MS 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.
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.
30%
CENTS TO THE CAUSE
For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 30 cents are available for programs.
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OVERVIEW
About MS Canada:
MS Canada is a 3-star charity. It has a B+ Results Reporting grade, which is above average. For every dollar donated, 30 cents are available to go to the cause, which is well outside Ci's reasonable range.
Founded in 1948, MS Canada (formerly MS Society of Canada) aims to connect with and empower people living with multiple sclerosis (MS). As of January 2023, the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society of Canada began operating under a new name -- MS Canada. This name change was the result of the amalgamation of the MS Society and the MS Scientific Foundation.
Under the MS Canada name, the charity continues its vision of a world free of MS. MS is a neurological disease of the central nervous system. There is currently no cure for MS. Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world, with an estimated 90,000 Canadians living with the disease. The charity reports that in 2019, the cost of MS in Canada to society was $3.4 billion. MS Canada has three programs: Research; Education, Awareness, and Advocacy; and Support Programs. In 2024, MS Canada spent $20.1m on its programs and grants.
At the time of this update, the charity’s 2024 financial statements were available; however, its most recent annual report is from 2023. While financial results refer to 2024, program results refer to 2023.
In 2024, MS Canada spent 43% of program costs on Research. MS Canada’s research goal is to bring the community closer to a cure for multiple sclerosis. In 2023, MS Canada reports it spent $5.7m to support 315 researchers through 68 grants. Of the research it funded, MS Canada invested $3.2m in 38 grants to understand and halt disease progression, $954k in 18 grants to advance treatment and care, $934k in four grants to enhance well-being, and $647k in eight grants to prevent MS.
In 2024, MS Canada spent 29% of program costs on Support Programs. In 2023, MS Canada reached 20,000 people through its Support Programs. The charity reports that 2,500 people were helped with rehab-assisted physical activity, 2,800 people were supported through MS Canada’s peer supports, and 2,000 people attended one of its 42 education sessions.
In 2024, MS Canada spent 28% of program costs on Education, Awareness, and Advocacy. MS Canada runs events to educate the public on MS and advocates to Canadian and international governments for policy changes. In 2023, MS Canada recorded 80 meetings with government officials and 23,191 letters sent to elected officials. The charity engaged 39,373 people through advocacy activities in 2023. MS Canada’s conference, EndMS, recorded 327 attendees, 45 speakers, and 123 trainees. MS Canada ran 11 third-party events, which reached 6,825 participants.
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Results and Impact
A study funded by MS Canada showed that cognitive rehabilitation was associated with increased grey matter volume and the activation of brain regions involved in cognitive function and information processing.
Another study funded by MS Canada found that cognition can be improved in people with progressive MS. The researchers found that two-thirds of participants in the trial showed an improvement in information processing speed and almost half retained these improvements six months after the intervention.
An MS Canada-funded study by Dr. Helen Tremlett (University of British Columbia) characterizing the MS prodrome, which involves studying the early signs or symptoms that occur years before MS is officially diagnosed. A recent report from Dr. Tremlett’s team found that people with MS often needed to use healthcare services to support their mental health needs and gastrointestinal-related problems in the five years before their MS diagnosis. A better characterization of the MS prodrome may allow for earlier disease detection and treatment to change the disease course or even prevent MS. Learn more about this study.
In 2023, the federal government of Canada passed the Canadian Disability Act into law, a law MS Canada advocated for.
Internationally, MS Canada worked with other global organizations to have MS medications added to the World Health Organization List of Essential Medicines.
While Ci highlights these key results, they may not be a complete representation of MS Society of Canada’s impact.
This charity is not yet rated on Demonstrated Impact. This shows as n/r and does not affect the star rating.
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Finances
MS Canada's audited financial statements use activity-based costing, which is a best practice. Ci used the charity’s T3010 filing with the CRA to report government funding.
In 2024, MS Canada received $41.3m in donations and special events revenue. The charity spent $20.1m on its programs, which is 43% of revenue, and recorded a deficit of $3.3m.
In 2024, MS Canada spent $18.2m on fundraising, which is 44% of donations, and $11.4m on administration, which is 26% of revenue (excluding investment income). Total overhead spending is 70%. For every dollar donated, 30 cents are available to go to the cause. This is well outside Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.
MS Canada has $38.7m in reserve funds (cash and investments). These reserves can cover annual program costs for 1 year and 11 months. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.
