Crohn’s and Colitis Canada is a 3-star charity. It has an A- results reporting grade, which is above average. Its overhead spending is outside Ci’s reasonable range, and it has reserve funds to cover just over one year of its annual program costs.

Founded in 1974, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada (CCC) is the only national, volunteer-based charity that aims to find cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Both diseases are types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD inflames the lining of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This disrupts the body’s ability to digest food and eliminate waste. IBDs are lifelong diseases. The causes of Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis are not known, and there is no cure. CCC reports that over 322,600 Canadians are living with IBD in 2023. CCC reports that it has three main programs on its website: Research; Education, Awareness, and Advocacy; and Patient Programs. In its audited financial statement, it reports Research; Education, Awareness, and Advocacy; and Volunteer and Chapter Services as its three main programs. The charity does not disclose spending on Patient Programs in its audited financial statement. 

In 2023, CCC spent $6.8m on Research (71% of program spending). In 2023, the charity supported 41 active research programs. It supported four postdoctoral research fellows conducting Crohn’s and colitis research. CCC brought together nearly 450 clinicians, scientists, and partners from across Canada for Meeting of the Minds. Meeting of the Minds is a continuing medical, educational, and research conference focused on IBD. CCC’s Genetic Environmental Microbial (GEM) project tracks healthy relatives of people with Crohn's disease to learn more about what causes Crohn's and find ways to prevent it. The GEM project followed 5,000 healthy first-degree relatives (children or siblings) of people with Crohn’s disease in 2023.

In 2023, CCC spent $1.8m on Education, Awareness, and Advocacy (19% of program spending). CCC’s online information was accessed over one million times in 2023. CCC granted $5,000 scholarships to 15 post-secondary students with IBD in F2023. In 2023, CCC met with 21 government officials to advocate for the needs of people affected by IBD. CCC carried out two advocacy campaigns. CCC volunteers and community members sent 4,660 emails to government officials in 2023. CCC provided the patient voice for eight drug reviews in 2023.

CCC’s Patient Programs focus on improving life for children and adults living with Crohn’s and colitis. The charity does not disclose spending for this program in its audited financial statements. Camp Go2Go is an overnight summer camp for children living with Crohn’s and colitis. In 2023, 75 youths attended Camp Got2Go. The camps operate on a pay-what-you-can system. CCC also offers online peer support to newly diagnosed individuals.

CCC spent $939k (10% of program spending) on Volunteer and Chapter Services in 2023.

In 2023, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada received $13.8m in donations and special events revenue. Administrative costs are 11% of total revenue (excluding investment income) and fundraising costs are 41% of donations. Overhead spending is 52%, which is outside Ci’s reasonable range. For every dollar donated, 48 cents are available for the cause. In 2023, CCC spent $9.6m on its programs and grants (65% of total revenue).

In 2023, CCC had a deficit of $1.9m and spent $32k on capital expenditures.

At the end of 2023, CCC had $10.4m in reserve funds (cash and investments). $709k of reserve funds are donor endowed. Excluding donor-endowed funds, the charity has enough reserve funds to cover 102% or just over a year of its annual program costs.

This charity profile is an update that has been sent to Crohn’s and Colitis Canada for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on August 8^th, 2024 by Thea Clark.