220 St. George's Drive NE
Calgary, AB T2E 5T2
President & CEO: Roderick Tate
Board Chair: Jason Green

Charitable Reg. #:11878 1079 RR0001

STAR RATING

Ci's Star Rating is calculated based on the following independent metrics:

[Charity Rating: 4/5]

✔+

FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY

Audited financial statements for current and previous years available on the charity’s website.

B-

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.

70%

CENTS TO THE CAUSE

For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 70 cents are available for programs.



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OVERVIEW

About TELUS Spark:

Calgary Science Centre Society (TELUS Spark) is a 4-star charity. It has a B- results reporting grade, which is below average. Its overhead spending is within Ci’s reasonable range, and it has reserve funds to cover its annual program costs for three months.

Founded in 1997, Calgary Science Centre Society (operating as TELUS Spark) is Calgary’s only science centre. It aims to uplift people with the power of curiosity. TELUS Spark runs exhibits and programs that teach children and adults about science and technology. It has the largest dome theatre in western Canada and launches blockbuster shows.

In 2023, 427,724 guests visited TELUS Spark. 75,000 local K-12 students participated in TELUS Spark school programs in 2023. TELUS Spark provides subsidized school programs and bussing to underserved students identified by school boards. 10,452 people attended adult programs and 2,240 youth participated in TELUS Spark camps in 2023.

TELUS Spark offers six access programs. These programs provide free or subsidized admission for underserved populations. In 2023, access programs partnered with 87 local social services organizations to provide 35,106 free admissions.

TELUS Spark is partially powered by the Renfrew Solar Carport. The carport is a renewable energy installation in the TELUS Spark parking lot. It has 2,292 high-efficiency solar panels covering over 5,800 square meters. TELUS Spark reports that the carport produces 1.2 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually.

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Results and Impact

TELUS Spark reports that the use of grid electricity from the Renfrew Solar Carport prevents 426 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

While Ci highlights this key outcome, it may not be a complete representation of TELUS Spark’s results and impact.

TELUS Spark is not yet rated on impact (n/r).

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Finances

In 2023, TELUS Spark received $1.9m in donations. It also received $11.1m in government funding (56% of total revenue). TELUS Spark made $6.8m (35% of total revenue) from admission fees, memberships, school programs, and other paid programs. It also made $2.6m (13% of total revenue) from facility rentals, retail, and parking. Administrative costs are 12% of total revenue and fundraising costs are 18% of donations. Overhead spending is 30%, which is within Ci’s reasonable range. For every dollar donated, 70 cents are available for the cause. In 2023, TELUS Spark spent $13.0m on its programs (66% of total revenue).

In 2023, TELUS Spark had a surplus of $3.9m and spent $3.0m on capital expenditures.

At the end of 2023, TELUS Spark had $3.7m in reserve funds. This is enough to cover 29% or three months of its annual program costs.

TELUS Spark is currently seeking $45m through its Keep Calgary Curious campaign. Phase two of the campaign is currently in progress. It involves enhancing the Brainasium Outdoor Park, transforming gallery spaces, building a climbing structure, and establishing a new school entrance.

This charity profile is an update that has been sent to Calgary Science Centre Society for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated July 16, 2024 by Thea Clark.

Financial Review


Financial Ratios

Fiscal year ending December
202320222021
Administrative costs as % of revenues 12.0%12.6%8.9%
Fundraising costs as % of donations 18.2%9.3%40.2%
Total overhead spending 30.1%21.9%49.2%
Program cost coverage (%) 28.8%34.9%63.1%

Summary Financial Statements

All figures in $000s
202320222021
Donations 1,9443,418962
Government funding 11,0547,6438,135
Fees for service 6,7656,1812,215
Business activities (net) 2,5792,375647
Other income (2,745)(1,796)2,527
Total revenues 19,59617,82114,485
Program costs 12,95311,9076,019
Administrative costs 2,3412,2461,294
Fundraising costs 354318387
Total spending 15,64814,4717,700
Cash flow from operations 3,9493,3506,785
Capital spending 3,0102,1296,646
Funding reserves 3,7324,1563,798

Note: FACILITY RENTAL: Ci reported revenue from business activities net of expenses. This affected total revenues and expenses by ($2.6m) in 2023, ($2.2m) in 2022, and ($700k) in 2021. DEFERRED REVENUE: Ci included deferred revenue in other revenue. This affected total revenue by ($259k) in 2023, ($830k) in 2022, and ($266k) in 2021. DEFERRED GOVERNMENT FUNDING: Ci included deferred government funding in revenue, affecting total revenue by $2.5m in 2023, $nil in 2022, and $nil in 2021. DEFERRED SPONSORSHIP REVENUE: Ci included deferred sponsorship revenue in donations, affecting total revenue by ($247k) in 2023, ($258k) in 2022, and ($258k) in 2021. DEFERRED OPERATIONS REVENUE: Ci included deferred operations revenue in donations, affecting total revenue by ($204k) in 2023, ($1.4m) in 2022, and $nil in 2021. T3010: Ci used the charity’s T3010 filing with the CRA to determine program, administrative, and fundraising costs in 2021.  

Salary Information

Full-time staff: 141

Avg. compensation: $43,979

Top 10 staff salary range:

$350k +
0
$300k - $350k
0
$250k - $300k
0
$200k - $250k
1
$160k - $200k
0
$120k - $160k
3
$80k - $120k
6
$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:

No comments have been added by the charity.

Charity Contact

Website: www.sparkscience.ca
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 403-817-6800

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Charitable Registration Number: 80340 7956 RR0001