Bruce Trail Conservancy

55 Head St., Unit 101
Dundas, ON L9H 3H8
CEO: Michael McDonald
Board Chair: Leah Myers

Charitable Reg. #:11921 7578 RR0001

STAR RATING

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

[Charity Rating: 4/5]

✔+

FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY

Audited financial statements for current and previous years available on the charity’s website.

B+

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.

88%

CENTS TO THE CAUSE

For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 88 cents are available for programs.



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OVERVIEW

About Bruce Trail Conservancy:

Bruce Trail Conservancy is a 4-star charity. It has a B+ Results Reporting grade, which is above average. The charity holds reserve funds in line with Ci's reasonable range. For every dollar donated to the charity, 88 cents are available to go to the cause, which is within Ci's reasonable range.

Founded in 1967, Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) protects the Niagara Escarpment to preserve natural habitats and landscapes. People can explore these areas along the Bruce Trail, Canada’s longest marked footpath. As of F2024, BTC has protected 20,460 acres of the Niagara escarpment and maintains 1,379 km of trails. BTC includes nine member clubs that each maintain a section of the trail. In F2024, BTC spent $13.8m on its programs.

A Charity Intelligence 2024 Top 100 Rated Charity

Land Acquisition and Conservation represented 93% ($12.7m) of program costs in F2024. BTC secures land via donations, purchases, or life interest agreements, which allow landowners to keep living on their land while BTC maintains the property. In F2024, BTC protected 942 acres of land across 17 locations along the Niagara Escarpment. BTC added 10.5 km to its trail and removed 1.1km from roads. As of F2024, 72% of the Bruce Trail is now on permanently protected land (up from 71% in F2023), and 20,460 acres of the Niagara Escarpment has been protected. The charity reported 91 species of concern live on BTC-managed land.

Other programs represented 7% ($887k) of program costs in F2024. Other programs include membership, communications, and club management. In F2024, 1,251 new members joined BTC. There are 12,573 members across its nine member clubs. The charity’s clubs led 1,761 hikes for 19,418 people in F2024.  

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Results and Impact

In F2024, Bruce Trail Conservancy protected 942 acres of land across the Niagara Escarpment. The charity reports that 91 species of conservation concern exist on BTC-managed land. In F2024, BTC ecologists made 34 observations of 15 rare and at-risk species.

While Ci highlights these key results, they may not be a complete representation of Bruce Trail Conservancy’s results and impact. This charity is not yet rated on impact. This is shown as n/r and it does not affect its star rating. 

 

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Finances

Bruce Trail Conservancy’s audited financial statements use line-item costing, which is not a best practice.

Bruce Trail Conservancy received $14.7m in donations in F2024. The charity also received $3.8m in government funding, which is 18% of revenue, and $870k in donated land. BTC spent $13.8m on its programs, which is 67% of revenue (excluding donated goods). The charity recorded a surplus of $4.6m.

BTC spent $794k on fundraising, which is 5% of donations, and $1.3m on administration, which is 7% of revenue (excluding investment income). Total overhead spending is 12%. For every dollar donated to the charity, 88 cents are available to go to the cause, which is within Ci’s reasonable range.

BTC has $22.3m in reserve funds (cash and investments). The charity’s reserves can cover 1 year and 7 months of its annual program costs. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

This charity report has been sent to Bruce Trail Conservancy.

Updated on June 3, 2025 by Liam Chapleau. 

Financial Review


Financial Ratios

Fiscal year ending June
202420232022
Administrative costs as % of revenues 6.9%5.9%5.5%
Fundraising costs as % of donations 5.1%4.7%3.9%
Total overhead spending 12.0%10.6%9.3%
Program cost coverage (%) 162.2%236.7%125.1%

Summary Financial Statements

All figures in $000s
202420232022
Donations 14,66414,40316,400
Goods in kind 87013018
Government funding 3,7561,72249
Business activities (net) 239162152
Investment income 1,7841,350498
Other income (4)120(23)
Total revenues 21,30917,88717,095
Program costs 13,7068,58610,219
Grants 464140
Donated goods exp 87013018
Administrative costs 1,343978911
Fundraising costs 794678633
Other costs 0070
Total spending 16,75910,41311,892
Cash flow from operations 4,5507,4745,202
Capital spending 106175282
Funding reserves 22,30120,41512,836

Note: 1. Deferred Revenue: Ci included deferred revenue within donations and other revenue. This was ($3k) in F2024, $85k in F2023, and $149k in F2022. 2. Investment Income: Ci included investment income, reported below the line. This was $717k in F2024, $671k in F2023, and ($323k) in F2022. 3. Restricted Donations: Ci included restricted donations and endowment contributions, reported only on the cash flow, within revenue. This affected revenue by $9.8m in F2024, $7.0m in F2023, and $10.1m in F2022. Bruce Trail Enterprises: Ci included Bruce Trail Enterprises expenses within revenue. This affected revenue and expenses by ($201k) in F2024, ($209k) in F2023, and ($216k) in F2022. 5. Donated Land: Ci included donated land within revenue and expenses. This was $870k in F2024, $130k in F2023, and $18k in F2022. 6. Acquisition of Land: Ci included the acquisition of land reported on the cash flow, within expenses. This increased expenses by $11.1m in F2024, $5.9m in F2023, and $8.1m in F2022.

Salary Information

Full-time staff: 25

Avg. compensation: $97,090

Top 10 staff salary range:

$350k +
0
$300k - $350k
0
$250k - $300k
0
$200k - $250k
1
$160k - $200k
0
$120k - $160k
3
$80k - $120k
6
$40k - $80k
0
< $40k
0

Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2024

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Comments & Contact

Comments added by the Charity:

No comments have been added by the charity.

Charity Contact

Website: www.brucetrail.org
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 905-529-6821

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Charitable Registration Number: 80340 7956 RR0001