Founded in 1985, Alberta Cancer Foundation (ACF) is the main fundraising organization for Alberta’s 17 cancer centres. The charity’s mission is to make Alberta the leader in cancer research, care, and prevention. ACF aims to improve cancer treatment effectiveness, improve the quality of life for cancer patients and their families, diagnose cancer earlier, and reduce the risk of developing cancer. Alberta Cancer Foundation reports that one in two Albertans will develop cancer in their lifetime, and one in four Albertans will die from cancer. In addition, ACF reports that each year in Alberta, nearly 300 new cases of cancer are diagnosed in adolescent and young adults, aged 15-29.

The most recent audited financial statements provided by the charity are from F2019, however, the most recent annual report (AR) is from F2018. Based on F2019, research is ACF’s largest program, making up 74% of program costs. According to the F2018 AR, major research projects funded by Alberta Cancer Foundation are in clinical trials, in immunotherapy, and in colorectal cancer. ACF reports that over the past five years, more than 6,000 Albertans have taken part in 500 clinical trials. ACF has also funded $8.8m since 1999 in Alberta’s Tomorrow Project, which uses 55,000 biological samples from 300,000 participants to understand the root causes of developing cancer.

According to ACF’s F2019 audited financial statements 22% of program costs go toward prevention and screening. In the 2018 AR, ACF reports investing in a pilot lung cancer screening project that aims to screen 800 high-risk patients over three years in Calgary, Edmonton, and Fort McMurray. In F2018, ACF hosted the Early Detection Cancer Challenge wherein two companies were chosen to receive funding to improve early cancer detection. The first was an Edmonton-based company, Nanostics. It created — ClarityDX Prostate — a reliable non-invasive blood test that has the ability to identify prostate cancer and reduce unnecessary biopsies and surgeries for patients. The second, Calgary-based Syantra, created Breast CancerScout — also a blood test that has the potential to detect and change breast cancer screening protocol with more accurate results than current methods.

In F2019, Alberta Cancer Foundation spent 4% of program costs on enhanced care to provide mental, physical, and financial support to cancer patients. According to its F2018 AR, ACF funds the Patient Navigator Program. Navigators are registered nurses that guide cancer patients through the health system and provide physical, practical, and emotional support. The charity reports that this program is estimated to save the health system at least $1 million, by alleviating visits to family physicians and emergency rooms for non-emergent issues. The Patient Navigator Program was accessed nearly 20,000 times in 2017/2018. ACF spends $1.2m yearly on its Patient Financial Assistance Program. The program supports cancer patients undergoing active treatment by providing financial support covering costs including childcare, food, housing, and transportation. In 2017, this program was accessed 4,962 times.

Alberta Cancer Foundation is one of Canada’s Major 100 charities with F2019 donations and special events revenue of $25.9m. Administrative and fundraising costs are 49% of revenues (excluding investment income). For every dollar donated, 51 cents go to the cause, which is outside of Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

ACF has funding reserves of $186.5m, including $44.4m in donor-endowed funds. Excluding donor-endowed funds, funding reserves can cover program costs for 9.1 years. In F2019, the charity’s return on its funding reserves was 5%.

ACF used external fundraisers in F2018. The charity paid $1.2m to raise $1.0m from the external fundraiser for a cost of $1.19 per dollar raised.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Alberta Cancer Foundation for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on August 7, 2019 by Parker Thomlinson.