Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is a 1-star charity with a below average results reporting grade and overhead spending outside of Ci’s reasonable range. It is not financially transparent. With its current reserves the charity can cover one year and three months of annual program costs.

Founded in 1980, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) publishes research reports for policymakers and activists about social and economic issues in Canada. CCPA has a National office in Ottawa and five other offices across Canada. The offices are in Ontario, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and British Columbia. Each office publishes reports about local issues, while the National Office focuses on Canada as a whole. CCPA also has a magazine titled The Monitor about policy and current affairs.   

CCPA has several ongoing special projects and initiatives, including the Alternative Federal Budget (AFB), Climate Justice Project, Education Project, Labour Matters, Making Women Count, Manitoba Research Alliance, Seniors Care Project, Think Upstream, and Trade and Investment Research Project. AFB is the signature project of CCPA’s National office. In the AFB, CCPA identifies major social, economic, and environmental issues and creates taxation and spending measures that address those challenges at the federal level. In 2023, the AFB addressed affordability, inflation, climate change, inequality, and health care.   

Since 2000, CCPA has published 2,017 reports and studies, 1,405 commentaries, 1,150 news releases, 999 updates, 780 Monitor magazines, 177 fact sheets and infographics, and 131 multimedia and interactive materials. The content was authored by 1,448 individuals.   

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is not financially transparent. Its audited financial statements are not posted on its website nor provided when requested. Charity Intelligence's financial review uses the F2021 audited financial statements. This is the most recent information we have received from the Federal Corporation database. 

CCPA had donations and special event revenues of $6.2m in F2021. Administrative costs are 20% of revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 26% of donations and special events. This results in total overhead spending of 46%. For every dollar donated, 54 cents go to the cause. This is outside of Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.  Fundraising costs have increased by 117% since F2019 while donations have increased by only 11%.  

CCPA had $4.7m in reserve funds in F2021. These are the charity’s cash and investments. The reserve funds have increased by 30% since F2019. The charity has one year and three months of annual program costs covered by its current reserves.  

This charity report has been sent to Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on July 21, 2023 by Alessandra Castino.