Atlantic Salmon Federation Canada is a 5-star charity. It is financially transparent, has above average results reporting, and has acceptable overhead spending. 

Founded in 1948, Atlantic Salmon Federation Canada (ASF Canada) works to protect salmon and their habitats. Currently, illegal fishing and habitat destruction kill thousands of salmon each year. ASF Canada shares a close relationship with Atlantic Salmon Federation US (ASF US). The two charities share a website and publish combined annual reports. 

A Charity Intelligence 2023 Top 100 Rated Charity

ASF Canada runs three main programs: Research, Conservation, and Education. 

Research represented 43% of program costs in F2022. Through its research projects, ASF Canada monitors Atlantic salmon health and ocean conditions. It hopes to find the causes of declining salmon populations. In F2022, the charity tagged 209 fish in Greenland and 1,383 fish along Atlantic Canadian rivers. 

Conservation projects represented 40% of F2022 program spending. Within this program, ASF Canada focuses on political advocacy and habitat restoration projects. In F2022, the charity ran a 300-person survey about public opinions on protected areas. This survey influenced the New Brunswick government to protect 377,900 more hectares of land. With restoration, ASF Canada hosted a workday to eradicate invasive smallmouth bass. 

Education received the final 16% of program costs in F2022. ASF Canada runs the Wild Salmon Nature Centre that offers exhibits and tours of salmon habitats. The Centre was closed this year due to covid-19. ASF Canada also publishes reports and runs education programs to engage Canadians. In F2022, the charity published 14 news releases about its work. 

Atlantic Salmon Federation Canada received $1.5m in Canadian donations and special events revenue in F2022. It also received $1.3m in government funding, representing 25% of revenues. ASF Canada has a close working relationship with Atlantic Salmon Federation US, the American chapter of ASF. In F2022, ASF US contributed $2.7m to ASF Canada, representing 49% of total revenues. ASF Canada incurs fundraising costs to raise donations in the US on behalf of both ASF chapters. As such, Charity Intelligence has included funding from ASF US in the calculation of fundraising ratios, following discussions with ASF Canada. This has a material effect on lowering ASF Canada’s overhead spending. 

Administrative costs are 11% of revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 15% of donations and special events revenue, including grants from ASF US. This results in overhead spending of 27%. For every dollar donated to the charity, 73 cents go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. In F2020, ASF Canada was outside the reasonable range due to a decrease in Canadian donations, US donations, and special events revenue during that year. In F2022, these numbers increased again, meaning its cents to the cause is back in the reasonable range. 

ASF Canada has $5.3m in funding reserves, of which $1.3m is donor endowed. Excluding donor-endowed funds, the charity’s funding reserves can cover 112% or 13 months of annual program costs. 

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

Updated on August 19, 2023 by Clive Stevens.