Veterinarians Without Borders is a 4-star rated, financially transparent charity. It has an average results reporting grade and its overhead costs are within Ci’s reasonable range. The charity has $1.6m in reserve funds, which can cover ten months of annual program costs.

Founded in 2005, Veterinarians Without Borders (VWB) works internationally to support the health of communities, animals and the environment. The charity focuses on animal health as a way to improve human health. It provides support to farmers in poor countries, education programs and emergency support to animals to improve living conditions across the globe. It aims to tackle issues affecting public health and animal health by promoting ecological agriculture and through veterinary care. In F2022, Vets Without Borders worked in 11 countries other than Canada and reports helping 318,104 people.

The charity does not disclose how much it spends on each of its programs.

VETS program

In F2022, Vets Without Borders’ Volunteers Engaged in Gender Responsive Technological Solutions (VETS) program worked in six countries: Cambodia, Ghana, Kenya, Laos, Senegal and Vietnam. The program is a seven-year initiative that supports small farmers, and especially women, by improving their livestock and crops. As a result, the charity aims to improve farmers’ income and nutrition. In F2022, Vets Without Borders recruited and deployed 38 volunteers to support the VETS program. The charity provided 15,071 farmers and community members with advice on how to reduce disease transmission. It trained 240 people on poultry welfare and productivity and advised 213 people on proper pesticide use. The charity reports that the program benefited 10,341 women, 9,595 men and 3,088 children in F2022.

Northern Animal Health Initiative

Vets Without Borders’ Northern Animal Health Initiative (NAHI) program works to improve access to animal care in northern Canada. In 2017, a study conducted on behalf of Vets Without Borders found that 54 communities of over 100 people in northern Canada don’t have access to veterinary services. In F2022, the program vaccinated 650 animals for rabies and reached 350 northern students in school visits and tours. The charity had 17 veterinary volunteers working with the program.

International programs

In F2022, the charity worked in The Bahamas, Ukraine, South Sudan, the Czech Republic and Turkey. The charity runs the BAARK! program in The Bahamas. BAARK! provides spay/neuter procedures and training sessions to cats and dogs to reduce animal homelessness. In F2022, it completed 3,000 spay/neuter surgeries. As a result of the war in Ukraine, the charity began an emergency program to support Ukrainian pets and owners. Vets Without Borders provided 1,000,000 lb of food to Ukraine in F2022. The political instability in South Sudan has caused an increase in food insecurity. The charity reports that 62% of the south Sudanese population faces food insecurity. In F2022, the charity vaccinated 2,592 livestock, treated 1,392 animals and trained 40 community health workers in South Sudan. Vets Without Borders runs the Aging Together program in the Czech Republic, which helps seniors in financial need access animal care. It also provided rescue services to animals affected by the earthquake in Turkey.

Veterinarians Without Borders is a financially transparent charity. Its audited financial statements are publicly available on its website.

Veterinarians Without Borders received total donations of $2.0m in F2022. Administrative costs are 4% of revenues (excluding investment income) and fundraising costs are 1% of donations. This means that for every dollar donated, 95 cents are available for programs. This is just outside Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

The charity has reserve funds of $1.6m, which can cover 87% or ten months of annual program costs.

­­This charity report is an update that has been sent to Veterinarians Without Borders for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on July 13, 2023 by Victoria Allder.