Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

141 Laurier Ave. West, Suite 1000
Ottawa, ON K1P 5J3
Board Chair: Larry Brown
Treasurer: Tania Jarzebiak

Charitable Reg. #:12414 6473 RR0001

STAR RATING

Ci's Star Rating is calculated based on the following independent metrics:

[Charity Rating: 1/5]

FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY

Audited financial statements available only through official request for information from Charities Directorate.

C+

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.

54%

CENTS TO THE CAUSE

For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 54 cents are available for programs.



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OVERVIEW

About Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives:

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.   

 
 

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Results and Impact

CCPA's Nova Scotia office published three reports, 11 blogs, and two op-eds in F2022. Media outlets mentioned CCPA Nova Scotia a total of 357 times in F2022.  

CCPA Manitoba published 10 reports and 23 commentaries between March 2022 and 2023. CCPA Manitoba states that 80% of its reports were mentioned by the Manitoba media. 

While Ci highlights these key results, they may not be a complete representation of Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ results and impact. This charity is not yet rated on impact (n/r)

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Finances

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. 

Financial Review


Financial Ratios

Fiscal year ending December
202120202019
Administrative costs as % of revenues 20.1%19.3%21.1%
Fundraising costs as % of donations 25.6%24.4%12.8%
Total overhead spending 45.7%43.6%34.0%
Program cost coverage (%) 127.5%135.2%89.1%

Summary Financial Statements

All figures in $000s
202120202019
Donations 6,1465,7245,533
Government funding 3115970
Fees for service 361222
Special events 8728193
Investment income 183033
Other income 291640
Total revenues 6,6276,4075,821
Program costs 3,6703,1624,045
Administrative costs 1,3311,2291,223
Fundraising costs 1,5961,401734
Total spending 6,5975,7916,003
Cash flow from operations 30616(182)
Capital spending 101217
Funding reserves 4,6804,2743,605

Note: Ci adjusted for deferred donations, which affected total revenues by ($34k) in F2021, ($394k) in F2020 and ($565k) in F2019. According to Note 11 of its audited financial statements, CCPA subtracted the Canadian Emergency Rent Subsidy from government funding and admin overhead costs. Ci added it back, affecting government funding and admin costs by $40k in F2021 and $5k in F2020. Ci reported administrative and fundraising costs from the charity’s T3010 filings with the CRA. 

Salary Information

Full-time staff: 36

Avg. compensation: $92,667

Top 10 staff salary range:

$350k +
0
$300k - $350k
0
$250k - $300k
0
$200k - $250k
0
$160k - $200k
0
$120k - $160k
1
$80k - $120k
9
$40k - $80k
0
< $40k
0

Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2021

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Comments & Contact

Comments added by the Charity:

No comments have been added by the charity.

Charity Contact

Website: www.policyalternatives.ca
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 613-563-1341

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Charitable Registration Number: 80340 7956 RR0001