David Suzuki Foundation is a top-rated 4-star charity with an above-average results reporting score. This great charity has reasonable overhead costs and is financially transparent. 

Founded in 1990, David Suzuki Foundation (DSF) works to protect Canada’s natural environment. The charity is based in Vancouver, with offices in Toronto and Montreal. Of its total program spending, DSF allocated 32% to communications, education, and public engagement, 18% to science and policy, 20% to British Columbia and Western Canada, 16% to Quebec and Atlantic Canada, and 14% to Ontario and Northern Canada in F2021. DSF focuses its work on three main areas: climate solutions, thriving nature, and sustainable communities. The charity does not provide a breakdown of spending on these programs. 

David Suzuki Foundation’s goal for climate solutions is to cut Canadian carbon pollution in half by 2030. DSF uses legal action to pressure the Canadian government to respond to climate change. In 2021, DSF’s advocacy led to Canada adding “plastic manufactured items” to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act's (CEPA) list of toxic substances. The Foundation also played a role in the introduction of a bill to modernize the CEPA which would make it the first Canadian law to recognize the right to a healthy environment.  

DSF’s goal for thriving nature is to protect and restore Canada’s most at-risk ecosystems and species. Today, 521 plant and animal species are considered at risk under Canada’s Species at Risk Act. The Foundation advocates for endangered and at-risk species, including marine life, butterflies, and caribou. In F2021, Blueberry River First Nations won an important ruling that stated the province of B.C. failed to uphold its treaty promises. DSF's Atlas of Cumulative Landscape Disturbance in the Traditional Territory of Blueberry River First Nations played a key role in convincing the court of this ruling. The charity's campaigning also helped the Quebec government recognize the scientific link between pesticide use and Parkinson’s. The government also launched a review of the Pest Control Products Act and announced a $50m investment over three years to find pesticide alternatives.  

David Suzuki Foundation’s goal for sustainable communities is to reduce Canada’s ecological footprint by a third by 2030. DSF states that 8.8 million people die early from air pollution each year. In F2021, DSF helped Edmonton become the first municipality to create and commit to a carbon budget. The Foundation also created two Future Ground Network online organizing hubs that mentor the environmental community. Over 3,000 people registered for this network in F2021.  

David Suzuki Foundation had total donations and special event revenue of $13.9m in F2021. Administrative costs are 6% of revenues (excluding investment income) and fundraising costs are 16% donations. The David Suzuki Foundation spends 22% on overhead. This means for every dollar donated, 78 cents go towards the charity’s programs. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.  

DSF has $26.3m in total funding reserves, of which $9.3m is donor endowed. Excluding donor-endowed funds, DSF could cover 2.3 years of its annual program costs with reserves.  

According to DSF’s annual filing with the Charities Directorate, it paid external fundraisers $308k in F2021. It does not report how much these external fundraisers raised.  

This charity report is an update that was sent for review to David Suzuki Foundation. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.  

Updated on June 10, 2022 by Emma Saganowich.