Alzheimer Society of Canada is a 3-star charity with a below average results reporting grade. Its funding reserves are within Ci’s reasonable range and can cover one year and nine months of program costs. For every dollar donated to Alzheimer Society of Canada, 61 cents are available to go to the cause, which is outside Ci’s reasonable range.

Alzheimer Society of Canada is a national health charity founded in 1987 that supports people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Dementia is an umbrella term for progressive declines in cognitive abilities, including memory, thinking, and reasoning, severe enough to affect daily life. As Canada’s population ages, dementia is becoming a growing health issue. The Alzheimer Society estimates that nearly one million Canadians could be living with dementia by 2030. Its services help people access information, navigate care, and connect with community support throughout the progression of the disease.

The charity operates nationwide, with Alzheimer Societies present in nearly 100 communities. Alzheimer Society of Canada has two programs: Research and Services. In F2025, the charity spent $9.8m on its programs.

Research was Alzheimer Society of Canada’s largest program in F2025, representing $5.2m, or 53% of its program spending. The program funds Canadian research on dementia in eight priority areas: care, cause, diagnosis, epidemiology, risk, therapy, translational, and treatment. In F2025, 37 research projects were selected for funding.

Services accounted for $3.6m or 37% of program spending in F2025. It provides education, support, and resources for people living with dementia, caregivers, and families. This includes support groups, educational resources, referral services, advocacy and safety services. The charity recorded over 150,000 client service interactions across Canada in F2025.

First Link and Dementia Friendly Canada are service initiatives supported in part through government funding agreements. In F2025, these initiatives accounted for $986k in spending, representing 10% of total program spending. First Link connects people newly diagnosed with dementia and their caregivers to information, support services, and community resources. Dementia Friendly Canada works to reduce stigma and improve inclusion by helping communities, workplaces, and organizations better support people living with dementia.

Alzheimer Society of Canada’s audited financial statements follow activity-based costing which is a best practice. This means its expenses are clearly defined between program, administrative, and fundraising categories.

Alzheimer Society of Canada had total revenues of $34.3m in F2025. It received $19.4m in donations, equal to 57% of its revenue, and $1.7m in government funding, representing 5% of revenue. The charity receives contributions from provincial Alzheimer Societies to support its national operations and programs. In F2025, it received $10.9m from provincial partners, amounting to 32% of its revenue. Investment income was $968k in F2025.

The charity spent $9.8m on its programs, and granted $14.2m to its partner charities. This represents 70% of revenue.  

Administrative costs were $3.0m, representing 9% of revenue (excluding investment income). Alzheimer Society of Canada reported $5.8m in fundraising costs in F2025, representing 30% of donations. Total overhead spending was 39%. For every dollar donated to the charity, 61 cents are available to go to the cause. This is outside Ci’s reasonable range.

Alzheimer Society of Canada held $18.5m in reserve funds (cash and investments). Of this amount, $1.2m are donor endowed. Excluding donor-endowed funds, the charity can cover 176% or one year and nine months of its annual program costs. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

This is a charity update that has been sent to Alzheimer Society of Canada by Neela Jalilian on May 29, 2026.