Breast Cancer Canada is a 1-star rated charity with no financial transparency and little reporting on its programs and its results. The charity has persistently high fundraising costs leading to overhead spending outside of Charity Intelligence’s reasonable range. In F2023, fundraising costs were 69% of donations.

Founded in 1991, Breast Cancer Canada (BCC), formerly Breast Cancer Society of Canada, fundraises and provides grants for breast cancer research in Canada. The charity also advocates and raises awareness of breast cancer. BCC states that 13% of Canadian women will receive a breast cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. It also states that around 28,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Charity Intelligence calculates that the charity spent $2.6m on its programs and grants in F2023.

Breast Cancer Canada grants money used for breast cancer research. In F2023 its largest grants went to University Health Network ($1.0m), London Health Sciences Foundation ($250k), and McPeak-Sirois Group ($200k). In F2023 BCC granted $400k total to six breast cancer researchers.

Breast Cancer Canada also advocates for those affected by breast cancer. It is unclear how much the charity spends on advocacy.

In F2023 BCC received $17.2m in cash donations and special event fundraising. Administrative costs are 8% of revenues (excluding investment income). Fundraising costs are 69% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 77%. For every dollar donated, 23 cents are available to go to the cause. This falls well outside Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. BCC has been outside Ci’s reasonable range in each of the last nine years of Ci analysis.

Breast Cancer Canada had a large rise in fundraising revenues and expenses in F2022. In F2022 BCC’s fundraising events raised $18.2 million, four times the $4.5 million raised in 2021. Its fiscal 2022 fundraising costs similarly increased to $13.9 million from $4.0 million in fiscal 2021.

In F2023 BCC spent $2.6m on its programs and grants, which is 15% of its revenue. In F2023 it had a surplus of $1.3m.

Breast Cancer Canada reports zero fundraising costs on its T3010. This is a material reporting error. BCC's audited financial statements report fundraising costs of $11.8m in F2023, $13.9m in F2022, and $4.0m in F2021.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Breast Cancer Canada for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated June 27, 2024, by Grady Simpson.