Calgary Humane Society

4455 110th Avenue SE
Calgary, AB T2C 2T7
Executive Director: Carrie Fritz
Board Chair: Andrew Wilson

Charitable Reg. #:11882 3632 RR0001

STAR RATING

Ci's Star Rating is calculated based on the following independent metrics:

[Charity Rating: 5/5]

✔+

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.

77%

CENTS TO THE CAUSE

For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 77 cents are available for programs.



My anchor

OVERVIEW

About Calgary Humane Society:

Calgary Humane society is a 5-star rated financially transparent charity. It has a strong results reporting grade and its overhead spending in within Ci’s reasonable range. Calgary Humane Society has $10.0m in reserve funds, which can cover just over a year and a half of program costs.

Founded in 1922, Calgary Humane Society (CHS) was Calgary’s first animal shelter. CHS is one of the few open-admission shelters in North America, meaning they do not turn any animal away. The charity strives to help as many animals as possible through care, medical treatment and community education.

A Charity Intelligence 2023 Top 100 Rated Charity

Calgary Humane Society’s main programs include Animal Care & Comfort and Adoption, Animal Investigation & Protection, and Community Outreach. Calgary Humane society reports benefiting from 22,613 volunteer hours, from 719 volunteers in F2022. This is almost double the 11,775 hours in F2021.

Animal Care & Comfort and Adoption – 73% of program spending

Calgary Humane Society provides care to animals in distress and helps them find new homes. In F2022, CHS admitted 3,557 animals. This in a 305-animal increase compared to F2021. The average length of stay for an animal was 29.7 days, including foster care, and 18.1 days excluding foster care. The charity reports that there were 1,159 foster families in F2022, which took in 1,715 animals. Calgary Humane Society’s Pet SafeKeeping and Emergency Boarding programs provide short term refuge for animals fleeing unsafe living conditions. In F2022, CHS cared for 100 animals through the Pet SafeKeeping program, and 47 animals though the Emergency Boarding program. This is a 110% increase in animals helped through both programs combined, compared with F2021. The charity adds that it performed 2,369 surgeries and administered 26,717 exams in F2022. It also undertook over 98,000 other procedures.

Community Outreach – 14% of program spending

Calgary Humane Society educates the community about the importance of humane animal treatment. In F2022, it led 404 kids camps and clubs, as well as 136 field trips, class presentations and tours. The Humane education team reached 19,831 people in F2022, which is 13,962 more than in F2021. The charity reports that 801 adopters participated in a consultation or training class with the Behaviour Outreach team.

Animal Investigation & Protection – 13% of program spending

Calgary Humane Society employs a team of Peace Officers to enforce animal protection. The team investigates concerns about neglect or animal abuse and removes animals from dangerous situations when necessary. In F2022, the charity investigated 1,195 suspected cases. This is 30 more cases than in F2021, when the charity lead 1,165 investigations. Of the investigations in F2022, 243 related to poor living conditions, 292 related to medical neglect and 228 were about animal abandonment.

My anchor

Results and Impact

Calgary Humane Society reports 2,311 animal adoptions in F2022. This includes 1,288 cats, 508 dogs, 116 rabbits and 459 other animals. Using animal intake data, Ci calculates that CHS has a 65% adoption rate. The charity adds that it saved 891 animals from abuse, neglect and abandonment in F2022. This is an 82% increase from last year’s 489 seizures.

While Ci highlights these key results, they may not be a complete representation of Calgary Humane Society’s results and impact.

This charity is not yet rated on impact (n/r).

My anchor

Finances

Calgary Humane Society had donations of $7.1m in F2022. Administrative costs are 12% of revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 11% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 23%. For every dollar donated, 77 cents are available for programs. This falls within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

CHS has $10.0m in reserve funds, of which $45k is donor endowed. Excluding donor-endowed funds, the charity could cover 156% or around a year and a half of annual program costs with current reserves. This is the charity’s lowest program cost coverage ratio since Ci records for CHS began in F2013.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Calgary Human Society for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming. 

