Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
STAR RATINGCi's Star Rating is calculated based on the following independent metrics: |
✔+
FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY
Audited financial statements for current and previous years available on the charity’s website.
B+
RESULTS REPORTING
Grade based on the charity's public reporting of the work it does and the results it achieves.
n/r
DEMONSTRATED IMPACT
The demonstrated impact per dollar Ci calculates from available program information.
NEED FOR FUNDING
Charity's cash and investments (funding reserves) relative to how much it spends on programs in most recent year.
26%
CENTS TO THE CAUSE
For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 26 cents are available for programs.
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OVERVIEW
About Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada:
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada is a 3-star charity. It has a B+ results reporting grade, which is above average. Its overhead spending is outside Ci’s reasonable range and it has enough reserve funds to cover two years and two months of its annual program costs.
Founded in 1948, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada (MS Canada) aims to connect with and empower people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Its vision is a world free of MS. MS is a neurological disease of the central nervous system. There is currently no cure for MS. Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world, where an estimated 90,000 Canadians live with the disease. MS Canada has three programs: Research; Education, Awareness, and Advocacy; and Support Programs.
The following information is from MS Canada’s 2022 impact report. The 2023 impact report was not available on MS Canada’s website at the time of this update. The 2022 impact report does not reconcile with the charity’s audited financial statements. Ci used the 2023 audited financial statements for the following program spending breakdown.
In 2022, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada spent $8.4m on Research (50% of total program spending). The charity supported 315 researchers in 2022. MS Canada invested $1.2m in 15 research grants to advance treatment and care in 2022. MS Canada invested $255,145 in two research grants to enhance well-being. It invested $3.7m in 36 grants to understand how to halt disease progression. The charity invested $472,000 in four research grants to prevent MS. In 2022, MS Canada reported an active research portfolio of over $35 million.
MS Canada spent $4.3m on Support Programs in 2022 (26% of program spending). The MS Knowledge Network provides resources and support to people with MS and their families and friends. In 2022, the MS Knowledge Network received 9,146 inquiries. MS Canada offers peer support groups and one-on-one peer support. In 2022, there were 81 peer support groups at the local and national level. These peer support groups provided 7,455 touchpoints in 2022. MS Canada reports that it supported 40,960 people through its programs in 2022. Almost 16,000 people participated in MS Canada events in 2022.
MS Canada spent $4.0m on Education, Awareness, and Advocacy in 2022 (24% of program spending). MS Canada reports that almost 6,000 people follow its social media channels. In 2022, 648 individuals across Canada benefitted from Quality of Life Grants. These grants help individuals purchase equipment to help them in their daily lives. In 2022, MS Canada took 46,388 actions to help change policy. These focused on five issues: income security, employment security, MS treatments, MS care, and housing.
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Results and Impact
In 2022, Dr. Helen Tremlett found a survival advantage in taking a first or second-generation disease-modifying therapy (DMT). This is associated with up to 33% lower risk of mortality in persons living with MS. Dr. Tremlett’s research program is partially funded by MS Canada.
In 2022, Dr. Simon Thebault published work showing that a biomarker called neurofilament light chain (NFL) is predictive of impending MS relapse. This can identify people with MS who could benefit from early treatment. Dr. Thebault has received research funding from MS Canada.
In 2022, MS Canada participated in the fight to improve Employment Insurance sickness benefits. Employment Insurance sickness benefits were extended from 15 to 26 weeks.
While Ci highlights these key outcomes, they may not be a complete representation of Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada’s results and impact.
This charity is not yet rated on impact (n/r).
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Finances
Ci consolidated the audited financial statements of Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada (MSSC) with the audited financial statements of Multiple Sclerosis Scientific Research Foundation (MSSRF) in 2021. On January 1, 2023, MSSC amalgamated with MSSRF to become MS Canada. Ci used the amalgamated financial information for 2023 and 2022.
In 2023, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada received $38.8m in donations and special events revenue. It also received $163k in government funding (less than 1% of total revenue). Administrative costs are 25% of total revenue (excluding investment income) and fundraising costs are 49% of donations. Overhead spending is 74%, which is outside Ci’s reasonable range. For every dollar donated, 26 cents are available for the cause. In 2023, MS Canada spent $18.9m on its programs and grants (41% of total revenue).
In 2023, MS Canada had a deficit of $5.9m and spent $151k on capital expenditures.
At the end of 2023, MS Canada had $41.5m in reserve funds (cash and investments). $235k of these funds are donor endowed. Excluding donor-endowed funds, MS Canada has reserve funds to cover 218% or two years and two months of its annual program costs.
This charity profile is an update that has been sent to Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.
Updated on July 24, 2024 by Thea Clark.
