Child Haven International

About Child Haven International:

Founded in 1985, Child Haven International (CHI) assists children and women in developing countries by providing them with food, education, health care, shelter, clothing, and emotional and moral support.  

CHI primarily offers these services at one of its nine homes located in India (six), Bangladesh (one), Nepal (one), and Tibet (one). CHI distributed $754k in funding to CHI India in F2016, and $436k to CHI Nepal. As of June 2017, CHI reported serving a total of 732 children and 81 women for the year across all its homes.  In addition, CHI sponsored a women’s program in India that trains 50 women at a time in tailoring. Child Haven International also reports running literacy programs for women and children, who may or may not also be living in one of CHI’s homes.  

Child Haven International formed the SoyaCow Support Group (SSG) in 1988, and with funding from CIDA in 1992, purchased six SoyaCow machines, which efficiently produce soya milk and other soya products for CHI homes.  SSG also developed a cottage industry for economically-disadvantaged women with these machines. CHI reports that there are now 400 SoyaCow machines in India and it is currently being promoted in Africa. 

In the News: January 5, 2019 CTV and Ottawa Citizen reported the arrest of Paul McCarthy for child pornography. Ottawa Police said its investigation has identified the victims as Nepalese boys under the age of 16, and are concerned there could be further victims. In media reports, Child Haven's founder referred to McCarthy as a "long-time donor and volunteer". On February 24, 2019, Child Haven informed Charity Intelligence that McCarthy was not a volunteer, only a visitor to its Nepal home for children. Furthermore, Child Haven shares that McCarthy donated $50 once in 2012. Child Haven is fully cooperating with Canadian and Nepali police and immediately provides professional counseling services to children impacted. McCarthy has traveled extensively and previously worked with CARE Canada from 1992-1995 as director of Indonesian operations and later for the World Bank. Safeguarding is a critical function for all charities working with children. Donors must ask about and examine a charity's safeguarding policies and, most importantly, practices. 

Financial Review:

Child Haven International is a medium-sized charity with total donations and special events fundraising of $2.7m in F2016. Administrative costs are 4% of revenues and fundraising costs are 3% of donations and special events. Per dollar donated to the charity, $0.93 goes to its programs, which falls within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. Funding reserves of $2.5m include $1.4m in endowment funds. Excluding endowments, CHI's reserves can cover 69% of annual program costs. 

Concern: All charities have 6 months to produce financial statements and file an annual return with the Charities Directorate. CHI has a December year end. As such, its financial statements should be completed by June. Its 2016 financial statements are dated August 15, 2017. Its 2017 financial statements are dated September 15, 2018. It has been late two years in a row. This raises concerns about CHI internal processes to produce financial records in a timely manner.

This charity report is an update that is currently being reviewed by Child Haven International. Comments and edits may be forthcoming. 

Updated on August 23, 2017 by Katie Khodawandi.

Updated on February 24, 2019 by Kate Bahen clarifying Child Haven's statement that the accused was not a volunteer, only a visitor at its home for children in Nepal, with additional information from Ottawa police and the size and year of the donation.