Catholic Near East Welfare Association Canada (CNEWA) is a 2-star charity. It is financially transparent but has overhead spending outside of Ci’s reasonable range and a below-average results reporting grade.

Founded in 1926 by Pope Pius XI and under the guidance of Pope Francis, Catholic Near East Welfare Association Canada (CNEWA) works for, through and with Eastern Catholic churches to build up and maintain churches and respond to human needs, including emergencies and poverty. CNEWA Canada is the Canadian arm of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association worldwide. It connects to churches and provides support in the Middle East, India, Northeast Africa and Eastern Europe. CNEWA runs two programs: Responding to Human Needs and Accompanying the Church.

Responding to Human Needs – 84% of total program spending ($7.3m): CNEWA runs childcare initiatives to support schools, orphanages and children centres with special needs. It also responds to special needs institutions for adults, including hospice programs and rehabilitation facilities for the profoundly handicapped, substance abusers, prisoners and other social cases. The charity also supports people in emergency crises. In F2022, it funded 100 projects related to the Ukraine war, supporting 225,000 people in Ukraine with 100,000 food boxes and 18 shelters. In response to the earthquake in Syria in February 2023, CNEWA provided emergency shelters to more than 150 families and supported bedding, food, medicine, milk, nursing formula and diapers for more than 2,000 families in Syria. Additionally, the charity runs healthcare and sustainability programs to serve the poor, displaced and elderly.

Accompanying the Church – 13% of total program spending ($1.1m): CNEWA funds the formation of seminaries and religious houses, university chaplaincies, lay catechist formation programs and advanced studies for clergy and religious leaders. It also provides scholarships for priests. The charity helps repair damaged parish facilities and supports local Church programs such as pastoral initiatives for refugees and youth formation programs.

The remaining 3% of total program spending ($304k) went to raising public awareness in F2022.

CNEWA posted its financial statements online. However, it does not provide the accompanying financial notes and the cash flow statement.

In F2022, CNEWA Canada received $11.5m in donations. Administrative costs are 0.3% of revenues (less investment income), and fundraising costs are 3% of donations. This results in overhead spending of 3%. For every dollar donated, 97 cents go to the cause, which is outside of Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

CNEWA Canada has $7.3m in reserve funds, which could cover ten months of its annual program costs.

Ci has sent this profile update to CNEWA Canada for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on July 12, 2023 by Krystie Nguyen.