Founded in 1993, MADA Community Center (MADA) is a Jewish charity that works to fight poverty in Montreal, QC. MADA reports that there were 18,130 Jews living below the poverty line in the Montreal metropolitan area as of 2011. The poor make up 20% of the total local Jewish population. MADA Community Center thus works to provide these people in need with basic necessities while bringing the Jewish community closer together.

MADA’s programs include a foodbank (now known as Chez Makolet), a cafeteria, Shabbat to Share, social events, and a clothing and furniture depot. The charity notes its services are provided at no cost to program participants. In F2019, MADA reported having a total of 5,923 members. 

Foodbank: In F2019, spending on MADA's foodbank, Chez Makolet, made up 31% of total program spending. The food bank offers a variety of free items, like produce, non-perishables, and household essentials, to people in need. In F2020, MADA provided approximately $30 million worth of food to people in need.

Cafeteria: MADA Community Centre’s cafeteria made up 29% of total program spending in F2019. The cafeteria serves three meals, 365 days a year, to those in need. MADA reports that as of 2020, it has provided over one million food servings, including hot meals delivered to people's homes and served in the cafeteria. 

Shabbat to Share: In F2019, MADA’s Shabbat to Share program made up 16% of program spending. Each week, MADA volunteers visit elderly people with special needs to deliver a Shabbat meal. In F2019, MADA reports that 44,100 Shabbat to Share meals were delivered. MADA hopes to provide 30% of the Montreal Senior Jewish Community with Shabbat to Share meal boxes in 2021, with an ultimate goal of reaching 100% of the population by 2030.

Other Programs: MADA runs two other major programs: Social, Educational and Special Events (15% of spending in F2019); and Clothing and Furniture Distribution (9% of spending). Special Events programs strive to ensure no one is left alone at home during Jewish holidays. At Rosh Hashana and Passover, thousands of people gather at MADA’s centres for festive meals and celebrations. MADA also runs a Care & Call program, which involves volunteers calling to check in on Jewish clients of MADA who have no social support. The charity's clothing and furniture depots carry gently-used items members can obtain for free, such as clothing, household items, children’s toys, furniture, and appliances. In 2020, MADA reports distributing approximately 130,000 used clothing items, and 3,000 used furniture items.

MADA Community Center had total donations of $4.4m in F2020. Administrative costs are 6% of revenues and fundraising costs are 4% of donations. For every dollar donated, 90 cents go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

­­MADA Community Center’s interest-bearing debts exceed its gross funding reserves of $1.2m. Excluding interest-bearing debts of $2.2m in F2020, MADA could operate using reserve funds for approximately 4 months. 

At the time of this analysis, MADA has not posted a 2020 Annual Report. Some metrics posted for F2020 were used for MADA's Results Reporting score, alongside MADA's 2019 Annual Report.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to MADA Community Center for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on July 6, 2021 by Rachel Leteta.