BC Lung Foundation is a 3-star rated charity with a below-average results reporting grade, and overhead spending outside of Ci's reasonable range. It is financially transparent, and with its current reserves it can cover annual program and granting costs for one year and ten months.

British Columbia Lung Foundation (BCLF) was founded in 1904 as the Anti-Tuberculosis Society. In 1978, the charity changed its name to BC Lung Association to cover a variety of diseases and became a provincial arm of the Canadian Lung Association (CLA). In November 2021, the charity became independent of CLA, renaming itself as British Columbia Lung Foundation. The charity focuses on all lung diseases including asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, and sleep apnea. BCLF reports that one in five BC residents have lung disease. It also reports that one in ten children in BC have asthma, which is the most common chronic disease among children. BCLF has two main programs, Health Services and Research.  

Health Services accounted for 89% of the charity’s program expenses in F2024. The program focuses on education, advocacy, and support. BCLF does not distinguish costs between the three programs. The charity runs support groups to help people living with chronic lung diseases. Every year, the charity publishes the BC State of the Air Report which provides information about the current air quality, issues that may be arising, and the main contributors to air quality issues. In F2024 the charity ran the Breathe 1-2-3 Asthma Education Camp for children ages 8-10. Together with CLA the charity advocated for federal policy changes on tobacco use and air quality.

Research grants of $502k accounted for 11% of program spending in F2024. The charity provided 18 grants of $13k and nine grants of $25k to lung researchers in F2024. It also funded two fellowships, three ongoing grants, and one community service project. 

British Columbia Lung Foundation has donations and special event revenues of $2.1m in F2024. The charity received $2.5m in government funding, representing 44% of total revenues. Administrative costs are 9% of revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 34% of donations and special events. This results in total overhead spending of 43%. For every dollar donated, 57 cents are available for programs. This is outside of Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.  

In F2024, BCLF spent $4.5m on its programs and grants, which is 78% of total revenues. The charity had $84k in surplus.  

BCLF has $8.3m in reserve funds. These are the charity’s cash and investments. The charity could cover 187% or around 1 year and ten months of annual program costs with current reserves. 

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

Updated on August 2, 2024 by Alessandra Castino