CODE is a 5-star charity. It has an A results reporting grade, which is above average. Ci has given CODE a High impact rating. For every dollar donated to the charity, 70 cents go to the cause, which is within Ci's reasonable range. 

Founded in 1959, CODE (Canadian Organization for Development Through Education) is a charity that promotes education in poor communities in Africa. CODE’s mission is to create a world where everyone can become literate and educated regardless of their background. The charity reports that 88% of children aged six to 14 in Sub-Saharan Africa do not meet minimum literacy levels. It also reports that a child whose mother is literate is 50% more likely to live past the age of five. CODE’s charitable programs are Literacy and Research Initiatives.

Literacy: CODE’s main program is Literacy. CODE works with local organizations to distribute culturally relevant books and learning materials to kids. It also provides teachers and librarians with training workshops to improve the quality of education in schools. In F2022, CODE distributed 299,874 books to 1,615 schools and libraries. Its literacy programs reached 300,615 children during the year. CODE ran literacy programs in Sierra Leone, Ghana, Mozambique, Liberia, and Malawi in F2022.

Research Initiatives: The charity’s Research Initiatives program gives $10,000 grants to African researchers to conduct studies on literacy in their own countries. In F2022, three studies reached completion and four new grants were awarded for literacy research. The charity now has six research papers available on its website.

Ci consolidated the audited financial statements of CODE with the statements of CODE Foundation. While transfers between the two organizations have been excluded, Ci has included a designated gift of $416k from CODE to CODE Foundation in donations because this money was never recognized as revenue by CODE. The charity reports that these gifts were recorded as a liability by CODE upon receipt. The liability was reduced when the money was sent to CODE Foundation.

CODE received $3.1m in donations and $5.2m in government funding in F2022. Government funding represents 52% of total revenue. The charity received $1.8m in investment income in F2022, representing 18% of total revenue.

Administrative costs are 10% of total revenue (excluding investment income) and fundraising costs are 20% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 30%. For every dollar donated to the charity, 70 cents are available to go to the cause, which is within Ci’s reasonable range. CODE has $23.6m in reserve funds, of which $8.3m in donor endowed. Excluding donor-endowed funds the charity can cover 218%, or two years and two months of its annual program costs.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to CODE for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming. 

Updated on June 27^th, 2023 by Liam Chapleau