Founded in 1938, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) works to “conserve, restore, and manage wetlands and other habitats for North America’s waterfowl.” DUC says that wetlands are one of the most important ecosystems on the planet, but up to 70 per cent of wetlands have been lost in settled areas of Canada. Ducks Unlimited Canada is affiliated with the US-based Ducks Unlimited, and the two charities collaborate on some projects. In Canada, Ducks states it has influenced 177.2 million acres of land, conserved 6.4 million acres and completed 11,023 habitat conservation projects since 1938.

Ducks Unlimited Canada’s spending on conservation programs includes habitat conservation (80% in F2019), revolving land (8%), research and education (5%), education and communications (4%), and industry and government relations (3%). DUC’s habitat conservation projects include work with wetlands, grasslands, water, waterfowl, wildlife, and Canada’s Boreal. DUC reports that its Canadian conservation community of donors, landowners, students and teachers, and fundraising attendees stands at 121,657 members.

Ducks Unlimited Canada is a Major 100 charity, with donations of $19.1m in F2019. Administrative costs are 7% of revenues (excluding investment income) and fundraising costs are 45% of donations. Ducks Unlimited's overhead spending is 52%. For every dollar donated, 48 cents go to the cause. This is not within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

Ducks Unlimited has funding reserves of $178.6m, which can cover 2.7 years of program costs at the F2019 level.

Charity Intelligence has discussed this report with Ducks Unlimited Canada. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Profile updated on August 20, 2019 by Lauren Chin and September 23, 2019 by Katie Khodawandi.