Chalice Canada is a 5-star rated charity with Good demonstrated impact on its international development programs. The charity has low overhead costs and best practices in financial transparency. Its annual report and website disclose information about its programs and outputs, leading to a high grade in results reporting.

Founded in 1992, Chalice Canada is a Catholic international aid charity focused on child, family, and community development. Chalice aims to help the impoverished in developing countries by funding families, nutrition programs, community infrastructure projects, and disaster relief programs. The charity works with lay people, religious missionaries, and local communities to provide care to children and families.

In F2021, Chalice Canada spent $25.3m directly on international programs. The remaining $2.0m in program spending was used for program office support and other miscellaneous costs.

Child sponsorship programs make up the majority of Chalice Canada’s spending. In F2021, Chalice Canada sponsored 50,122 children and elderly people in 14 countries. Of its total spending, 31% went to programs in Africa, 27% to Asia, 26% to Latin America, 10% to Ukraine and 7% to Haiti. Chalice Canada uses a “Family Funding” model. The charity gives sponsorship money directly to the caregivers of sponsored children. Caregivers are placed in community groups with members of other Chalice-sponsored caregivers through which they receive financial training and learn how to budget for expenses. Caregivers meet monthly to discuss budgets for the upcoming month and spending in the previous month. Chalice Canada requires that sponsored children’s education expenses are a top priority in budgeting. 

Chalice Canada spent $1.7m on capital projects and human development in F2021. Chalice Canada built or repaired six schools, two homes, and two health centres. It has seven active water projects.

The remaining spending went toward program support costs, disaster relief, Christmas funds, nutrition programs, grants, critical needs, and mission trips. Through its nutrition program, the charity served 2,848,733 meals to 21,685 individuals in F2021. Its disaster relief program helped individuals affected by floods, food and security threats, and the covid-19 pandemic. Chalice responded to two housing emergencies, 74 medical emergencies, and two fire emergencies and assisted at two burials. 

Chalice Canada is a Major 100 charity, meaning it is one of the country’s largest in terms of Canadian donations. It received $31.8m in donations and special events fundraising revenue in F2021. Administrative costs are 4% of total revenue (excluding investment income) and fundraising costs are 5% of total donations and special events revenue. This results in an overhead spending of 9%. For every dollar donated to the charity, 91 cents go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. 

Chalice Canada has funding reserves of $15.5m, of which $801k is donor-endowed. Excluding donor-endowed funds, Chalice Canada can cover annual program costs for just over six months. 

This report is an update that has been sent to Chalice Canada for review. Comments and edits may be forthcoming. 

Updated on June 14, 2022 by Ann Lei.