Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada

250 Dundas Street West, Suite 500
Toronto, ON M5T 2Z5
President & CEO: Pamela Valentine
Board Chair: Susan Senecal

Charitable Reg. #:10774 6174 RR0001

STAR RATING

Ci's Star Rating is calculated based on the following independent metrics:

[Charity Rating: 3/5]

✔+

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.

50%

CENTS TO THE CAUSE

For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 50 cents are available for programs.



My anchor

OVERVIEW

About Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada:

MS Society is a 3-star charity with a below-average results reporting grade. It is financially transparent but has persistently high fundraising costs leading to overhead spending outside of Charity Intelligence's reasonable range. 

Founded in 1948, the mission of Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada (MS Society) is to connect and empower the MS community to create positive change. MS is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that can cause symptoms such as fatigue, lack of coordination, weakness, vision problems, and cognitive impairment. There is currently no cure for MS. The charity reports that Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world, with an estimated 90,000 Canadians living with the disease. MS Society of Canada has seven regional divisions across Canada, with a head office in Toronto. The charity runs four programs: Research; Public Education and Awareness; Client Programs and Services; and Government and Community Relations.

MS Society's 2022 Impact Report was not yet available at the time of this report. Ci used the 2021 Impact Report for the results reporting update. 

Research – 43% of program spending ($8.4m): In 2021, the charity reported giving ten research grants to advance treatment and care ($1.6m), two to enhance patients’ well-being ($44k), four to prevent MS ($275k), and 29 to understand and halt disease progression ($721k). 

Public Education and Awareness – 27% of program spending ($5.2m): MS Society of Canada provides information about multiple sclerosis through the MS Knowledge Network program. Support is provided through phone, email, and live chat.

Client Programs and Services – 22% of total program spending ($4.3m): A total of 20,079 people were supported in 2021 through services and resources. The MS Society of Canada runs a 1:1 Peer Support Program for its clients. This is a telephone and internet-based program that aims to reduce the social isolation and loneliness of people with MS.

Government and Community Relations – 8% of program spending ($1.6m): The charity advocates to help reduce barriers for people living with multiple sclerosis. It advocates for changes in four areas: employment security, income security, improved accessibility, and accelerating research. In 2021, 27,887 letters were sent by 10,049 supporters in the lead-up to the federal election to inform candidates about the issues and concerns of Canadians living with MS.

My anchor

Results and Impact

In F2021, two additional drugs were approved for the treatment of MS, bringing the total number of approved drugs from 17 (in F2020) to 19. MS also reported that its advocacy efforts led to extending bereavement leave by an extra five days for federally regulated workers through Bill C-220. It also helped increase employment insurance sickness benefits from 15 weeks to 26 weeks, which is expected to be implemented in summer 2022.

While Ci highlights these key results, they may not be a complete representation of MS Society of Canada’s results and impact. The charity is not yet rated on impact (n/r).  

 

My anchor

Finances

This financial analysis reflects the consolidated financial position of Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and Multiple Sclerosis Scientific Research Foundation. After its year-end, on January 1, 2023, MS Society and its foundation amalgamated. Charity Intelligence's analysis has always consolidated the two charities to provide donors with greater transparency. The charity will now be called MS Canada.

In F2022, MS Society received donations and special event revenues of $43.9m. The charity also received $1.5m in government funding, representing 3% of total revenues. Administrative costs are 14% of revenues (less investment income), and fundraising costs are 37% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 50%. For every dollar donated, 50 cents go to the cause. This is outside of Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. MS Society has been outside of this range since its first analysis in 2011.

MS Society has $47.4m in reserve funds, of which $216k is donor endowed. Excluding donor-endowed funds, the charity could cover 2.4 years of its annual granting and program costs with its reserves. 

This charity report is an update that has been sent to MS Society for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming. 

Updated on July 7, 2023 by Krystie Nguyen.

 

Financial Review


Financial Ratios

Fiscal year ending December
202220212020
Administrative costs as % of revenues 13.5%12.6%15.3%
Fundraising costs as % of donations 37.0%36.8%43.6%
Total overhead spending 50.5%49.3%58.9%
Program cost coverage (%) 242.1%389.7%184.8%

Summary Financial Statements

All figures in $000s
202220212020
Donations 30,92826,41725,525
Government funding 1,4533,8745,733
Fees for service 112
Lotteries (net) 155136895
Business activities (net) 392744
Special events 12,98211,84310,035
Investment income (1,912)2,0271,377
Other income 386330487
Total revenues 44,03244,65544,098
Program costs 12,93810,15118,188
Grants 6,5721,5872,873
Administrative costs 6,1915,3546,549
Fundraising costs 16,25914,06515,504
Other costs 354643
Total spending 41,99531,20343,157
Cash flow from operations 2,03713,452941
Capital spending 221165286
Funding reserves 47,41645,91439,117

Note: To report MS Society and the related MS Scientific Research Foundation on a consolidated basis, Ci has made adjustments. These adjustments exclude inter-entity transactions (to eliminate 'double counting):  $6.2m in F2022, $3.1m in F2021, and $4.5m in F2020. Ci recognized unrealized gains (losses) on investments in investment income, affecting total revenues by ($2.7m) in F2022, $981k in F2021, and $689k in F2020. Ci reported lotteries and business activities net of expenses. Cost of goods sold and gaming expenses were adjusted, decreasing total revenues and expenses by $39k in F2022, $72k in F2021, and $177k in F2020. Ci adjusted changes in the Foundation’s research grants payable, affecting total grants by ($246k) in F2022, ($1.8m) in F2021, and $2.1m in F2020. Ci did not adjust for MS Society's changes in research grants payable as the Society grants to the Foundation. MS Society does not report amortization costs separately from its program and overhead costs. Amortization costs are immaterial: $323k in 2022, $713k in 2021 and $898k in 2020. Ci removed amortization from programs, administrative and fundraising costs on a pro-rata basis.

Salary Information

Full-time staff: 166

Avg. compensation: $68,375

Top 10 staff salary range:

$350k +
1
$300k - $350k
0
$250k - $300k
1
$200k - $250k
3
$160k - $200k
2
$120k - $160k
3
$80k - $120k
0
$40k - $80k
0
< $40k
0

Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2022

My anchor

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

Website: www.mssociety.ca
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tel: 1800-268-7582



Print  
Image

Charity Intelligence researches Canadian charities for donors to be informed and give intelligently. Our website posts free reports on more than 800 Canadian charities, as well as in-depth primers on philanthropic sectors like Canada’s environment, cancer, and homelessness. Today over 500,000 Canadians use our website as a go-to source for information on Canadian charities reading over 1.6 million charity reports. Through rigorous and independent research, Charity Intelligence aims to assist Canada’s dynamic charitable sector in being more transparent, accountable and focused on results.

 

Be Informed. Give Intelligently. Have Impact

 

Charitable Registration Number: 80340 7956 RR0001