Calgary Public Library Foundation
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.
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.
42%
CENTS TO THE CAUSE
For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 42 cents are available for programs.
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OVERVIEW
About Calgary Public Library Foundation:
The Calgary Public Library Foundation is a 2-star charity that is financially transparent. It has an average results reporting score of B and overhead spending of 56% which is outside of Ci’s reasonable range.
Founded in 1999, Calgary Public Library Foundation (CPLF) fundraises for the Calgary Public Library Board. Its mission is to support Calgary Public Library’s programs and services to make it an inspirational pillar of the community and a global leader in library innovation. According to the foundation, one in four children start school behind their peers in reading and language skills. CPLF does not replace existing funding sources but instead seeks to enhance the collections, programs, and services offered by Calgary Public Library branches. The Library has over 750,000 active members, accounting for 56% of Calgarians.
Calgary Public Library Foundation covers priority library needs that are not covered by government funding. The Library reports that in F2023, 17 million items were checked out, including 5.5 million digital items and 11.5 million physical items. In F2023, the Library was able to add 20,000 books to its collections because of donor support. The Library also delivered 14,581 programs and 90 meeting rooms were booked 84,608 times. Additionally, it held 17 different holocaust education events, reaching 5,397 people and 1,511 devices were checked out through the 'Borrow a Computer' program. In F2023, 1,098 children came off the waitlist and joined the 3,478 children registered in the 'My First Bookshelf' program. This program delivers free books by mail on a monthly basis to children from birth to age five.
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Results and Impact
In a survey conducted in 2023 about the 'My First Bookshelf' program, 87% of respondents said that the program motivates them to read with their children at least twice a week.
While Ci highlights these key results, they may not be a complete representation of Calgary Public Library Foundation’s results and impact.
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Finances
Calgary Public Library Foundation had donations of $3.3m, special event fundraising of $462k, and donated goods values at $561k in F2023.
The charity received $305k in government funding representing 5% of total revenues and investment income of $1.3m.
Administrative costs are 32% of revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 26% of donations and special events. This results in total overhead spending of 58%, which is outside of Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.
Calgary Public Library Foundation has $14.8m in reserve funds. These reserve funds are the charity’s cash and investments. In these reserve funds, $439k are endowed by donors. Excluding donor-endowed funds, the charity has 5 years and 11 months of annual program costs covered by its current reserves.
This charity report is an update that has been sent to Calgary Public Library Foundation for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.
Updated on July 24, 2024, by Lily Ferguson.
Financial Review
Fiscal year ending December
|
2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative costs as % of revenues | 31.7% | 24.0% | 12.6% |
| Fundraising costs as % of donations | 26.0% | 22.3% | 19.5% |
| Total overhead spending | 57.6% | 46.3% | 32.1% |
| Program cost coverage (%) | 591.4% | 522.8% | 1,060.1% |
Summary Financial StatementsAll figures in $000s |
2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donations | 3,289 | 2,932 | 3,966 |
| Goods in kind | 561 | 100 | 87 |
| Government funding | 305 | 235 | 401 |
| Business activities (net) | 125 | 273 | 151 |
| Special events | 462 | 58 | 38 |
| Investment income | 1,317 | (1,004) | 839 |
| Other income | 0 | (50) | (71) |
| Total revenues | 6,060 | 2,543 | 5,411 |
| Grants | 2,444 | 2,578 | 1,425 |
| Administrative costs | 1,503 | 851 | 576 |
| Fundraising costs | 974 | 666 | 780 |
| Total spending | 4,920 | 4,094 | 2,781 |
| Cash flow from operations | 1,140 | (1,551) | 2,630 |
| Capital spending | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Funding reserves | 14,763 | 13,712 | 15,259 |
Note: Ci reported merchandise revenue net of expenses, affecting revenue and expenses by ($31k) in F2023, ($23k) in F2022, and ($24k) in F2021. Ci used the charity’s T3010 filing with the CRA to report administration and fundraising costs. Ci also used the T3010 to report government funding, and backed it out of donations. Ci reported amortization as a non-cash expense, removing it on a pro-rata basis from admin, fundraising, and program expenses. Ci adjusted for deferred contributions related to operations, affecting revenues by $nil in F2023, ($50k) in F2022, and ($71k) in F2021.
Salary Information
$350k + |
0 |
$300k - $350k |
0 |
$250k - $300k |
0 |
$200k - $250k |
0 |
$160k - $200k |
1 |
$120k - $160k |
0 |
$80k - $120k |
5 |
$40k - $80k |
4 |
< $40k |
0 |
Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2023
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Comments & Contact
Comments added by the Charity:
Charity Contact
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 403-221-2002