Breakthrough T1D is a 3-star charity. It is financially transparent and has an above average A- results reporting grade. Its overhead spending is outside of Ci’s reasonable range. Its reserve funds could cover program costs for five months, which is within Ci’s reasonable range.

Founded in 1970, Breakthrough T1D (BTD), formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Canada, is the leading research and advocacy organization for type 1 diabetes (T1D). It raises money to cure, prevent and treat T1D and increase education of the disease. T1D is a chronic autoimmune disease that stops insulin production, a hormone needed to get energy from food. The charity reports an estimated 300,000 Canadians live with T1D and that this number is growing at 4.4% per year.

BTD has two main programs: Research, and Education and Advocacy. In 2025, the charity spent a total of $11.9m on its programs and grants.

Research represented 83% ($9.9m) of program spending in 2025. The charity funds T1D research through grants that focus on ending cures and making life easier for T1D patients. In 2025, the charity produced 153 new scientific publications and facilitated 297 engagement activities, including media broadcasts, expert panels, and presentations. It also managed 70 active grants involving 948 researchers and staff.

Education and Advocacy represented 17% ($2.0m) of program spending in 2025. The charity aims to advocate for T1D at the federal and provincial levels toward greater research funding and support. In 2025, it hosted 31 community engagement events, sent 1,630 emails to candidates during the federal election, and presented to British Columbia’s Committee on Finance and Government Services.

Breakthrough T1D’s audited financial statements follow activity-based costing, a financial reporting best practice. This means its expenses are clearly defined between program, administrative, and fundraising costs.

In 2025, BTD received $19.7m in donations, which accounted for all of its revenue.

The charity spent $11.9m on its programs and grants, accounting for 61% of total revenue. It ran a deficit of $2.1m in 2025, meaning it drew on its reserves to fund operations.

Fundraising costs were $7.1m, which is 36% of donations, and administrative costs were $2.7m, which is 14% of revenue (excluding investment income). Total overhead was 50%, meaning that for every dollar received, 50 cents are available to go to the cause. This is outside of Ci’s reasonable range, which suggests 65-95 cents per dollar. The charity has been outside of Ci's reasonable range for all 15 years that we have analyzed it. 

At the end of the year, BTD had $4.9m in reserve funds (cash and investments), which could cover its annual program costs for five months. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

BTD is committed to grant $5.7m due in December 2026 to fund T1D research through its partnership with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

This report is an update that has been sent to Breakthrough T1D for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on July 9, 2026 by Ava Anderson.