Founded in 1965, Save a Family Plan (SAFP) is a Canadian-based international charity that is committed to seeking justice and working with the marginalized and poor of India, empowering families, and communities and contributing to the reduction of poverty. SAFP reports that 20% of the world's poor live in India, and 25% of India lives on less than 60 cents per day. 

SAFP works in partnership with more than 50 Social Service Societies and local non-governmental organizations. It works with over 52,000 self-help groups, more than 25 institution-based rehabilitation centres and more than 19,000 families annually in India. The services are available to the physically or intellectually challenged, the elderly, destitute and the dying. Its two main programs are Family Development and Community Development. 

Save a Family Plan’s Family Development program (82% of annual program costs in F2017) is the charity’s core program, aiming to help families meet basic needs, as well as promoting self-reliance and sustainability. In F2017, SAFP provided 10,080 impoverished families in 5 states in India with monthly financial support and training to help them achieve their goals. Because of this support, 2,331 families received training in marketing and entrepreneurship to give them the tools needed to start their own small businesses. Families also receive assistance from program staff in applying for government programs and benefits, enabling 2,649 families to collectively access $3.6 million through local governments to help with issues including agriculture assistance, medical insurance, education, and housing.  

The Community Development Program (18% of annual program costs in F2017) includes 8 development sectors: economic growth, food security, education, health and hygiene, gender equality, environment, governance, and youth empowerment. In F2017, SAFP began a new two-year phase of the program that works with 40 new villages with poor and marginalized communities which completed projects that gathered information to inform what issues will be addressed in the upcoming years.  

From 2013-2017, SAFP’s Haiti Empowerment Project worked to improve the lives of people in areas of St. Marc, Gilbert, Venotte, Charette, and Cap Haitian. As a result of the program: 564 people were enrolled in literacy classes; 326 individuals received training in Results Based Management and Participatory Methodologies, Nutrition, Health and Hygiene, Micro-Credit Training, Computer Skills, Conflict Resolution, Workplan Creation, and other topics; 127 people were a part of the village banking system, with participants receiving training in commerce, sanitation, environmental awareness, and basic finances; and 32 local volunteers assisted the victims of Hurricane Matthew.  

Save a Family Plan is a medium-sized charity, receiving $3.2m in donations in F2017. Administrative costs are 9% of revenues (excluding investment income), and reported fundraising costs are 0.02% of donations. For every dollar donated, 91 cents go towards the charity’s programs, which is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. Save a Family Plan holds funding reserves of $8.6m, which can cover annual program costs for 2.7 years.  

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Save a Family Plan for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.  

Updated August 12, 2019 by Caroline McKenna.