Cape Breton University is a 3-star rated charity. It has an above-average results reporting score, reasonable overhead spending, and is financially transparent. However, the charity has enough reserve funds to cover over three years of program costs. 

Cape Breton University (CBU) was established in 1974 when the Sydney Campus of Saint Francis Xavier University and the Nova Scotia Eastern Institute of Technology combined. CBU offers undergraduate and graduate programs to approximately 5,000 students. CBU also aims to increase the population on Cape Breton Island by promoting tourism. 

Cape Breton University focuses its work in two main areas: Academics and Research. The charity does not provide a spending breakdown between these two programs. In its audited financial statements, 9% of program spending ($8.0m) goes towards “Special purpose and research expenses.” However, an additional 52% of program spending ($45.0m) goes towards “Instruction and non-sponsored research,” so it is unclear exactly how much CBU spends on research versus academics. 

Cape Breton University offers over 60 degrees, certificates, and diplomas to its students. It has around 600 employees. The University gives out $2.6m in scholarships and bursaries each year. In F2020, it created a Perseverance Student Relief Fund which provided assistance to 393 students who had been financially impacted by the pandemic. CBU also offers the course “Learning About the L’nu Way” to educate students about Indigenous history and culture. In F2020, 133 students completed this course.  

Cape Breton University supports faculty and students in their research work. In F2022, researchers at CBU received over $1.0m in federal funds. Non-governmental agencies contributed additional funds. The University gave out 25 Research Innovation Scholarship Exploration (RISE) grants of up to $8k each. It awarded the Start-Up Research Grant (SURG) to Dr. Dong Meng Ren to continue his research on nonlinear taxation models. CBU created 200 new student undergraduate research opportunities. This included 23 students that received $2k each in Undergraduate Student Scholar Awards. In F2022, the University created a Centre of Excellence for Health Aging (CEHA) based on its previous research on the best care practices for dementia patients. 

Cape Breton University received total donations of $27.6m in F2023. Administrative costs are 11% of revenues (excluding investment income). CBU reported no fundraising costs in F2023. For every dollar donated, 89 cents go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.  

Cape Breton University has $321.7m in reserve funds. Of these funds, $55.6m are endowed by donors. Excluding donor-endowed funds, the charity can cover over three years and two months of annual program costs with its current reserves. 

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

Updated on July 6, 2023 by Clive Stevens.