Fondation Desjardins is a 2-star, financially transparent charity. It has a below average results reporting grade and its overhead spending is outside of Ci’s reasonable range. The charity has $75.9m in reserve funds which can cover just under eight years of program costs.

Founded in 1970 by Desjardins Group, Fondation Desjardins’ mission is to support youth education. The charity operates mainly in Quebec with an office in Levis. Fondation Desjardins reports that, according to the Education Minister of Quebec’s 2022 report, in the past ten years, 13% to 15% of young people dropped out of high school before receiving a high school diploma or professional qualifications.  Desjardins aims to encourage young people to stay in school by awarding scholarships to students, grants to schools, and grants to partner organizations. In F2022, the charity helped 479,000 young people.

Scholarships – 32% of grants

In F2022, Desjardins awarded scholarships to 1,375 young people totalling $2.6m. It granted to students in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and New Brunswick. The scholarships reward students that are involved in community work or have overcome challenges in their childhood. In order to be eligible for a scholarship, the student must be a member of a Desjardins Caisse in Quebec or of the Desjardins Ontario Credit Union. Fondation Desjardins aims for 15% of the scholarships it offers to help people from diverse backgrounds.

Grants to partner organizations – 18% of grants

Fondation Desjardins granted $1.4m to over 20 organizations in F2022. The charity reports its grants allowed partner organizations to provide direct assistance to 381,000 people, both children and adults. It adds that the digital resources of one of the organizations it supports, Alloprof Parents, were viewed 500,000 times during the 2021-2022 school year.

Desjardins Prizes – 18% of grants

The charity’s grant program financially supports school and community leaders to carry out projects benefiting kindergarten, elementary and high school students. It supported 546 projects in F2022, granting $1.4m. Desjardins adds that 96,500 children participated in projects funded by the Prizes program.

Desjardins Philanthropic Funds – 32% of grants

Fondation Desjardins also allows its members to create personalised charitable funds for the causes they choose. In F2022, $2.6m was distributed to 216 donor-selected organizations. The charity reports supporting 26 new charitable projects in F2022. Since 2015, it has enabled the creation of 221 funds.

Fondation Desjardins is financially transparent. Its audited financial statements are publicly available on its website.

Fondation Desjardins has donations of $6.6m in F2022. Administrative and fundraising costs are 3% of revenues (less investment income). This means that for every dollar donated, 97 cents are available for grants. This is outside of Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

Fondation Desjardins is related to the Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec. Most of the Foundation's donations come from the Desjardins Group and Caisses (credit unions).  

Fondation Desjardins did not report any employees in its employee compensation section on its T3010 filing with the CRA.    

Fondation Desjardins has $75.9m in reserve funds, of which $17.9m is donor endowed. Excluding donor-endowed funds, the charity could cover 787% or around seven years and ten months of annual granting activity.  

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Fondation Desjardins for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming. 

Updated on July 20, 2023 by Victoria Allder.