Founded in 1982, Dying with Dignity (DWD) seeks to improve individuals' quality of dying, protect end-of-life rights, and help Canadians avoid unwanted suffering. Its mandate has four components:  it educates people about end-of-life options,  defends human rights by advocating for assisted dying rules,  supports individuals at the end of their lives, and  provides support to healthcare practitioners who assess for and provide medical assistance in dying (MAID). DWD provides 4 programs: Access, Eligibility, Support, and Education.

In F2018, 28% of program expenditures went to DWD’s Access program. This program ensures that Canadians have fair access to assisted dying in accordance with the Constitution, including the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. DWD reports that a significant barrier to access is the practice of forced transfers for assisted dying. This is when a healthcare facility requires a person who requests assisted death to go off-site to receive (or be assessed for) MAID. In F2018, DWD reports that over 750 pages of public documents were obtained through Freedom of Information requests on forced transfers for assisted dying. In addition, over 10,000 supporter emails were sent calling for an end to forced transfers for assisted dying.

In F2018, 26% of program expenditures went to DWD’s Eligibility program. This program works to ensure that Canada’s assisted dying laws complies with the Constitution, including the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In F2018, DWD reports that over 7,000 people signed its online petition on advance requests for assisted dying and that DWD participated in 2 court challenges to Bill C-14 (the bill on assisted dying rules).

In F2018, 23% of program expenditures went to DWD’s Support program. This program provides information and emotional support to people navigating end-of-life options. In F2018, DWD reports that over 1,000 new inquiries were handled by its Personal Support Program and that DWD facilitated 9 clinician-led case-sharing webinars.

In F2018, 23% of program expenditures went to DWD’s Education program. This program informs people on advance care planning, patient rights, and their legal end-of-life options. In F2018, DWD reports that over 1,600 people attended one of its End in Mind webinars.

DONOR NOTE: On January 1, 2018 the CRA re-instated the charitable status of Dying with Dignity. Its status was annulled on March 9, 2015 due to the CRA changing its mind on DWD’s charitable purpose not meeting the definition of charitable education; however, this decision has been reversed.

Dying With Dignity is a medium-sized charity, with donations of $5.6m in F2018. Included in the F2018 donations was the first installment of a $7m legacy gift, explaining the large increase in donations from F2017 to F2018. Its administrative costs are 5% of revenues (excluding investment income), and its fundraising costs are 2% of donations. For every dollar donated, 93 cents go to the cause, which is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.  

The charity has funding reserves of $5.0m. This results in a program cost coverage of 557%, meaning that funding reserves can cover 5.6 years of its annual program costs. 

The charity reports wages and benefits expense of $605k in F2018, but since this charity has recently regained its charitable status, the salary information is not disclosed in its T3010 CRA filing. 

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Dying With Dignity Canada for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on July 9, 2019 by Parker Thomlinson.