Calgary Poppy Fund

About Calgary Poppy Fund:

Founded in 1967, Royal Canadian Legion Branch Poppy Fund, known as Calgary Poppy Fund, raises money in its annual Poppy Campaign to give financial and non-financial aid to war veterans, their families, and seniors.

In F2016, Calgary Poppy Fund raised $2.6m in donations and poppy box money and granted $1.6m to other charities and non-profit organizations. Calgary Poppy Fund gave $545k in bursaries, $500k to the Royal Canadian Provincial (Alberta) Command, $166k to Calgary Health Trust and $105k to Hospice Calgary. 

Calgary Poopy Fund also operates the Veteran’s Food Bank. Donations to the Veteran's Food Bank have increased from $25k in 2014 to $438k in 2016. In addition to cash donations, the veterans food bank received $391k in donated food. The veterans food bank reports providing veterans with $1m in food value and vouchers and $497k in financial aid. 

News update: July 19, 2018 CTV reports that the Veteran's Food Bank will be closing at the end of January 2019. Instead, Calgary Poppy Fund will focus on providing veterans with resources and supports from Veterans Affairs Canada.

Financial Review:

Calgary Poppy Fund is a mid-sized charity with cash donations of $2.7m in F2016. Its administrative costs are 6% of total revenues and its fundraising costs are 11% of donations. For every dollar donated, 83 cents goes to the cause. This falls within Charity Intelligence's reasonable range. 

Calgary Poppy Fund funding reserves of $1.5m that cover 45% of its grants and food bank operations. Calgary Poppy Fund increased its grants and food bank programs, drawing down its funding reserves which were $2.4m in F2014. 

Updated November 7, 2017 by Kate Bahen.