Ducks Unlimited 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.
A
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.
73%
CENTS TO THE CAUSE
For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 73 cents are available for programs.
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OVERVIEW
About Ducks Unlimited Canada:
Ducks Unlimited Canada is a 4-star charity with an above-average results reporting grade. The charity has reasonable overhead costs and is financially transparent.
Founded in 1938, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) works to “conserve, restore, and manage wetlands and other habitats for North America’s waterfowl.” DUC says that wetlands are one of the most important ecosystems on the planet, but up to 70 percent of wetlands have been lost in settled areas of Canada. Ducks Unlimited Canada is affiliated with the US-based Ducks Unlimited and the two charities collaborate on some projects. In Canada, DUC states that it has influenced 228.2 million acres of land, conserved and restored 6.2 million acres and completed 12,329 habitat conservation projects since 1938. Its head office is in Winnipeg, MB.
Ducks Unlimited Canada’s spending on programs includes habitat conservation and revolving land; and research, education and government relations.
Habitat Conservation and Revolving Land – 92% of total program spending: DUC’s habitat conservation projects include work with wetlands, grasslands, water, waterfowl, wildlife, and Canada’s Boreal in all provinces across the country. In F2022, DUC conserved 109,062 acres of land, including 40,837 acres restored. It also influenced 33.7 million acres of land through partnership and policy. In F2023, the charity aims to conserve 145,346 acres of land and influence 4.1 million acres across the country.
Research, Education, and Government Relations – 8% of total program spending: Along with its conservation work, DUC also approaches the problem of the ecosystem through science, education, and policy. Its research projects focus on habitats that support waterfowl populations and how those lands affect other wildlife and improve human lives. Since 1938, it has led or participated in more than 300 studies throughout North America, generating nearly 750 scientific publications. For Education, in F2022, DUC launched two new Wetland Centres of Excellence, teaching students conservation knowledge like planting native species, testing water quality, and exploring wildlife. For Advocacy, the charity has a long history of influencing large-scale conservation programs in Canada.
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Results and Impact
Ducks Unlimited Canada reports that it secures important at-risk wetlands, restores those that have been damaged and drained, and manages the areas under its care. DUC conserved a total of 109,062 acres of habitat and positively influenced 33.7 million acres of habitat across Canada in F2022.
The charity reported contributing around $5.7b per year of economic value to Canadians, with $94.0m to the GDP, $254.0m to nature-related recreation and tourism, and $5.3b to ecosystem services. Regarding its social return on investment, for every dollar invested to DUC in conservation, restoration and wetland management effort, the charity reports that our society receives $22 worth of economic, ecological and societal well-being value.
While Ci highlights these key results, they may not be a complete representation of Ducks Unlimited Canada’s results and impact.
The charity is not yet rated on impact (n/r).
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Finances
In F2022, Ducks Unlimited Canada received $16.4m in donations. Administrative costs are 7% of revenues (excluding investment income), and fundraising costs are 20% of donations. This results in overhead spending of 27%. For every dollar donated, 73 cents go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.
Ducks Unlimited has $198m in reserve funds, once the $11k loan is accounted for. The charity can cover 243% or over two years and five months of its annual program costs with its reserves.
This charity report is an update that has been sent to Ducks Unlimited Canada for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.
Profile updated on June 20, 2023 by Krystie Nguyen.
Financial Review
Fiscal year ending March
|
2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative costs as % of revenues | 7.1% | 6.1% | 7.4% |
| Fundraising costs as % of donations | 19.8% | 20.5% | 40.3% |
| Total overhead spending | 26.9% | 26.6% | 47.7% |
| Program cost coverage (%) | 243.2% | 262.9% | 245.5% |
Summary Financial StatementsAll figures in $000s |
2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donations | 16,372 | 18,276 | 19,000 |
| International donations | 36,767 | 36,967 | 35,406 |
| Goods in kind | 1,303 | 992 | 563 |
| Government funding | 25,259 | 12,174 | 12,975 |
| Fees for service | 18,185 | 20,974 | 19,988 |
| Investment income | 9,759 | 32,560 | (7,069) |
| Total revenues | 107,645 | 121,943 | 80,863 |
| Program costs | 81,603 | 71,749 | 66,475 |
| Administrative costs | 6,986 | 5,409 | 6,484 |
| Fundraising costs | 4,535 | 4,944 | 10,171 |
| Total spending | 93,124 | 82,102 | 83,130 |
| Cash flow from operations | 14,521 | 39,841 | (2,267) |
| Capital spending | 5,072 | 9,215 | 404 |
| Funding reserves | 198,426 | 188,646 | 163,177 |
Note: Ci considered the received donated goods-in-kind as part of the charity revenues, which affected revenues by $1.3m in F2022, $992k in F2021, and $563k in F2020. Ci also adjusted for depreciation and amortization, decreasing program expenses by $870k in F2022, $822k in F2021, and $877k in F2020.
Salary Information
$350k + |
0 |
$300k - $350k |
2 |
$250k - $300k |
5 |
$200k - $250k |
2 |
$160k - $200k |
1 |
$120k - $160k |
0 |
$80k - $120k |
0 |
$40k - $80k |
0 |
< $40k |
0 |
Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2022
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Comments & Contact
Comments added by the Charity:
Comment added to the 2022 profile by Ducks Unlimited Canada.
About Ducks Unlimited Canada
Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is one of the largest and longest-standing conservation organizations in North America. From coast to coast to coast, we’re creating landscape-level change by impacting millions of acres of the most important and at-risk habitats. We know the value of what we’re conserving — and our results speak for themselves. Since our inception in 1938, we’ve conserved more than 6.6 million acres of natural habitat and influenced 195.2 million acres more.
Conservation is about more than nature. It’s about people, too. DUC finds effective and creative ways for people and wild places like wetlands to thrive together. In addition to the 400+ talented, dedicated DUC employees who make conservation happen across the country, we partner with all who depend on and appreciate the landscape. We’re proud to be the place where those who believe in the power and importance of the natural world rally together — and realize meaningful results.
Our approach
DUC brings together the people, places and conservation approaches needed to build a sustainable future.
Our financial commitment
Making the most of every charitable dollar is a responsibility we take seriously. That’s why DUC is committed to upholding the highest standards of accountability, transparency and trust. By directing funds in ways that produce the greatest conservation impact, every donor can take pride in knowing that they’re making a difference in their backyard — and beyond. Our goal is to invest 80 percent of our expenditures in habitat conservation annually. In the 2021 fiscal year, DUC invested 90 percent in habitat conservation.
For more information about DUC’s conservation results and impact, visit ducks.ca/annualreport
Charity Contact
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 1-800-655-DUCK (3825)