Girl Guides of Canada
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.
A-
RESULTS REPORTING
Grade based on the charity's public reporting of the work it does and the results it achieves.
n/r
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.
55%
CENTS TO THE CAUSE
For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 55 cents are available for programs.
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OVERVIEW
About Girl Guides of Canada:
Girl Guides of Canada is a two-star charity that is financially transparent. It has a results reporting grade of A- which is above average. Its reserve funds can cover eight years of program costs, which is far outside of Charity Intelligence's reasonable range. For every dollar donated, 55 cents are available to go to the cause.
Founded in 1912, Girl Guides of Canada (GGC) offers weekly programs for girls that help them develop skills and make friends. The charity aims to empower girls through its programs and activities. GGC states that one in four teen girls do not know any women role models with their dream job. It also states that girls are twice as likely as boys to report experiencing sexism. Girl Guides of Canada is one of 153 members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.
Girl Guides of Canada offers guiding programs for girls split by age group: Sparks (5-6), Embers (7-8), Guides (9-11), Pathfinders (12-14), and Rangers (15-17). GGC changed its fiscal year end from December to August in 2024. Thus, Ci reports on the eight-month period from January to August 2024 (F2024). Charity Intelligence estimates GGC spent $12.8m on its programs in F2024.
In F2024, 60,611 girls participated in Guiding programs across Canada. Of the total girls, 21,534 were new members. Each member is assigned to a local unit based on age and location. The units meet weekly and take part in activities such as camping, games, and community service. GGC reports that over 850 local units signed up for its Pen Pal program to build connections across Canada.
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Results and Impact
Girl Guides of Canada surveyed caregivers about the impact of its Guiding program on their children in 2024. The results are as follows:
- 79% of caregivers reported Girl Guides improves their child’s social skills and helps them make new friends.
- 88% of caregivers reported Girl Guides provides a safe space for their child.
- 79% of caregivers reported Girl Guides has a positive impact on their child’s development and personal growth.
- 81% of caregivers reported Girl Guides instills self-respect and respect for others.
- 84% of caregivers reported their child feels like they belong thanks to Girl Guides.
While Ci highlights these key results, they may not completely represent Girl Guides of Canada’s results and impact.
Charity Intelligence has not yet rated GGC on impact (n/r). This does not affect the star rating.
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Finances
Girl Guides of Canada’s audited financial statements follow activity-based costing, a best practice. This means its expenses are clearly defined between program, administrative, and fundraising categories.
As mentioned above, this financial report is for F2024 (the eight-month period of January to August 2024).
GGC received $93k in foundation and community programs grants in F2024. It did not receive any cash donations. The charity received $8.8m in fees for service, which is 34% of total revenue. It also received $6.6m in cookie and merchandise sales, which is 26% of total revenue. GGC received $8.0m in investment income in F2024, which is 31% of total revenue.
Administrative costs are 45% of revenues (less investment income). Reported fundraising costs outside of fundraising for business activities are 0%. Therefore, total overhead spending is 45%. This falls outside Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.
In F2024 GGC spent $12.8m on its programs, which is 50% of its revenue. In F2024 it had a surplus of $5.0m, which is 19% of its revenue.
Girl Guides of Canada has $154.4m in reserve funds (cash and investments). Excluding $217k in donor-endowed funds, the reserves can cover 802%, or eight years of program costs. GGC's F2024 return on investment was 5%. Its three-year annual return on investment is 4%.
This charity report is an update that has been sent for review to Girl Guides of Canada. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.
Updated on June 17, 2025, by Grady Simpson.
Financial Review
Fiscal year ending August
|
2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative costs as % of revenues | 45.0% | 43.7% | 78.0% |
| Fundraising costs as % of donations | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Total overhead spending | 45.0% | 43.7% | 78.0% |
| Program cost coverage (%) | 801.7% | 992.4% | 1,353.1% |
Summary Financial StatementsAll figures in $000s |
2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donations | 93 | 138 | 0 |
| Government funding | 356 | 600 | 487 |
| Fees for service | 8,798 | 10,034 | 7,165 |
| Business activities (net) | 6,647 | 12,172 | 4,689 |
| Investment income | 8,039 | 8,804 | (8,782) |
| Other income | 1,877 | 2,623 | 1,505 |
| Total revenues | 25,811 | 34,371 | 5,063 |
| Program costs | 12,832 | 15,197 | 10,638 |
| Administrative costs | 8,004 | 11,166 | 10,800 |
| Fundraising costs | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total spending | 20,836 | 26,362 | 21,438 |
| Cash flow from operations | 4,975 | 8,009 | (16,375) |
| Capital spending | 637 | 397 | (2,804) |
| Funding reserves | 154,448 | 150,914 | 144,005 |
Note: Deferred fees for service: GGC uses deferred accounting. To show donors information on a consistent basis, Ci adjusted for these deferred fees for service. This affected revenues by $1.8m in F2024, $898k in F2023, and $595k in F2022. Deferred contributions: Ci adjusted for deferred contributions. This affected revenues by $574k in F2024, $1.2m in F2023, and $106k in F2022. Unrealized gain (loss): Ci reported unrealized gain (loss). This affected revenues by $5.9m in F2024, $3.9m in F2023, and ($12.9m) in F2022. Proceeds from disposal of assets: Ci did not include proceeds from disposal of assets under revenue. This affected revenues by ($30k) in F2024, ($334k) in F2023, and ($2.9m) in F2022. Business activities: Ci reported the cost of sales of cookies and merchandise under business activities to report net business activities income. This affected revenues by ($5.6m) in F2024, ($11.5m) in F2023, and ($10.2m) in F2022. Deferred capital contributions: Ci adjusted for deferred capital contributions. This affected revenues by $3k in F2024, $30k in F2023, and ($11k) in F2022. Administration: Ci removed operations from administrative costs and included it in program costs.
Salary Information
$350k + |
0 |
$300k - $350k |
0 |
$250k - $300k |
0 |
$200k - $250k |
0 |
$160k - $200k |
2 |
$120k - $160k |
3 |
$80k - $120k |
5 |
$40k - $80k |
0 |
< $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
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