The Arthritis Society
STAR RATINGCi's Star Rating is calculated based on the following independent metrics: |
✔+
FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY
Audited financial statements for current and previous years available on the charity’s website.
A
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.
42%
CENTS TO THE CAUSE
For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 42 cents are available for programs.
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OVERVIEW
About The Arthritis Society:
Arthritis Society Canada is a 3-star rated charity. It has an above average results reporting grade of A. For every dollar donated, 42 cents are available to go towards the cause. Its reserve funds can cover two months of annual program costs.
Founded in 1948, Arthritis Society Canada (ASC) funds arthritis research, advocates for policy change, and provides support to improve health among those infected with arthritis. Arthritis is a collection of conditions affecting joints and other tissues. It causes pain, restricts mobility, and diminishes quality of life. Arthritis Society Canada reports that one in five Canadians live with arthritis. There is currently no cure. In fiscal 2024 (year ended March), ASC spent $18.5m on its programs. $6.6m (36%) of this was spent on Research and the remaining $11.8m was spent on the three other programs: Innovation, Advocacy, and Information and Support
Research: ASC’s Research focuses on pain relief, osteoarthritis (most common form of arthritis) and inflammatory arthritis. In F2024, ASC had 135 active research projects which included 79 grants, 38 training awards, 15 career developments, and 3 team grants. These research projects supported 377 researchers: 132 lead researchers, 121 additional trainees, and 124 qualified research personnel.
Innovation: The Innovation program funds social impact projects to uncover ideas to help people living with arthritis. In F2024, 4 entrepreneurs received $200,000. Arthritis Society Canada also awarded 10 inaugural grants in F2024 to fund “high risk” ideas that have strong potential for “high reward”.
Advocacy: Arthritis Society advocates on behalf of Canadians affected by arthritis to drive policy and raise awareness. In F2024, ASC reached 83,079 people through Arthritis Talks, and 1,027 people through Arthritis Connections. ASC also impacted 34 policies, gave 89,900 pubic service announcements across Canada, and did 583 advocacy actions in F2024.
Information and Support: The Information and Support website is a go-to source of evidence-based information, resources, and online tools. In F2024, the website had 1.79 million visiters and 105,634 newsletter subscribers. To support children with arthritis, ASC runs 6 camps nationwide that had 295 campers in F2024.
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Results and Impact
In 2023, Arthritis Society Canada released a report highlighting the problem of wait times arthritis patients face at the hospital. The charity reports 38% of Canadians did not receive their hip or knee joint replacement surgery within the recommended time of six months. The report provided recommendations to provincial and federal governments. The government included many of Arthritis Society’s recommendations in F2022. In March 2022, the federal government added an additional $2 billion to address the backlogs in arthritis surgeries. Nine provinces implemented the charity's recommended GLA:D education and exercise program. 70% of the patients reported significant improved function.
On its website, ASC published its top 10 research advancements for 2023. ASC found an enzyme called Tryptase B which may contribute to osteoarthritis by interfering with the anti-inflammatory and joint-lubricating activities of a protein called PRG4. ASC also found out that small particles made from a type of molecule called polyphosphate can be used to effectively deliver drugs into the cartilage that pads the joints, which was typically a hard-to-reach area for drugs. To learn about the other advancements made in 2023-2024, go through the resources Charity Intelligence provides in the “Learn More” section at the bottom of the webpage.
While Ci highlights these key results, they may not be a complete representation of Arthritis Society Canada’s results and impact. This charity is not yet rated on impact (n/r).
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Finances
At the time of this report, the charity’s F2024 T3010 filing with the CRA had not yet been released. Ci uses the T3010 filing to report investment income meaning that the current reported value for total revenues may be over or understated.
In F2024, Arthritis Society Canada received $21.1m in donations. The charity also received $7.4m in government funding which makes up 26% of total revenues. Administrative costs are 13% of revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 45% of donations. For every dollar donated, 42 cents are available to go towards the cause. This is outside of Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. The charity has been outside the reasonable range since 2018. In F2024, ASC spent $18.5m on its programs which represents 66% of total revenues.
In F2024, the charity has funding reserves of $4.7m of which $2.4m were donor endowed. Arthritis Society Canada has entered several operating lease commitments for office premises and office equipment. The reserve funds contribute towards the payments of these commitments. Excluding the donor-endowed funds, the charity’s F2024 reserves can cover program costs for two months.
Based on the F2023 T3010 filing with the CRA, Arthritis Society Canada uses external fundraisers. ASC paid $714k to external fundraisers to raise $1.2m meaning the cost to raise a dollar via external fundraisers is 57 cents.
Profile updated on July 16, 2024 by Abby Stout.
Financial Review
Fiscal year ending March
|
2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative costs as % of revenues | 13.1% | 12.3% | 11.0% |
| Fundraising costs as % of donations | 44.5% | 39.6% | 44.9% |
| Total overhead spending | 57.7% | 51.9% | 55.8% |
| Program cost coverage (%) | 12.5% | 32.4% | 59.5% |
Summary Financial StatementsAll figures in $000s |
2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donations | 21,057 | 21,108 | 16,599 |
| Government funding | 7,356 | 5,743 | 6,521 |
| Investment income | 45 | 1,037 | 100 |
| Other income | (240) | 478 | 1,959 |
| Total revenues | 28,218 | 28,367 | 25,179 |
| Program costs | 11,752 | 10,668 | 9,749 |
| Grants | 6,768 | 6,703 | 5,198 |
| Administrative costs | 3,702 | 3,360 | 2,754 |
| Fundraising costs | 9,380 | 8,359 | 7,444 |
| Total spending | 31,602 | 29,090 | 25,146 |
| Cash flow from operations | (3,384) | (723) | 32 |
| Capital spending | 741 | 521 | 600 |
| Funding reserves | 4,684 | 7,971 | 11,192 |
Note: DEFERRED DONATIONS: To report on a cash-basis, Ci adjusts for deferred contributions. This affected total revenues by ($2.4m) in F2024, ($638k) in F2023, and $105k in F2022 ENDOWMENT CONTRIBUTIONS: Ci adjusted for endowment contributions impacting total revenues by ($197) in F2024, $13k in F2023, and $4k in F2022. RESEARCH AWARDS PAYABLE: Ci adjusted for research awards payable affecting grants by $210k in F2024, $466k in F2023, and ($48k) in F2022. AMORTIZATION: ASC did not include amortization on its income statement. Ci removed amortization from program, administrative, and fundraising costs on a pro-rata basis.
Salary Information
$350k + |
0 |
$300k - $350k |
1 |
$250k - $300k |
0 |
$200k - $250k |
3 |
$160k - $200k |
0 |
$120k - $160k |
2 |
$80k - $120k |
4 |
$40k - $80k |
0 |
< $40k |
0 |
Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2023
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Comments & Contact
Comments added by the Charity:
Learn More:
ASC 2023-2024 Annual Report
ASC Top 10 Research Advancements of 2023
Charity Contact
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 416-979-7228