Alzheimer Society of Canada is a 3-star charity. It has a C results reporting grade, which is below average. Its overhead spending is outside Ci’s reasonable range, and it has reserve funds to cover its annual program costs for one year and seven months.

Founded in 1987, Alzheimer Society of Canada (the Society) supports people living with dementia, their caregivers, and their families. The Society also funds research to help understand Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Dementia is caused when brain cells become damaged and eventually die. This leads to memory loss, changes in mood, and difficulty thinking. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. The Society’s vision is a world without Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Alzheimer Society of Canada has two programs: Services and Research. The following content is based on the Society’s annual report for the year ending March 2023 (F2023). At the time of this update, the annual report for F2024 is not yet available on the charity’s website.

In F2023, Alzheimer Society of Canada spent $19.9m (81% of program spending) on Services. Its First Link program provides information and education to people living with dementia. First Link offers toll-free numbers people can call in different regions of Canada. First Link staff then connect callers to different services. These include one-on-one or group support and healthcare providers. First Link also provides callers with connections to other people in similar circumstances. Another service is advocacy. The Society listens to the lived experiences of individuals with Alzheimer’s and other dementias and their families and caregivers. It then speaks to governments, healthcare organizations, and the media to help alleviate the personal and social consequences of dementia. 

In F2023, Alzheimer Society of Canada spent $4.6m (19% of program spending) on Research. In F2023, the Alzheimer Society Research Program (ASRP) funded 44 researchers. It awarded $6.0m in grants. This nearly doubled F2022 research grant funding. The ASRP has two main goals. It encourages researchers to explore new ways to advance knowledge of dementia. It also aims to improve the quality of life for people with dementia, their families, and their caregivers. Since ASRP started in 1989, it has invested over $78 million in research grants and awards.

In the fiscal year ending March 2024 (F2024), Alzheimer Society of Canada received $18.4m in donations. It also received $1.2m in government funding (3% of total revenue). The Society received $13.9m in contributions from partner charities (40% of total revenue). Ci has recorded this as other revenue. Administrative costs are 9% of total revenue (excluding investment income) and fundraising costs are 37% of donations. Overhead spending is 45%, which is outside Ci’s reasonable range. For every dollar donated, 55 cents are available for the cause. In F2024, the Society spent $25.8m on its programs and grants (74% of total revenue).

In F2024, Alzheimer Society of Canada had a deficit of $744k and spent $6k on capital expenditures.

At the end of F2024, Alzheimer Society of Canada has $16.5m in reserve funds. $1.1m of these funds are donor endowed. Excluding donor-endowed funds, the Society has enough reserve funds to cover 157% or one year and seven months of its annual program costs.

This charity profile is an update that was sent to Alzheimer Society of Canada for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on July 23, 2024 by Thea Clark.