MS Canada uses external fundraisers. In 2024, it paid $81k to fundraisers that collected $128k. It cost 63 cents to raise a dollar through external fundraisers.
This charity report is an update that has been sent to MS Canada for review.
Updated on August 21, 2025 by Liam Chapleau.
Financial Review
Fiscal year ending December
|
2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative costs as % of revenues | 25.9% | 25.2% | 19.3% |
| Fundraising costs as % of donations | 44.0% | 48.7% | 36.0% |
| Total overhead spending | 69.9% | 73.9% | 55.3% |
| Program cost coverage (%) | 192.8% | 218.4% | 280.3% |
Summary Financial StatementsAll figures in $000s |
2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donations | 29,574 | 26,414 | 34,285 |
| Government funding | 231 | 163 | 107 |
| Fees for service | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Special events | 11,705 | 12,393 | 11,091 |
| Investment income | 2,371 | 1,299 | (2,692) |
| Other income | 2,461 | 2,050 | 1,225 |
| Total revenues | 46,342 | 42,319 | 44,016 |
| Program costs | 19,855 | 18,771 | 16,537 |
| Grants | 248 | 146 | 315 |
| Administrative costs | 11,395 | 10,355 | 9,034 |
| Fundraising costs | 18,170 | 18,887 | 16,330 |
| Total spending | 49,667 | 48,159 | 42,216 |
| Cash flow from operations | (3,325) | (5,840) | 1,800 |
| Capital spending | 111 | 151 | 219 |
| Funding reserves | 38,749 | 41,515 | 47,416 |
Note: 1. Deferred Revenue: Ci adjusted for deferred revenue within donations. This affected revenue by ($724k) in 2024, ($46k) in 2023, and ($42k) in 2022. 2. Deferred Lease Inducement: Ci included the change in deferred lease inducement within other revenue. This affected revenue by ($33k) in 2024, ($45k) in 2023, and ($46k) in 2022. 3. Unrealized Gains: Ci included unrealized gains and losses within investment income. This affected revenue by $2.4m in 2024, $1.3m in 2023, and ($2.7m) in 2022. 4. Grants Payable: Ci adjusted for grants payable within program costs. This affected expenses by $2.5m in 2024, $2.3m in 2023, and ($201k) in 2022. 4. Grants: Ci used the charity’s T3010 to report grants. This amount was removed form program costs. 5. Government funding: Ci used the charity’s T3010 to report government funding. Ci removed this amount from donations.
Salary Information
$350k + |
1 |
$300k - $350k |
0 |
$250k - $300k |
1 |
$200k - $250k |
4 |
$160k - $200k |
1 |
$120k - $160k |
3 |
$80k - $120k |
0 |
$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:
The following comments were added to a previous profile:
Since 1948, the MS Society of Canada has consistently transformed donor contributions into concrete services and research accomplishments that have helped tens of thousands of people with MS live better days.
The MS Society has been able to do this for two reasons: extraordinary community support of our mission and astute stewardship of donor dollars by volunteers.
The MS Society is a national charity led by volunteers who believe wholeheartedly in what we do and how we do it. We have over a million donors annually supporting our work and we receive only two per cent of our revenue from government funding. This is unlike the majority of charities in the health sector where the percentage of revenue from the government is 70 per cent according to Statistics Canada. In addition, we receive less than one percent of our funding from pharmaceutical companies.
The costs associated with our fundraising activities are strictly monitored and, year-over-year, result in our ability to provide millions of dollars to leading-edge research and provide services for people affected by MS.
Like any other charity that raises funds on its own, our fundraising costs are a reality. Without implementing dynamic and assertive fundraising programs, the MS Society would simply not achieve its mission. We strive to achieve a balance of containing costs without taking resources away from our communities.
Our reporting policies are transparent and responsible, and adherent to all government and industry standards. We report fundraising costs as fundraising costs. Our audited financial statements are made available to all supporters and the public every year.
Donors should feel confident that the MS Society of Canada is a careful steward of every donor dollar. Please visit our website for more information on donating with confidence to the MS Society of Canada.
For more information:
Jennifer Asselin, Manager, Public Relations and Communications
jennifer.asselin@mssociety.ca
1-800-268-7582 ext. 3144
Charity Contact
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Tel: 1-800-268-7582