Canadian National Institute for the Blind is a 2-star charity. It has overhead spending well outside Ci's reasonable range. It is financially transparent and has below-average reporting of its results for donors.  

Founded in 1918, Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) supports people impacted by blindness or vision impairment. CNIB runs community-based programs and advocates for those affected by blindness so they can live the lives they choose. It is headquartered in Toronto. The charity reports that 1.5 million Canadians identify with sight loss, and 5.6 million have an eye disease that could cause vision loss. CNIB reports that the leading causes of blindness are cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. 

CNIB runs six main programs for people impacted by blindness. These programs are titled: Advocate, Live, Learn, Tech, Play, and Work. 

Live: In F2021, CNIB allocated 44% of program spending to its Live program. CNIB describes this program as offering support and services to enhance the lives of people impacted by blindness. Some facets of the program include guide dog partnerships, peer support programs, and scheduled friendly call services. 

Advocate: CNIB's Advocate program received 19% of program spending in F2021. This program works to achieve equality for Canadians with sight loss. A program highlight in F2021 was launching a public awareness campaign urging people to consider the effect of covid-19 restrictions on Canadians with sight loss. 

Play: CNIB allocated 11% of program spending to its Play program in F2021. The Play program offers social, recreational, and cultural activities for people with vision impairments. A major component of this program is the charity's summer camps held on the shores of Lake Joseph, ON. 

Learn: In F2021, CNIB's Learn program received 10% of program spending. This program offers education, skills, and literacy support/training to foster social skills and independence in people with sight loss. In F2021, CNIB delivered over 4,000 virtual programs to people with sight loss and their families. 

Tech: CNIB allocated 9% of program spending to its Tech program in F2021. CNIB's Tech program provides training and accessibility services to ensure people impacted by blindness can use technology. The charity reports distributing over 1,000 smartphones (free of charge) to Canadians with sight loss throughout the pandemic. 

Work: CNIB's Work program received 6% of program spending in F2021. This program provides resources and training to individuals impacted by blindness so they can obtain work. 

The remaining 1% of program spending went to other programs, which CNIB does not report. 

Canadian National Institute for the Blind is a Major 100 charity, meaning it is one of Canada's largest charities in terms of donations. CNIB received $29.1m in donations in F2021. Administrative costs are less than 3% of revenues (less investment income), and fundraising costs are 52% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 54%. For every dollar donated, 46 cents go to the cause, which is well outside of Ci's reasonable range for overhead spending.

CNIB has $56.1m in funding reserves, once $5.0m in debt is accounted for. Of CNIB's net funding reserves, $13.9m is donor endowed. Excluding donor-endowed funds, the charity could cover 156% or one year and six months of its annual program costs with reserves. 

CNIB's auditors, Deloitte, note a legal action from the ordinary course of CNIB's operations in its F2021 audited financial statements. Management believes resolving these legal matters will not materially affect CNIB's financial position.

CNIB uses external fundraisers. In F2021, it paid $5.8m to raise $3.9m, equating to a cost of $1.50 for every dollar raised for the charity by external fundraisers.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Canadian National Institute for the Blind for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on July 28, 2022, by Sydney Olexa.