Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy is a 1-star charity with a low results reporting grade. It is not financially transparent and its financial statements are only available upon request. The charity has funding reserves that can cover annual program costs for 22.8 years. 

Founded in 1947, Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy (OFCP) supports people living with cerebral palsy in Ontario. Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that affects body movement and muscle coordination. Caused by brain injury before, during or after birth, the disorder presents differently from person to person – some people live with no obvious effects, while others need mobility devices and caregivers to help them with daily living. OFCP reports that cerebral palsy occurs approximately 1 out of every 400 births.

Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy outlines two main program buckets called Funding and Planning. No spending breakdown by program was provided by the charity.

The Funding program offers funding assistance to members of OFCP who have cerebral palsy. Categories for funding include activity and assistive devices; scholarships and awards; and research. The Assistive Devices Funding Program (ADFP) and Life Enriching Activity Fund (LEAF) provide financial support for equipment and community activities respectively, in order to enrich the lives of those living with cerebral palsy. The charity reports that LEAF and ADFP supported over 192 of OFCP's members. OFCP's Funding program also financially supports research in areas relevant to the cure, cause, prevention, improved treatment and/or understanding of cerebral palsy. 

OFCP's Planning program includes system navigation support and financial and estate planning. A major component of this program is OFCP's Resources Across My Province (RAMP) tool. RAMP guides the public in their search for services and provides information and links that are specific to cerebral palsy. In F2019, OFCP launched the RAMP tool on its website. 

Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy received donations of $277k in F2023. Administrative costs are 126% of total revenues (less investment income), and fundraising costs are 5% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 130%, which falls outside Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. For every dollar donated to the charity, -30 cents go to the cause.  In other words, the charity spent more on overhead than it received in total revenue, excluding investment income. 

The charity spent $569k on its programs, which is 49% of total revenues. The charity had a surplus of $136k.

OFCP has reserve funds of $12.9m. These are the charity cash and investments. The charity can cover annual program costs for 22.8 years with existing reserves.  

OFCP’s funding reserves earned investment income of $808k in F2023. This represents an annual return on investment of 7%. The average annual return on investment for the past five years was 3%. As of F2023, the charity holds its investments in stocks (33%) and bonds (67%).

Schedule 8 of the charity’s T3010 filing with the CRA reports that the charity did not meet its disbursement quota for the fiscal year F2023. OFCP’s disbursement quota requirement for F2023 was $695k, but the charity only disbursed $569k.

In F2017, OFCP transferred its Household Pickup Services to a controlled entity whose name is redacted by the CRA in OFCP’s audited financial statements. OFCP now receives bin rental fees from this entity, included in business activities in Ci’s analysis, and trust distributions, included in other revenue. 

This charity report is an update that has been sent to OFCP for review. Comments and edits may be forthcoming.  

Updated on July 25, 2024 by Alessandra Castino.