Ecojustice
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.
68%
CENTS TO THE CAUSE
For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 68 cents are available for programs.
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OVERVIEW
About Ecojustice:
Ecojustice is a 4-star rated charity that is financially transparent. It has an above average results reporting score of A-. Its overhead costs fall within Ci’s reasonable range. Its reserve funds can cover one year of program costs.
Founded in 1991, Ecojustice Canada Society (ECS) is a legal advocacy charity that argues for environmental protection and climate change regulation. Ecojustice represents citizens, organizations, and businesses, among others, in court. The charity is based out of Vancouver, with regional offices in Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, and Halifax. To date, it has recorded 60 legal victories, 28 cases in progress, and two under appeal.
Ecojustice divides its advocacy into three main programs: Climate, Healthy Communities, and Nature. It did not provide a program spending breakdown in F2023.
Its Climate Change program advocates for regulation of pollution and emissions. ECS reports that emissions from buildings are approximately 10% of B.C.’s climate footprint, rising to more than 50% of emissions in big cities. It also reports that about 15,000 Canadians die prematurely from air pollution every year. In 2023, Ecojustice called for a federal investigation into the Royal Bank of Canada’s greenwashing.
Its Healthy Communities program protects human health and communities. In 2023, Ecojustice helped pass legislation reforming the Canadian Environmental Protections Act (CEPA). The Act had not been updated in over 20 years. The reform imposes controls on toxic substances and chemicals. It also recognizes the right to a healthy environment under federal law.
Its Nature program protects wildlife and natural environments. The charity is working to prevent the expansion of a shipping port terminal in British Columbia’s Fraser River. The terminal would threaten local Chinook salmon and killer whales. The case is currently under appeal.
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Results and Impact
In 2023, the Ontario government announced that it would expand the city of Hamilton’s boundaries by 2,200 acres. This move would encroach upon the Greenbelt, a protected area of forestry and watersheds. Ecojustice filed requests that the government disclose the role of developers in influencing the expansion. The government reversed its plans several days later.
While Ci highlights these key results, they may not be a complete representation of Ecojustice's results and impact. Charity Intelligence has not yet measured Ecojustice's impact rating (n/r).
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Finances
Ecojustice received $9.9m in Canadian donations and $1.1m in international donations in F2023. Administrative costs were 10% of revenues. Fundraising costs were 22% of donations. Total overhead spending was 32%. For every dollar donated, 68 cents are available to go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for spending.
Ecojustice has reserve funds of $8.2m which can cover one year of annual program costs.
According to its filing with the CRA, Ecojustice used external fundraisers in F2023. It paid a total of $117k to external fundraisers during the year. Ecojustice does not report how much these agencies raised.
Charity Intelligence has sent this update to Ecojustice for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.
Updated on June 4, 2024 by Stellar Zhang.
Financial Review
Fiscal year ending October
|
2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
---|---|---|---|
Administrative costs as % of revenues | 9.8% | 9.6% | 11.5% |
Fundraising costs as % of donations | 22.0% | 13.9% | 18.6% |
Total overhead spending | 31.8% | 23.5% | 30.1% |
Program cost coverage (%) | 99.3% | 126.5% | 115.4% |
Summary Financial StatementsAll figures in $000s |
2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
---|---|---|---|
Donations | 9,877 | 12,696 | 8,530 |
International donations | 1,090 | 23 | 679 |
Government funding | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Investment income | 251 | (372) | 56 |
Other income | 27 | 10 | 88 |
Total revenues | 11,244 | 12,357 | 9,352 |
Program costs | 8,281 | 6,978 | 5,493 |
Grants | 2 | 2 | 31 |
Administrative costs | 1,078 | 1,224 | 1,068 |
Fundraising costs | 2,168 | 1,759 | 1,590 |
Other costs | 11 | 0 | 14 |
Total spending | 11,541 | 9,963 | 8,195 |
Cash flow from operations | (296) | 2,394 | 1,157 |
Capital spending | (121) | 28 | 79 |
Funding reserves | 8,223 | 8,828 | 6,375 |
Note: Ci adjusted for deferred donations, affecting revenues by $205k in F2023, $209k in F2022, and $1.1m in F2021. Ci also reported international donations from the charity’s T3010 filings with the CRA and removed these amounts from Canadian donations. Ci reported program, administration, and fundraising costs from the charity’s T3010. Ci removed amortization from program, administrative, and fundraising costs on a pro-rata basis.
Salary Information
$350k + |
0 |
$300k - $350k |
0 |
$250k - $300k |
0 |
$200k - $250k |
0 |
$160k - $200k |
1 |
$120k - $160k |
9 |
$80k - $120k |
0 |
$40k - $80k |
0 |
< $40k |
0 |
Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2023
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Comments & Contact
Comments added by the Charity:
These comments were provided for a previous version of this profile.
Ecojustice is committed to operating at the highest standard. Toward this, Ecojustice is certified to the Imagine Canada Standard demonstrating operational excellence and leadership. Additionally, Ecojustice is committed to achieving justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion across our organization and to ensuring our work is consistent with and where possible advances reconciliation.
Charity Contact
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 604-685-5618