Children's Aid Foundation of Canada

About Children's Aid Foundation of Canada:

Founded in 1979, the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada (CAFC) seeks to improve the lives of children in the child welfare system. Currently, 67,000 Canadian children live in permanent care with foster families, extended families, or in group homes. CAFC reports that 235,000 children and youth experienced or are at high risk of abuse and neglect.  Each year, 2,300 youth “age out” of the child welfare system and can no longer access the benefits and support from it. Children in child welfare are at high risk; they experience a far greater likelihood of homelessness, incarceration, and teen pregnancy, and under 50% graduate from high school.

Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada spent 43% of program costs on educational programs in F2017. Since 1995, CAFC granted $12.3m toward 4,304 post-secondary scholarships through its Post-Secondary Education (PSE) program, meaning that each grant on average was approximately $2,858 per student. CAFC reported that it empowered 4,442 children and youth to continue schooling in F2017.

Healing and recovery programs made up 30% of CAFC’s program spending. These programs provided 6,641 children and youth with physical and mental health care that is not covered by public funding. The charity gave gifts to 2,995 children for their birthday or a milestone.

Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada spent 14% of program costs on prevention and 12% on enrichment. CAFC supported 3,307 children and youth in their transition out of care.  In one of its housing programs, the charity helped 64 young adults secure housing and 50 young adults work toward housing or maintain their current housing. In F2017, CAFC helped 9,268 children attend programs including camps, sports, and the arts.

Results and Impact: In F2017, Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada reviewed the impact of post-secondary grants given through its PSE Program by surveying past recipients. The study reported that 92% of grant recipients graduated or are on track to graduate from post-secondary studies. CAFC learned that 33% of recipients required the financial support from the grant to attend school and 18% of recipients completed a graduate program. The program also helped the recipients’ quality of life; 81% reported improved emotional well-being after receiving the grant, and 90% reported good mental and physical health.

Financial Review:

Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada is a large charity raising $12.0m in donations and from fundraising events. Administrative costs are 9% of total revenues and fundraising costs are 19% of donations. For every dollar raised, 72 cents go to the cause, up 11 cents since F2015.  Cents to the cause now falls within Ci’s reasonable range.  

CAFC has funding reserves of $47.3m, of which $8.9m is donor-endowed. Program cost coverage has continually fallen since F2015. Excluding donor-endowed funds, CAFC’s funding reserves can cover program costs for 3.7 years, down 198% from F2015 as the charity has increased grants and program costs by 47%.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on July 25, 2018 by Joeyanne Cheung.