Child Development Institute is a 4-star charity that it financially transparent. It has overhead costs within Ci's reasonable range and an above-average results reporting grade.

Founded in 2004, Child Development Institute (CDI) was formed by a merger between the West-End Creche and the Earlscourt Child and Family Centre. CDI provides early learning and mental health services to children and youth. Most CDI programs are available at no cost to children and families living in Toronto. The charity states that in Canada, 20 percent of children and youth experience mental health challenges. Charity Intelligence calculates it spent $18.6m on its programs in F2023. CDI does not disclose a breakdown of program spending.

CDI provides services for children and youth who need mental health and development support. Its SNAP program teaches children and their parents how to manage their emotions by stopping and thinking before acting. CDI served 443 people through SNAP and served 3,336 people through its SNAP affiliates in F2023. Its SNAP for Schools served 3,560 students. It also runs a Therapeutic Recreation Program that served 169 people in F2023.

CDI provides mental health support for children with learning disabilities. It served 186 people through its Child and Youth counselling in F2023. It also served 426 people through its Community Education and Engagement initiatives.

CDI supports women and children aged 0-18 who have experienced family violence or other traumas. It offers group counselling sessions, along with shelter, abuse, and trauma services. CDI served 150 people through its Gender-based Violence services in F2023.

CDI’s Early Years and Child Care Services (EYCCS) supports child development. CDI operates four Early Learning Centres in Toronto. These centres provide children with positive learning experiences in an inclusive, inquiry-based environment. CDI served 1,609 people through its EYCCS in F2023. It also ran 70 workshops which had 1,253 people take part.

In F2023 Child Development Institute received $1.3m in donations. The charity received $15.2m in government funding, representing 78% of total revenues. Fees for services was $3.9m, representing 20% of total revenues.

Administrative costs are 6% of revenues (excluding investment income). Fundraising costs are 22% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 28%. For every dollar donated, 72 cents go to the cause. This falls within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

In F2023 CDI spent $18.6m on its programs, which is 96% of its revenue. In F2023 it had a deficit of $631k.

Child Development Institute has $16.4m in reserve funds (cash and investments). Excluding $521k in donor-endowed funds, the net funding reserves can cover 86%, or ten months of program costs.

This charity report is an update that has been sent for review to Child Development Institute. Changes and edits may be forthcoming. 

Updated on August 21, 2024, by Grady Simpson.