Distress Centre Calgary
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.
Fair
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.
91%
CENTS TO THE CAUSE
For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 91 cents are available for programs.
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OVERVIEW
About Distress Centre Calgary:
Distress Centre Calgary is a 3-star charity with Fair demonstrated impact. It is financially transparent and has an A- results reporting grade, which is above average. Its overhead spending is 9%, which is within Ci’s reasonable range. Its reserve funds can cover program costs for nearly five months, which is also within Ci’s reasonable range.
Founded in 1970, Distress Centre Calgary (DCC) aims to provide accessible crisis and navigation support to individuals in distress. This support includes suicide intervention, financial assistance, and contact via phone calls or text messages. DCC states factors such as the rising cost of living, housing insecurity, and ongoing societal stressors have contributed to an increased demand for its services. It reports marginalized communities, such as racialized groups, LGBTQ2S+ individuals and newcomers, often face greater risks of suicidal thoughts and mental health struggles but are less likely to seek support.
The charity spent $13.5m on its programs in 2024. DCC runs six main programs: 211 Services, Crisis, Coordinated Entry Program, Community Information Exchange, Counselling, and its Basic Needs Fund. It responded to a total of 164,780 contacts across all its programs in 2024. A contact represents a human connecting with another human to find help.
211 Services got 37% ($5.0m) of program spending in 2024. This telephone number connects individuals with community resources or services for different areas of need. These areas of need include financial assistance, legal support, volunteering inquiries, shelter, food, and mental health support. In 2024, 211 Services completed 59,183 contacts. This includes 8,479 contacts through DCC’s call diversion work with the Calgary police service and Calgary’s 911 number. As of May 2025, there have been 19,020 contacts.
Crisis got 33% ($4.5m) of program spending in 2024. This program provides 24-hour crisis support by phone, text, and chat to Calgary and Southern Alberta residents. It includes a 988-suicide crisis helpline, which provides urgent support for individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts or for individuals who are worried about someone they know. It also includes the ConnecTeen youth program, where youth can contact 24/7 by phone, chat or text to receive support from a youth peer volunteer. In 2024, volunteers gave 24,415 hours of crisis support by phone, chat and text. There was a total of 50,569 contacts in 2024, which includes 2,843 ConnecTeen contacts. As of May 2025, there have been 23,532 Crisis contacts.
Coordinated Entry Program got 14% ($2.0m) of program spending in 2024. This program provides housing support at the Safe Communities Opportunity and Resource Centre (SORCe). This support includes emergency shelter, financial assistance, and community connection. In 2024, DCC conducted 427 housing assessments. It connected over 7,500 individuals and families to essential supports across housing, financial, health, and justice systems.
Community Information Exchange got 7% ($902k) of program spending in 2024. This program aims to use technology to improve information sharing, navigation systems, and coordination between community partners regarding crisis support. Ci found little information on this program.
Counselling got 6% ($751k) of program spending in 2024. DCC provides free counselling for individuals, couples, and families dealing with a crisis. In 2024, DCC provided professional counselling support to 387 clients. It responded to 2,420 counselling contacts.
Its Basic Needs Fund got 3% ($451k) of program spending in 2024. DCC’s Basic Needs Fund goes toward individuals who need one-time financial assistance. This includes support with rental arrears, damage deposits, and utility payments. It distributed funds to 296 clients in 2024.
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Results and Impact
In 2024, Distress Centre Calgary reported that 89% of its Crisis contacts initially assessed as high risk were stabilized. It also stated that 84% of its surveyed ConnecTeen users reported a stable or reduced level of distress at the end of their chat sessions. In 2024, DCC stated that 81% of surveyed users from its 211 Services reported that their contact helped them identify what they needed. The charity also stated that 89% of surveyed clients reported they were better able to cope 60 to 90 days after counselling in 2024.
While Ci highlights these key results, they may not completely represent DCC’s results and impact.
Ci has rated DCC as Fair for its demonstrated impact.
Impact Rating: Fair
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Finances
Distress Centre Calgary’s audited financial statements appear to follow activity-based costing, but the charity has not fully disclosed the breakdown between program, fundraising and administrative costs.
DCC received $4.7m in donations in 2024, which is 35% of total revenue. In 2024, it got $6.3m in government funding, which is 48% of total revenue. It spent $13.5m on its programs in 2024, which is 102% of revenue. DCC recorded a deficit of $968k in 2024.
DCC spent $335k on fundraising costs, which is 7% of donations. It spent $209k on administrative costs, which is 2% of revenue. DCC has total overhead spending of 9%. For every dollar donated to DCC, 91 cents are available to go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.
DCC has $5.5m in reserve funds (cash and investments). DCC’s reserve funds can cover 41% or nearly five months of its annual program costs. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.
This report is an update that has been sent to Distress Centre Calgary for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.
Updated on August 28, 2025, by Leah DeFrancesco.
Financial Review
Fiscal year ending December
|
2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative costs as % of revenues | 1.6% | 1.7% | 2.1% |
| Fundraising costs as % of donations | 7.2% | 9.7% | 9.0% |
| Total overhead spending | 8.8% | 11.5% | 11.1% |
| Program cost coverage (%) | 40.6% | 50.8% | 48.4% |
Summary Financial StatementsAll figures in $000s |
2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donations | 4,667 | 4,915 | 4,070 |
| Goods in kind | 0 | 0 | 29 |
| Government funding | 6,300 | 5,915 | 4,150 |
| Lotteries (net) | 0 | 0 | 113 |
| Investment income | 123 | 106 | 39 |
| Other income | 2,140 | 2,006 | 0 |
| Total revenues | 13,230 | 12,942 | 8,399 |
| Program costs | 13,493 | 9,768 | 7,909 |
| Administrative costs | 209 | 223 | 179 |
| Fundraising costs | 335 | 479 | 364 |
| Other costs | 162 | 74 | 125 |
| Total spending | 14,198 | 10,544 | 8,577 |
| Cash flow from operations | (968) | 2,398 | (178) |
| Capital spending | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Funding reserves | 5,479 | 4,959 | 3,824 |
Note: 1. Ci adjusted for deferred revenue, affecting total revenue by ($941k) in 2024, $2.3m in 2023, and ($603k) in 2022.
Salary Information
$350k + |
0 |
$300k - $350k |
0 |
$250k - $300k |
0 |
$200k - $250k |
0 |
$160k - $200k |
1 |
$120k - $160k |
0 |
$80k - $120k |
7 |
$40k - $80k |
2 |
< $40k |
0 |
Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2023
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Comments & Contact
Comments added by the Charity:
Distress Centre Calgary has provided 24 hour crisis support in Calgary and southern Alberta since 1970. They do this through their 24 hour crisis line, email, chat and texting for youth. They have a peer support phone and online crisis service for youth. The charity has professional counselling for more complex issues and an information and referral service through 211. Their crisis and 211 phone service is offered in over 200 languages. They do not define crisis. They do not judge. Distress Centre is here for everyone day or night and all of their services are free.
Distress Centre Calgary’s mission is to “provide compassionate, accessible crisis support that enhances the health, well-being and resiliency of individuals in distress.” In 2024, DCC responded to 164,780 contacts across all their programs and services.
Charity Contact
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Email: info@distresscentre.com
Tel: 403-266-1601