Updated on June 20, 2023 by Victoria Allder.  

Financial Review


Financial Ratios

Fiscal year ending December
202220212020
Administrative costs as % of revenues 11.9%11.8%18.2%
Fundraising costs as % of donations 11.1%13.1%14.2%
Total overhead spending 23.0%24.9%32.4%
Program cost coverage (%) 156.1%281.6%456.9%

Summary Financial Statements

All figures in $000s
202220212020
Donations 7,0575,8754,571
Government funding 06441,036
Fees for service 1,015690646
Investment income (1,641)1,3471,448
Total revenues 6,4318,5567,701
Program costs 6,4105,6034,804
Administrative costs 9648511,138
Fundraising costs 781769648
Total spending 8,1557,2236,591
Cash flow from operations (1,724)1,3331,111
Capital spending 3,8667,863860
Funding reserves 10,04415,81521,988

Note: Ci included Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy in government funding and in wages and benefits costs, increasing revenues and expenses by nil in F2022, $644k in F2021 and $1.0m in F2020. Ci backed out salaries related to fundraising activities from total salaries reported in program costs and included the amounts in fundraising costs. Ci did not report non-cash gains on sale of tangible capital assets, affecting revenues by nil in F2022, ($3k) in F2021 and $18k in F2020. Ci adjusted for deferred donations, affecting revenue by $17k in F2022, $6k in F2021 and ($14k) in F2020. Ci did not include impairment loss on capital assets in expenses, affecting expenses by ($208k) in F2022, nil in F2021 and nil in F2020. The charity provides a financial breakdown in its annual report that mentions raffles and casinos revenue. However, this is not mentioned in the audited financial statements, so nothing was included in lottery revenue.  

Salary Information

Full-time staff: 74

Avg. compensation: $62,245

Top 10 staff salary range:

$350k +
0
$300k - $350k
0
$250k - $300k
0
$200k - $250k
0
$160k - $200k
1
$120k - $160k
1
$80k - $120k
8
$40k - $80k
0
< $40k
0

Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2022

My anchor

Comments & Contact

Comments added by the Charity:

The following comment was added by the charity on February 1, 2024. 

Calgary Humane Society (CHS) is rooted in values of compassion, courage, commitment and collaboration which strengthen the social fabric of a rapidly changing and increasingly complex society. We have rallied to meet ever-increasing needs that have had a significant impact on the quality of life enjoyed in Calgary. As the city continues to grow and expand, it is becoming increasingly important for the Calgary Humane Society to effectively and proactively respond to animal welfare issues not only for today, but for the future.  

