Easter Seals Alberta
STAR RATINGCi's Star Rating is calculated based on the following independent metrics: |
✔+
FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY
Audited financial statements for current and previous years available on the charity’s website.
C+
RESULTS REPORTING
Grade based on the charity's public reporting of the work it does and the results it achieves.
Low
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.
67%
CENTS TO THE CAUSE
For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 67 cents are available for programs.
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OVERVIEW
About Easter Seals Alberta:
Easter Seals Alberta is a 2-star rated charity with a Low demonstrated impact. The charity has a C+ Results Reporting grade, which is below average. Its overhead spending is 34%, within Charity Intelligence’s reasonable range, and its reserve funds can cover 11 months of annual program costs. This is within Charity Intelligence’s reasonable limit.
Founded in 1951, Easter Seals Alberta (ESA) aims to increase independence and provide recreational opportunities for people with disabilities and medical conditions. ESA is one of ten provincial arms of Easter Seals Canada. As of April 2024, the charity officially merged operations with Children’s Link Society. The charity operates four main programs: Camp Horizon, McQueen Home, Family Resource Center, and Public Education.
In F2024, ESA allocated 49% of program spending to Camp Horizon. Camp Horizon provides people with disabilities and medical concerns with outdoor camp experiences. In F2024, it welcomed 506 campers with 2,532 volunteer hours and 8,400 program hours.
Easter Seals Alberta’s nine-room residential home, McQueen Home, received 27% of program funding in F2024. Through this program, adults with disabilities can participate in their community and engage with each other. The house offers 24/7 support with healthcare attendants and nurses.
In F2024, Easter Seals Alberta allocated 23% of spending to the Family Resource Center. ESA provides guidance and tools to caregivers, such as support with guardianship applications, mobility equipment, automation, and educational support.
The remaining program spending was allocated to Public Education, at 1% of program costs.
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Results and Impact
The charity reports that the revenue generated from its off-season events, such as weddings, retreats, and outdoor education programs, allows ESA to subsidize camper fees by almost 70%, making it possible for more families to send their children to camp regardless of their financial situation.
Charity Intelligence rated ESA as having a low demonstrated impact per dollar spent.
This may not be a complete representation of Easter Seals Alberta’s results and impact.
Impact Rating: Low

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Finances
Easter Seals Alberta’s audited financial statements follow activity-based costing, a best practice. This means that its expenses are clearly defined between program, administration, and fundraising categories.
In F2024, the charity received $1.7m in donations, which is 35% of total revenue. The charity also received $1.7m in government funding, representing 35% of total revenue, and reported $1.2m in fees for service.
In F2024, administrative costs are $539k, which is 12% of revenues (less investment income). Fundraising costs are $371k, which is 22% of donations in F2024. This results in total overhead spending of 34%. For every dollar donated, 67 cents are available to go to the cause, which is within Charity Intelligence’s reasonable range for overhead spending.
In F2024, the charity recorded a surplus of $397k and had net funding reserves of $3.3m. This reserve can cover 91% or 11 months of annual program costs. This is within Charity Intelligence’s limit of 300%.
Profile updated by Leah Holmes on June 19, 2025. Comments and corrections may be forthcoming.
Financial Review
Fiscal year ending October
|
2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|
Administrative costs as % of revenues | 11.7% | 10.4% | 9.8% |
Fundraising costs as % of donations | 21.8% | 21.5% | 20.1% |
Total overhead spending | 33.5% | 32.0% | 29.9% |
Program cost coverage (%) | 90.9% | 97.3% | 105.6% |
Summary Financial StatementsAll figures in $s |
2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|
Donations | 1,704,917 | 1,454,835 | 1,467,169 |
Goods in kind | 26,643 | 26,952 | 5,779 |
Government funding | 1,685,972 | 1,235,929 | 1,237,615 |
Fees for service | 1,153,256 | 1,240,074 | 610,814 |
Investment income | 206,036 | 77,672 | (103,576) |
Other income | 30,768 | 6,175 | 3,057 |
Total revenues | 4,807,592 | 4,041,637 | 3,220,858 |
Program costs | 3,500,455 | 2,857,257 | 2,346,542 |
Administrative costs | 539,078 | 413,923 | 326,299 |
Fundraising costs | 370,807 | 313,086 | 294,752 |
Total spending | 4,410,340 | 3,584,266 | 2,967,593 |
Cash flow from operations | 397,252 | 457,371 | 253,265 |
Capital spending | 73,746 | 172,736 | 412,155 |
Funding reserves | 3,283,754 | 2,880,875 | 2,578,521 |
Note: Ci adjusted for change in deferred capital contribution, affecting revenues by ($246k) in 2024, ($517k) in F2023, and ($328k) in F2022. Ci included unrealized gains (losses) in investment income, affecting revenues by $90k in 2024, ($10k) in F2023, and ($147k) in F2022. Ci removed donated goods in kind from donations and reported them separately. Ci removed government employment grants from donations and reported them under government funding. Ci included contributions to Easter Seals Canada for administrative and licensing fees in administrative costs.
Salary Information
$350k + |
0 |
$300k - $350k |
0 |
$250k - $300k |
0 |
$200k - $250k |
0 |
$160k - $200k |
0 |
$120k - $160k |
0 |
$80k - $120k |
4 |
$40k - $80k |
6 |
< $40k |
0 |
Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2024
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Comments & Contact
Comments added by the Charity:
Charity Contact
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: (403) 235-5662