Founded in 1945, CARE International consists of 14 national divisions, including CARE Canada, based in Ottawa. U.S. President Truman sent the first CARE Package in 1946 as part of relief efforts in the aftermath of World War II. Since then, CARE has worked to save lives, reduce poverty, and promote social justice. CARE Canada states that 1.2 billion people live in extreme poverty and places a strong focus on helping women and girls to overcome poverty.

CARE Canada’s three largest programs are Humanitarian Action; Food, Nutrition, and Resilience to Climate Change; and Women’s Economic Empowerment.

Humanitarian Action represented 59% of program costs in F2020. CARE Canada responds to global crises and conflicts by funding emergency aid programs. In F2020, CARE Canada states that it supported 175,000 people living in refugee camps due to violence in South Sudan. The charity also runs projects responding to humanitarian crises and covid-19 outbreaks in India, Syria, Lebanon, and Venezuela.

Food, Nutrition, and Resilience to Climate Change projects were 21% of program costs in F2020. These programs aim to improve nutrition among women and children facing food insecurity and help women farmers sell produce to earn money. CARE also works with communities to improve farming techniques so crops can withstand the effects of climate change. Between 2016 and 2020, CARE Canada reached 188,958 people through nutrition education and training programs. In F2020, it also supported 522 local coffee producers, 70% of whom were women.

Women’s Economic Empowerment made up 9% of program costs. CARE Canada helps to create Village Savings and Loan Associations (VLSAs) of around 20 women each to encourage saving and financial independence. CARE Canada also runs programs to train women entrepreneurs in starting their own businesses. In F2020, it worked with 15 women’s groups in Morocco through its entrepreneurship programs.

The remaining 11% of program costs included Sexual, Reproductive, and Maternal Health (5%); Other Programs (5%); and A Life Free from Violence (less than 1%). In F2020, CARE Canada helped 171,600 women access reproductive and maternal health services.

CARE Canada received $5.5m in Canadian donations in F2020, along with $8.5m in donated services in Kenya and Zimbabwe. It also received $37.4m in international donations, representing 38% of revenues, and $45.2m in Canadian government funding, representing 46% of revenues.

Administrative costs are 13% of revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 21% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 34%. For every dollar donated, 66 cents go the cause. This falls just within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. CARE Canada has $24.7m in funding reserves, which can cover 33% or nearly 4 months of annual program costs.

CARE Canada used external fundraisers in F2020. The charity spent $453k to raise $195k from external fundraisers, at a cost of $2.32 per dollar raised.

Charity Intelligence has sent this update to CARE Canada for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on May 26, 2021 by Eric Zhao.