Founded in 1951, Easter Seals Alberta (ESA) aims to increase independence and provide recreation opportunities for people with disabilities and medical conditions. ESA is one of ten provincial arms of Easter Seals Canada. The charity operates three main programs: Camp Horizon, McQueen Home, and accessibility support services.

Easter Seals Alberta’s Camp Horizon received 50% of program funding in F2018. People with disabilities can participate with their friends and family in five-day summer camp or weekend programming. For $650-$735, adult campers participate in five days of activities that are customized to support different ability levels. ESA also organizes camp weeks to bring together kids with similar disabilities, hosting sessions for clients with bowel-bladder diversion, Crohn’s disease, kidney disease, epilepsy, a history of neurosurgery, dermatological conditions, and burn survivors. The charity hosted 833 campers in F2018, producing a total operating cost to the charity per camper of $2,580.

In F2018, ESA allocated 25% of program spending to its residential home, McQueen Home. Nine adults with disabilities live at McQueen Home, provided with opportunities to participate with their community and engage with each other. The house is staffed at all times with health care attendants and nurses. Alberta Health Services funds the cost of staffing McQueen House but the charity covers the cost of all capital purchases and improvements to the home, producing a total operating cost per resident of $119,382.

In F2018, 25% of program spending was allocated to accessibility support services. ESA supports clients in financial need by allowing them to receive a power scooter or wheelchair; install a residential elevator or lift; or electronically control lighting, heating, entertainment systems, appliances, and alarm systems in their home. The charity may pay a portion of the equipment costs, pay more than 51% or more of the costs and loan the equipment, or provide an interest-free loan to clients for the total cost of equipment. In F2018, the charity helped 200 clients with equipment needs. It also provided $36,000 through 9 scholarships to students with disabilities.

Easter Seals Alberta is a medium-sized charity with donations of $1.5m in F2018. ESA received $1.13m in government funding and $1.14m in fees for service, each representing 29% of total revenues. Administrative costs are 17% of revenues less investment income, and fundraising costs are 36% of donations. For every dollar donated, 48 cents go to the cause, which is outside of Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

ESA has $1.7m in funding reserves, of which $105k is donor-endowed. Excluding donor-endowed funds, the charity could run six months of programs using reserves.

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

Updated on July 31, 2019 by Madison Kerr.