Financial Review
Fiscal year ending December
|
2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative costs as % of revenues | 25.2% | 19.3% | 8.5% |
| Fundraising costs as % of donations | 48.7% | 36.0% | 36.8% |
| Total overhead spending | 73.9% | 55.3% | 45.3% |
| Program cost coverage (%) | 218.4% | 280.3% | 0.0% |
Summary Financial StatementsAll figures in $000s |
2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donations | 26,414 | 34,285 | 26,417 |
| Government funding | 163 | 107 | 3,874 |
| Lotteries (net) | 0 | 0 | 136 |
| Business activities (net) | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| Special events | 12,393 | 11,091 | 11,843 |
| Investment income | 1,280 | (2,690) | 2,027 |
| Other income | 2,050 | 1,225 | 285 |
| Total revenues | 42,300 | 44,018 | 44,609 |
| Program costs | 18,771 | 16,537 | 0 |
| Grants | 146 | 315 | 1,587 |
| Administrative costs | 10,355 | 9,034 | 0 |
| Fundraising costs | 18,887 | 16,330 | 0 |
| Other costs | 0 | 0 | 46 |
| Total spending | 48,159 | 42,216 | 0 |
| Cash flow from operations | (5,859) | 1,802 | 0 |
| Capital spending | 151 | 219 | 165 |
| Funding reserves | 41,515 | 47,416 | 45,914 |
Note: AMORTIZATION: Ci removed amortization from program, administrative, and fundraising costs on a pro-rata basis. CHANGE IN RESEARCH GRANTS PAYABLE: Ci adjusted for changes in research grants payable in program costs, affecting total expenses by $2.3m in 2023, ($201k) in 2022, and ($1.8m) in 2021. CONSOLIDATION: Ci consolidated the audited financial statements of Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada (MSSC) with the audited financial statements of the Multiple Sclerosis Scientific Research Foundation (MSSRF) in 2021. On January 1, 2023, MSSC amalgamated with MSSRF to become MS Canada. Ci used the amalgamated financial information for 2023 and 2022. DEFERRED CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS: Ci adjusted for deferred capital contributions in donations, affecting total revenue by ($92k) in 2023, ($143k) in 2022, and ($236k) in 2021. DEFERRED LEASE INDUCEMENTS: Ci adjusted for deferred lease inducements in other revenue, affecting total revenue by ($45k) in 2023, ($46k) in 2022, and ($46k) in 2021. DEFERRED REVENUE: Ci adjusted for deferred revenue in donations, affecting total revenue by $46k in 2023, $101k in 2022, and ($493k) in 2021. GAMING COSTS: Ci reported lotteries and business activities net of expenses, decreasing total revenue and expenses by $nil in 2023, $nil in 2022, and $72k in 2021. GOVERNMENT FUNDING: Ci used the charity’s T3010 filing with the CRA to determine government funding in 2023 and 2022 and removed these amounts from donations. UNREALIZED LOSS (GAIN) ON INVESTMENTS: Ci included unrealized (loss) gain on investments in investment income, affecting total revenue by $1.3m in 2023, ($2.7m) in 2022, and $608k in 2021.
Salary Information
$350k + |
1 |
$300k - $350k |
0 |
$250k - $300k |
0 |
$200k - $250k |
4 |
$160k - $200k |
1 |
$120k - $160k |
4 |
$80k - $120k |
0 |
$40k - $80k |
0 |
< $40k |
0 |
Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2023
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Comments & Contact
Comments added by the Charity:
The following comments were added to a previous profile:
Since 1948, the MS Society of Canada has consistently transformed donor contributions into concrete services and research accomplishments that have helped tens of thousands of people with MS live better days.
The MS Society has been able to do this for two reasons: extraordinary community support of our mission and astute stewardship of donor dollars by volunteers.
The MS Society is a national charity led by volunteers who believe wholeheartedly in what we do and how we do it. We have over a million donors annually supporting our work and we receive only two per cent of our revenue from government funding. This is unlike the majority of charities in the health sector where the percentage of revenue from the government is 70 per cent according to Statistics Canada. In addition, we receive less than one percent of our funding from pharmaceutical companies.
The costs associated with our fundraising activities are strictly monitored and, year-over-year, result in our ability to provide millions of dollars to leading-edge research and provide services for people affected by MS.
Like any other charity that raises funds on its own, our fundraising costs are a reality. Without implementing dynamic and assertive fundraising programs, the MS Society would simply not achieve its mission. We strive to achieve a balance of containing costs without taking resources away from our communities.
Our reporting policies are transparent and responsible, and adherent to all government and industry standards. We report fundraising costs as fundraising costs. Our audited financial statements are made available to all supporters and the public every year.
Donors should feel confident that the MS Society of Canada is a careful steward of every donor dollar. Please visit our website for more information on donating with confidence to the MS Society of Canada.
For more information:
Jennifer Asselin, Manager, Public Relations and Communications
jennifer.asselin@mssociety.ca
1-800-268-7582 ext. 3144
Charity Contact
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Tel: 1800-268-7582