MADA Community Centre is a 5-star charity with Average demonstrated impact. It is financially transparent, has an above-average results reporting grade, and reasonable overhead spending. MADA's interest-bearing debts exceed its funding reserves (cash and investments), indicating a need for funding.

Founded in 1993, Mada Community Centre (MADA) is a Jewish charity that combats poverty in Montreal, Quebec. The charity gives food and other necessities to those in need through its programs. MADA provides all of its services free of charge. The charity states that 20% of people on the Island of Montreal live in poverty. It also states that people are struggling with the effect of food inflation, with prices increasing by 20% over the last two years. The charity runs five main programs: Food Bank (Chez Makolet); Meal Sharing (Meals à Partager); Holiday Meals; Shabbat to Share; and Social Programs. Charity Intelligence calculates it spent $4.5m on its programs in 2023, excluding the cost of donated food.

A Charity Intelligence 2024 Top 100 Rated Charity.

The Food Bank program received 38% of program spending. This program provides fresh produce, packaged foods, and household essentials to those in need. MADA states each order usually contains between $200 and $2,500 worth of food and essentials. MADA distributed 2,184 pallets of fruits and vegetables in 2023. It also served 79,196 cafeteria meals.

The Meal Sharing program received 20% of program spending. This program offers ready-made kosher meals to those struggling with meal preparation. This includes physical, financial, and age-related struggles. MADA distributed 401,760 meals in 2023.

The Holiday Meals program received 16% of program spending. MADA distributed 5,205 Holiday Boxes in 2023. It also served 2,250 Passover Seder and Rosh Hashanah festive meals at ten Montreal locations.

The Shabbat to Share program received 13% of program spending. MADA served 93,496 Shabbat to Share meals to 899 recipients in 2023.

Social Programs received 9% of program spending. MADA’s Care & Call program contacts MADA clients who lack social support to ensure their well-being. MADA made 1,048 calls in 2023.

The remaining 4% of program spending went to clothing and furniture distribution.

This financial report is based off of MADA’s draft audited financial statements for 2023.

In 2023 Mada Community Centre received $3.8m in cash donations. It also received $904k worth of donated goods in 2023.

Administrative costs are 6% of revenues (excluding investment income). Fundraising costs are 8% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 14%. For every dollar donated, 86 cents are available to go to the cause. This falls within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

In 2023 MADA spent $4.5m on its programs excluding donated goods used, which is 105% of its revenue excluding donated goods received. In 2023 it had a deficit of $772k.

Mada Community Centre has $836k in gross funding reserves and $2.0m in interest-bearing debt. Excluding interest-bearing debt, MADA could cover 19%, or two months of its annual program spending.

In 2023, MADA paid external fundraisers $82k who collected $300k in donations. This means it cost MADA 27 cents to raise $1 using external fundraisers.

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

Updated on August 19, 2024, by Grady Simpson.