Children Believe is a 5-star charity with Average demonstrated impact. It has strong disclosure with an A grade for results reporting. Its funding reserves are within Ci’s reasonable range and can cover seven months of annual program costs. For every dollar donated to Children Believe, 69 cents are available to go to the cause, which is within Ci’s reasonable range. 

Children Believe works to help children, families, and communities break the cycle of poverty by improving access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. Founded in 1938 (formerly Christian Children's Fund of Canada), the charity equips communities with the skills and resources they need to become more self-sufficient while promoting children's rights and long-term development. Children Believe is a member of the ChildFund Alliance, a network of 11 charities that support children's well-being in more than 60 countries. It currently operates in eight countries: Ethiopia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Honduras, Nicaragua, India, Paraguay, and Ghana.  

Children Believe’s programs include Health and Nutrition, Education, Child Protection, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion, and Youth Employability and Women Economic Empowerment. In F2025, Children Believe spent $20.6m on its programs. It reports touching the lives of more than 1,712,000 people across its eight countries of operation. On average, it cost Children Believe $14 for every person it reached in F2025. 

Health and Nutrition represented 46% or $9.5m of program spending in F2025. The program helps to build and equip health centres, improve access to healthcare and nutrition, and supports clean water and sanitation. In F2025, 590,602 pregnant women, mothers, and children gained access to essential healthcare services, 87 health facilities were renovated or equipped, and 44,533 healthcare personnel were trained. 

Education received 36% ($7.5m) of F2025 program spending. It aims to provide access to education from preschool through secondary school, while helping young people develop employable skills through school support, improved education infrastructure, and early childhood development initiatives. In F2025, 634,922 children and youths accessed education and life skills programs, 564 early childhood education centres were built, renovated, equipped, or supported, and 7,101 teachers, parents, and caregivers were trained in inclusive education. 

Child Protection accounted for 11% ($2.3m) of program spending in F2025. The program protects children from violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. It also promotes children's rights and encourages their participation in community decision-making. In F2025, 555,719 people benefited from child protection programs, 35,738 children and families participated in its sponsorship program, and 7,506 parents and caregivers received positive parenting training. 

Gender Equality and Social Inclusion represented 3% or $615k of program spending in F2025. It works to prevent gender-based violence and increase women's participation in education, leadership, and economic activities. In F2025, 447,594 people benefited from gender equality programs, 156,601 community members received gender and gender-based violence training, and 5,590 women advanced their skills through entrepreneurship programs. 

Youth Employability and Women Economic Empowerment received 3% ($590k) of F2025 program spending. Children Believe aims to help women and young people build sustainable livelihoods. It provides entrepreneurship training, supports savings groups, and promotes climate-resilient income opportunities. In F2025, 81,062 members of savings groups received entrepreneurship training, 5,534 women's economic collectives were supported, and 46,339 people were trained in climate change adaptation and mitigation. 

Children Believe’s audited financial statements follow activity-based costing, which is a best practice. This means its expenses are clearly defined between program, administrative, and fundraising categories. 

The charity had total revenues of $31.9m in F2025. It received $17.7m in Canadian donations, representing 55% of revenue, and $5.8m in international donations, or 18% of revenue. It also received $5.1m in donated goods, equal to 16% of revenue, and $3.6m in government funding, accounting for 11% of revenue. Investment income was $1.4m in F2025. 

Children Believe spent $20.6m on its programs, which is 77% of its revenue (excluding donated goods). The charity recorded a deficit of $1.9m in F2025, meaning it drew on its reserves to fund its operations. 

Administrative costs were $3.6m, representing 12% of revenue (excluding investment income). It spent $4.6m on fundraising, equal to 20% of donations. Total overhead spending was 31%. For every dollar donated to Children Believe, 69 cents are available to go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range. 

Children Believe uses external fundraisers, as reported on its T3010 filing with the CRA. In F2025, the charity paid the external fundraisers $1.6m to collect $4.0m in donations. This equates to a cost of 40 cents to raise one dollar using external fundraisers. It is likely more cost efficient to donate to the charity directly.  

It held $12.7m in reserve funds (cash and investments) in F2025. These reserves can cover seven months of annual program costs. This is within Ci’s reasonable range. 

This is a charity update that has been sent to Children Believe by Neela Jalilian on July 9, 2026.