Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary

About Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary:

Founded in 1965, the Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary (EFSC) works with poor and disadvantaged women, including those transitioning from prison to the community and new immigrants. Its mission is to “offer pathways to healing, through supports and advocacy, for women who are affected by systemic social issues which contribute to their criminalization.” EFSC aims to give at-risk women a chance for a better life.

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary provides women with access to basic resources such as safe housing, food and clothing. EFSC and the Calgary John Howard Society jointly manage Berkana House, a residence for women on conditional release from the federal correctional system. EFSC also offers women access to various programs such as literacy coaching, employment support and computer training. Further, it provides Aboriginal cultural supports, as 50% of its clients are Aboriginal women.

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary’s Adult Legal Information program assists women with understanding criminal charges and addresses warrants. This program fills a gap, as the women are often not eligible for legal assistance through legal aid, and cannot afford their own lawyer. In F2015, EFSC offered 209 legal information court programs.

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary’s Community Awareness programs for immigrants offer free clinics and workshops pertaining to an immigrant’s rights and responsibilities in Canada. It also offers information on housing, employment, legal aid and healthcare to newcomers. In F2015, EFSC held 63 workshops for 1,768 participants.

The charity’s Prison Community Outreach program helps women while they are in prison, and as they transition into the community upon release. In F2015, it helped 748 women through its Prison Community Outreach program, and 9,988 people through its Court program.

Finally, the Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary’s SAGE program prepares Aboriginal women for employment through life skills training and emotional support. In F2015, 27 women participated in this 12-week program.

Financial Review:

Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary is a small-cap charity, with donations and special events revenues of $489k in F2015. Its administrative costs are 9% of revenues and its fundraising costs are 8% of donations. For every $1 donated to the charity, 83 cents is put towards its programs, falling within Ci’s reasonable range. The charity’s funding reserves of $383k result in a program cost coverage ratio of 33%. This means that it can cover 4 months of its annual programs using its existing reserves.

This charity report is an update that is being reviewed by Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on July 18, 2016 by Lynn Tay.