  • Protections and Investigations – In 2022, our team investigated 1195 reports of possible animal cruelty and neglect, 51 individuals charged, and 891 animals were seized. In 2022, our Protection and Investigations team continued to lead, nationally in their area by developing and executing training for frontline police officers through the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police, culminating in hundreds more boots on the ground in the fight against animal cruelty.  This partnership between CHS and Calgary Police Services has been fruitful as Calgary cases continue to break and set new incarceration records for animal cruelty crimes, including 2022’s GEICK conviction, raising the precedent from 2 to 3 years. 
  • Pet Safekeeping– In 2022, Calgary Humane Society received 100 animals from owners fleeing domestic violence. These animals remained in our care for an average of 33 days while their owner sought safety. 79% were returned to their owner healthy and happy, with up-to-date vaccines and a spay/neuter surgery. The remaining 21% were adopted into new homes. Calgary Humane Society has over 1,000 Foster Parents who provide a safe haven for many animals entering our care, but it is particularly beneficial for animals of the Pet Safekeeping program. In 2022, 69% of the 100 animals from Pet Safekeeping went to a foster home. Foster care introduces these animals to a secure, safe and stable environment, counter to the volatile home they once knew. Calgary Humane Society continues to collaborate with partnering organizations promoting access to Pet Safekeeping and acts as a consultant on the development of pet friendly spaces in human shelters alike.   
  • Emergency Boarding - Calgary Humane Society offers short term housing for people in crisis through the Emergency Boarding program. Unforeseen crisis can occur, such as hospitalization due to a sudden medical emergency, evacuation from fire, individuals entering a rehab recovery program, or senior health concerns.
  • Continued Companionship - The Calgary Humane Society offers resources to seniors through our Continued Companionship Program. This program combats seniors’ vulnerabilities by retaining or creating connection opportunities with domestic pets. Resources include medical support, euthanasia and cremation services, food bank services including prescription diets, affordable adoption fees and volunteer opportunities.
  • Humane Education –Is defined as the teaching of compassion, empathy and respect related to animal welfare, environmental, and social justice issues. In a world where education is about standardized testing and subject performance, it is easy to lose sight of what the real purpose of education should be: guiding the next generation to be caring, compassionate and responsible citizens that are capable of changing the world. Reaching a total of 19,822 youth, CHS represents the animal welfare component of Humane Education, presenting it as an interconnected and integral dimension of a healthy, just society.
  • Adoption– In 2022 CHS has connected lives for 2,371 animals and families. Lives have been saved, hearts have been healed and health has improved. Every day we receive stories of emotional, psychological, and physical inspiration surrounding the human/animal bond. 
  • Animal Health – In 2022 over 100,000 medical procedures were performed, including surgeries, re-check exams and physiotherapy sessions. Calgary Humane Society provides compassionate, humane health care to all homeless animals admitted into the facility. The Phoenix Fund is a special fund set aside for animals with special needs that require emergency medical treatment. Burns, amputations, skin grafts, or other specialized surgeries require extra medical support. Thanks to the Pheonix Fund, CHS has the ability to deal with these emergencies and those animals in critical need are most often brought here. A chief mandate of the organization relates to the strategies it employs for inclusive community engagement. Our animal health team works closely with University of Calgary, contributing quantifiably to Veterinary student training. We host countless hands-on job shadow experiences, educational resources, tours, presentations, and field studies (herd health management) supporting the Veterinary medicine discipline.
  • Community Services – For Albertans struggling to provide proper and adequate food for their pets, we operate a food bank program where food, bedding and other supplies can be providedWe provide free behavioural support through our Behaviour Helpline to anyone experiencing a pet related issue. For renters at risk of loosing their housing due to a pet related issue, we run a Pets & Renters program where consults are offered at no cost.
  • Behaviour Training - we offer positive reinforcement-based training classes and consultations for basic obedience, puppy socialization and specialize in complex behaviours such as reactivity, fearfulness, resources guarding and separation anxiety. We believe that everyone should have access to affordable training and work with a variety of household budgets.

Calgary Humane Society engages with over 700 Volunteers and 1,000 Foster Parents. We strive to lead the way and continue to set standards of excellence for the humane treatment of animals across a broad spectrum of human/animal interactions, thus fostering a community where all lives are respected and treated with compassion. The breadth of our programming is wide and all encompassing in an effort to provide the highest levels of community service to the city of Calgary and surrounding areas.

 

Charity Contact

Website: www.calgaryhumane.ca
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 403-205-4455

Print  
Image

Charity Intelligence researches Canadian charities for donors to be informed and give intelligently. Our website posts free reports on more than 800 Canadian charities, as well as in-depth primers on philanthropic sectors like Canada’s environment, cancer, and homelessness. Today over 500,000 Canadians use our website as a go-to source for information on Canadian charities reading over 1.6 million charity reports. Through rigorous and independent research, Charity Intelligence aims to assist Canada’s dynamic charitable sector in being more transparent, accountable and focused on results.

 

Be Informed. Give Intelligently. Have Impact

 

Charitable Registration Number: 80340 7956 RR0001