Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research

2200 Yonge Street, Suite 1600
Toronto, ON M4S 2C6
CEO: Alex Filiatrault
Board Chair: Andrew M. Pringle

Charitable Reg. #:11883 1437 RR0001

STAR RATING

Ci's Star Rating is calculated based on the following independent metrics:

[Charity Rating: 2/5]

FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY

Audited financial statements available only upon request.

B+

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.

40%

CENTS TO THE CAUSE

For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 40 cents are available for programs.



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OVERVIEW

About Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research:

Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research is a 1-star rated charity. It has an above average results reporting grade of B+. For every dollar donated, 40 cents are available to go towards the cause. Its reserve funds can cover one year and five months of annual program costs.

Established in 1987, Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR) is dedicated to researching and raising awareness on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). HIV is a virus that infects the human immune system and attacks white blood cells, increasing the body’s susceptibility to infection. Once HIV has compromised the immune system, it can lead to AIDS. CANFAR estimates that four Canadians acquire HIV each day. Canada is at the bottom of the G7 countries (USA, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK) in terms of reducing the number of new HIV cases each year. There is currently no cure for HIV or AIDS. In fiscal 2023 (year ended June), CANFAR spent $1.1m on its two programs: Research and Awareness. The charity did not provide a spending breakdown for these programs. 

Research: In F2023, CANFAR granted $286k in innovative research grants. This included five mid-career researcher awards. $50k of the granted money went to Providence Health Care Research. Part of the Research program led to the development of the Healthbox which is a smart, interactive vending machine. CANFAR reports that the Healthbox provided 1,786 sexual health items, 13,292 supplies to reduce harm, and 761 naloxone kits. CANFAR does not provide a date for this data. 

Awareness: The goal of this program is to increase awareness and education of HIV and AIDS, especially in youth and key populations disproportionately affected. CANFAR does not report quantified data from F2023 on this program.

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Results and Impact

Research: Several researchers CANFAR has provided funding to have made breakthroughs in HIV/AIDS research. Scientists have tried to develop drugs that target HIV reservoirs, but so far none have been effective. Dr. Brumme and her team have discovered eight new molecules that seem to effect HIV reservoirs. Currently, medication in the form of antiretoviral therapy (ART) helps treats the virus. Dr. Stephanie Nixon and a group of researchers launched a pilot project based in Zambia, with the goal of the ART treatment becoming more accessible to people in resource-poor regions. ART is now freely available to the 25 million people living in Zambia. 

Awareness: In 2019, CANFAR conducted a survey of 471 youth on their experiences with sex, substances, condom use, HIV/STI testing, knowledge of and attitudes towards HIV and more. Some of the results included: more than 80% of youth identified as sexually active and the most common age was 16, more than 75% of youth in non-monogamous relationships reported inconsistent condom use with the most common reason being they were not prepared, and six in ten youth disagreed that they would date, kiss, or share utensils with someone living with HIV. The survey findings were directly used to inform the development of CANFAR’s newest national youth resource that launched in 2021: Sexfluent, a youth-focused HIV and sexual empowerment platform.

While Charity Intelligence highlights these key results, they may not be a complete representation of CANFAR’s results and impact. Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research is not yet rated on impact (n/r).

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Finances

In F2023, CANFAR received $2.6m in donations, up 36% from $1.9m received in F2022. Administrative costs are 24% of total revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 37% of total donations. For every dollar spent, 40 cents are available to go towards the cause. This is outside of Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. In F2023, CANFAR spent $1.1m on its programs and grants which represents 42% of total revenues. 

In F2023, Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research had $1.8m in its reserve funds, of which $263k were donor endowed. Excluding the donor-endowed funds, the charity’s current reserves can cover one year and five months of annual program costs and grants.

Profile updated on July 22, 2024 by Abby Stout.

Financial Review


Financial Ratios

Fiscal year ending June
202320222021
Administrative costs as % of revenues 23.5%37.3%23.3%
Fundraising costs as % of donations 36.8%36.4%8.6%
Total overhead spending 60.2%73.7%31.8%
Program cost coverage (%) 137.7%122.1%160.1%

Summary Financial Statements

All figures in $s
202320222021
Donations 1,094,881419,3691,985,286
Government funding 015,102202,218
Special events 1,498,0291,492,209553,695
Investment income 34,15121,85363,210
Total revenues 2,627,0611,948,5332,804,409
Program costs 810,9281,073,105910,829
Grants 285,835281,267607,500
Administrative costs 608,487717,735637,330
Fundraising costs 952,795696,228217,653
Total spending 2,658,0452,768,3342,373,312
Cash flow from operations (30,984)(819,801)431,097
Capital spending 18,56314,97684,087
Funding reserves 1,755,0981,900,3712,673,336

Note: DEFERRED DONATIONS: To report on a cash-basis, Ci adjusted for deferred donations. This affected total revenues by ($189k) in F2023, ($1.0m) in F2022, and $563k in F2021. AMORTIZATION: Amortization was removed from program, administrative, and fundraising costs on a pro-rata basis. GRANTS PAYABLE: Ci adjusted for the change in grants payable. This affected total expenses by ($49k) in F2023, ($231k) in F2022, and $250k in F2021.

Salary Information

Full-time staff: 8

Avg. compensation: $81,217

Top 10 staff salary range:

$350k +
0
$300k - $350k
0
$250k - $300k
0
$200k - $250k
0
$160k - $200k
1
$120k - $160k
0
$80k - $120k
2
$40k - $80k
5
< $40k
0

Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2023

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Comments & Contact

Comments added by the Charity:

No comments have been added by the charity.

Charity Contact

Website: www.canfar.com
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 416-361-6281

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Charitable Registration Number: 80340 7956 RR0001