Alberta Cancer Foundation is a 3-star rated charity with a below average results reporting grade. The charity has large funding reserves, which can cover 7.7 years of its annual granting activities.

Founded in 1985, Alberta Cancer Foundation (ACF) is the fundraising arm for each of the 17 Alberta cancer centres. The charity states that one in two Albertans will receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. It also states that 23,000 Albertans were diagnosed with cancer in 2023. ACF runs three main programs: Research, Patient Care, and Patient Navigation. The most recent annual report available at the time of this update is from F2023.

The charity reports it distributed $27.6m in grants in F2024 ($27.2m in F2023). In F2023, the three largest grants (accounting for 92% of total grants) were to Alberta Health Services ($16.7m), University of Alberta ($4.9m), and University of Calgary ($3.9m).

The Research program received 68% of program spending. This spending funds research in cancer detection, treatment, and care. ACF's Game Changer Competition grants support new and innovative cancer research done by teams based in Edmonton. The charity provided Game Changer Competition grants to four cancer research teams in 2024. Developed in Alberta, LINAC-MR merges MRI technology with radiation treatment to view and target tumours. LINAC-MR entered the clinical trial phase in February 2023. A study supported by ACF using Car T-cells completed a phase one trial in F2023.

The Patient Care program received 18% of program spending. ACF funds the 17 cancer centres across Alberta, which provide care services to Albertans affected by cancer. 62,937 patients visited the cancer centres 727,567 times in F2023.

The Patient Navigation program received 6% of program spending. The Patient Navigation program employs registered nurses with training in cancer care to provide guidance to patients and their families. ACF reports the program has helped over 40,000 Albertans since its start.

The remaining 8% of program spending went to the Patient Financial Assistance Program (4%) and Cancer Centre Funds (4%).

In F2024 Alberta Cancer Foundation received $85.4m in donations. It received $22.0m in F2022. This is a 287% increase from F2022 to F2024. This increase is partially due to its OWN.CANCER campaign, which looks to raise $250m to support a comprehensive cancer care centre in Calgary.

Administrative costs are 6% of revenues (excluding investment income). Fundraising costs are 11% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 17%. For every dollar donated, 83 cents are available to go to the cause. This falls within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

ACF's audited financial statements do not report grants separate from in-house program spending. As such, Ci reported all mission spending as grants. In F2024 ACF spent $27.6m on its grants, which is 25% of its revenue. In F2024 it had a surplus of $67.6m.

Alberta Cancer Foundation has $265.2m in reserve funds. Excluding $87.1m in donor-endowed funds, the net funding reserves can cover 767%, or seven years and eight months of program costs. ACF has total investments of $257.5m. 45% is in cash and cash equivalents, 36% in equities, and 19% in bonds. In F2024, the annual return on investment for ACF was 9%. Its four-year annual return on investment is 12%.

ACF’s multi-year research grant commitments total to $48.8m over the next five years: $19.8m in F2025, $12.1m in F2026, $5.5m in F2027, $3.4m in F2028, and $8.1m in F2029 and after.

In F2023, Alberta Cancer Foundation paid external fundraisers $1.3m who collected $1.5m in donations. This means it cost ACF 85 cents to raise $1 using external fundraisers.

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

Updated on July 30, 2024, by Grady Simpson.