88% High funding need 8.9% 2.0% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Mennonite Central Committee Ontario 95.0% 100% 88% High funding need 4.7% 6.5% N/A Acceptable pay range
    The Redwood 95.0% 100% 88% High funding need 8.9% 13.7% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter 92.5% 100% 81% High funding need 8.3% 8.5% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Momentum Community Economic Development Society 92.5% 100% 81% High funding need 8.4% 2.7% N/A Acceptable pay range

    Youth

    Charity Final grade Financials grade (worth 60%) Transparency grade (worth 40%) Need for donations Percentage of revenue spent on administrative costs Percentage of donations spent on fundraising costs Percentage of revenue spent on administration and fundraising Salary of highest-paid employee compared to similar-sized charities
    Boundless School 97.5% 100% 94% High funding need 2.9% 7.0% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Youth Without Shelter 97.5% 100% 94% High funding need 5.4% 13.9% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Children's Cottage Society 95.0% 100% 88% High funding need 6.1% 7.5% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Toronto Foundation for Student Success 95.0% 100% 88% High funding need 2.4% 10.4% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Trails Youth Initiatives 95.0% 100% 88% High funding need 5.6% 5.2% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Youth Employment Services 95.0% 100% 88% High funding need 3.6% 14.4% N/A Acceptable pay range
    360°kids 92.5% 100% 81% High funding need 8.0% 11.4% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada 92.5% 100% 81% High funding need 12.3% 10.1% N/A Acceptable pay range
    Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa 90.0% 100% 75% High funding need 6.0% 5.7% N/A Acceptable pay range
    CityKidz 90.0% 100% 75% High funding need 7.5% 10.2% N/A Acceptable pay range
    tags:Canada's Best Charities 2020Editor's Picks