Save the Children Canada is a 4-star rated charity with Good demonstrated impact on its international development programs. The charity has high fundraising costs, leading to overhead spending outside Charity Intelligence's reasonable range.

Founded in 1921, Save the Children Canada (Save the Children) works toward a world where every child has the right to survival and protection. As a part of the global Save the Children network of 29 national charities, it works to improve children’s rights in 117 countries. The charity aims to meet immediate needs by providing food and health services, and improving lives in the long term through education and advocacy for gender equality. The charity reports that the covid-19 pandemic exacerbates existing challenges for children. Save the Children reports that 1.6 billion children and young people were out of school at the height of the pandemic.

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In F2021, Save the Children Canada spent $39.7m on international programs (96% of total program costs). It spent 54% of program costs in West Africa, 13% in the Middle East, 12% in East Africa,  11% in South America, 7% on undisclosed international partners and 3% in Asia, Southern Africa, and Central America. The remaining 4% of program costs went to programs in Canada.

International Programs: In 2020, Save the Children Canada reached 44.9 million children. Through its covid-19 emergency response program during the year, it reached 29.5 million children in 87 countries. In F2020, the charity responded to emergencies in Syria, where more than one million individuals were forced to leave their homes due to the ongoing civil war. In Syria, Save the Children provided support through child protection interventions to 42,000 children, half girls.

In 2020, Save the Children Canada also reached 28.0 million children through health and nutrition projects, 12.0 million children through education programs, and 3.1 million children through child protection services. Its health projects train local health workers, fund maternal and reproductive health services, and send food for newborn children. Through its education programs, the charity provides safe learning facilities and advocates for gender equality in education. Save the Children Canada’s child protection programs create Child-Friendly Spaces where children can play, socialize, and receive psychosocial support.

Canadian Programs: Save the Children Canada’s main domestic program is its National Reconciliation Program. The charity reports that the child poverty rate among Indigenous children is 40%. Through the program, it works with local communities and child rights experts to improve Indigenous education and health outcomes. Save the Children Canada distributes books to raise literacy among Indigenous children and funds culturally-sensitive maternal, newborn, and child health clinics. In 2020, Save the Children Canada reached 15,132 Indigenous children, families, and caregivers across 79 communities.

Recent News: In April 2019, Sir Alan Parker resigned as the international organization’s chairman after allegations that the UK charity failed to investigate the alleged sexual abuse and inappropriate behaviour of former executives, Justin Forsyth and Brendan Cox toward a Canadian working with senior management.

At the time of this update, Save the Children Canada has not posted its audited financial statements for F2021 or F2020. The most recent publicly available financial statements are from F2019.

Save the Children Canada received donations of $12.6m in F2021. It also received $35.9m in government funding (72% of revenues) and $927k in donated goods (2%). Administrative costs are 6% of revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 38% of Canadian donations. This results in total overhead spending of 44%. For every dollar donated to the charity, 56 cents go to the cause. The charity's fundraising costs increased by 11% since F2020. This is outside Charity Intelligence's reasonable range for overhead spending.

Save the Children Canada has $27.5m in total funding reserves. The charity can cover 66% or just under eight months of annual program costs with its existing reserves.

According to its annual filing with the Charities Directorate, Save the Children Canada used external fundraisers in F2021. It does not disclose how much it paid to these external fundraisers or how much revenue was generated. This is mandatory filing required by the CRA.

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

Updated on July 29, 2022 by Ann Lei.