PO Box 38073 Stn Burnside
Dartmouth, NS B3B 1X2
CEO: Elizabeth Murphy
Board Chair: Jessie Irving

Charitable Reg. #:13470 4741 RR0001

STAR RATING

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

[Charity Rating: 3/5]

FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY

Audited financial statements available only upon request.

C+

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.

60%

CENTS TO THE CAUSE

For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 60 cents are available for programs.



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OVERVIEW

About Nova Scotia SPCA:

Nova Scotia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a 2-star rated charity. It is not financially transparent as its financial statements are not available online. It has a below average results reporting grade and its overhead spending is outside of Ci’s reasonable range. The charity has $8.0m in reserve funds, which can cover a year and a half of program costs.

Founded in 1877, Nova Scotia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Nova Scotia SPCA) fights for animal welfare across the province. The charity follows the open-admission and no-kill principles. It works to rebuild animals’ trust, ensure their health and safety and place them into new homes. Nova Scotia SPCA has six shelters, three of which have hospitals and two of which have thrift stores. It runs four programs: Shelter Operations, Veterinary Services and Medication, Investigations and the College of Animal Welfare. In F2022, the charity served 15,477 animals throughout Nova Scotia.

Shelter Operations – 48% of program spending

The charity reports taking in around 400 animals a month across its 6 shelter locations in F2022. Nova Scotia SPCA runs a palliative care program, that allows senior pets that have had a challenging life to spend their final years in a caring home. The charity’s transport program brings animals to new locations to avoid overcrowding in shelters.

Veterinary Services and Medication – 27% of program spending 

Nova Scotia SPCA runs three animal hospitals in Cape Breton, Dartmouth, and Yarmouth. The charity performed 6,774 surgeries in F2022 for animals in need. It also administered 4,137 vaccines. Its Trap-Neuter-Return program has brought in over 100 strays, which are released within 12 to 48 hours of surgery.

Investigations – 17% of program spending

Nova Scotia SPCA reports that its team led 1,160 animal cruelty investigations in F2022. Of these, 356 were in the Halifax Regional Municipality, 273 were in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and 118 were in Kings.

College of Animal Welfare – 8% of program spending

The charity runs a Veterinary Assistant educational program. The program provides business administration and customer service training, with a focus on working in a veterinary team. In F2023, the charity plans to start its Veterinary Technology Program, which will provide students with skills to assist veterinarians with the treatment of animals.

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Results and Impact

Nova Scotia SPCA reports that 7,457 animals found new homes in F2022. It adds that since the start of its palliative care program, it placed 40 senior animals with families.

In F2022, 8 people graduated the Veterinary Assistant Program.

While Ci highlights these key results, they may not be a complete representation of Nova Scotia SPCA’s results and impact.

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

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Finances

Nova Scotia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is not financially transparent as its financial statements are not available online.

Nova Scotia SPCA had donations of $6.1m in F2022. The charity received $321k in government funding. Administrative costs are 12% of revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 28% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 40%. For every dollar donated, 60 cents are available for programs. This falls outside of Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

Nova Scotia SPCA has $8.0m in reserve funds. The charity could cover 152% or a year and a half of annual program costs with current reserves. 

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Nova Scotia SPCA for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming. 

Updated on June 28, 2023 by Victoria Allder.

Financial Review


Financial Ratios

Fiscal year ending December
202220212020
Administrative costs as % of revenues 12.2%11.4%6.5%
Fundraising costs as % of donations 27.7%27.7%10.3%
Total overhead spending 39.9%39.0%16.7%
Program cost coverage (%) 150.5%140.3%192.3%

Summary Financial Statements

All figures in $000s
202220212020
Donations 6,1114,1008,041
Government funding 321354915
Fees for service 2,9262,4892,283
Investment income (261)24053
Total revenues 9,0977,18411,292
Program costs 5,2414,6733,413
Administrative costs 1,142789729
Fundraising costs 1,6931,134825
Other costs 394143
Total spending 8,1176,6375,010
Cash flow from operations 9815466,282
Capital spending 125105466
Funding reserves 7,8896,5576,563

Note: Ci adjusted for non-government deferred donations affecting revenue by $875k in F2022, $380k in F2021 and $5.1m in F2020. Ci did not include gain on disposal of capital assets in revenue, decreasing revenue by $2k in F2021. The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy was reported as government funding, increasing total revenues by $594k in F2020. Ci backed out interest on long term debt included in administrative fees and added it to other costs.

Salary Information

Full-time staff: 199

Avg. compensation: $22,780

Top 10 staff salary range:

$350k +
0
$300k - $350k
0
$250k - $300k
0
$200k - $250k
0
$160k - $200k
0
$120k - $160k
1
$80k - $120k
4
$40k - $80k
5
< $40k
0

Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2022

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Comments & Contact

Comments added by the Charity:

No comments have been added by the charity.

Charity Contact

Website: www.novascotiaspca.ca
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tel: 1-902-835-4798



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Charitable Registration Number: 80340 7956 RR0001