Heart and Stroke is a 3-star charity. It has a results reporting grade of an A- which is above average. For every dollar donated, 64 cents are available for program spending. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

Founded in 1952, Heart and Stroke Foundation Canada (HSFC) fights against heart disease and stroke. In Canada, one person dies every five minutes from heart disease, and nine in ten Canadians have at least one risk factor for heart conditions, stroke, or vascular cognitive impairment. In fiscal 2023 (year ended August), Heart and Stroke Foundation spent $47.0m on its programs. HSFC runs two core programs: Health Promotion & Community Programming, and Research. 

Health Promotion & Community Programming was 60% of program spending. This program generates awareness and works to prevent heart disease and stroke. In F2023, 8,000 instructors trained 450,500+ individuals to provide cardiovascular care and first aid. Heart and Stroke Foundation also provides resources on lifestyle risk factors and promotes healthy habits on its website. It claims that 80% of heart diseases are preventable with a healthy diet and exercise. To promote healthy habits in children, Heart and Stroke runs a fundraising event: Jump Rope for Heart. In F2023, more than 770,000 students in over 2,600 schools participated in this fundraising event.

Research was 40% of program spending. In F2023, the charity paid out $14.8m in grants. This is a 18% decrease from the $18m in grants it gave out in F2022. In F2023, ten of these grants went to leading stroke researchers. The largest grant recipients, as reported in the charity’s T3010 filings were the University of Calgary ($1.2m) and Toronto General and Western Hospital Foundation ($945k). The charity also reports a grant of $889k to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, although the financial statements note that the Ontario charity is included in the consolidated statements.

Heart and Stroke foundation received $90.3m in donations and $1.1m in government funding in F2023. Administrative costs are 3% of revenues and fundraising costs are 34% of donations. Overhead costs are 37%, meaning that for every dollar 63 cents are available to go towards the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable overhead spending range. When including surplus, 43 cents went towards the cause.

Heart and Stroke has reserve funds of $208.7m including $6.9m in donor-endowed funds. Excluding donor-endowed funds, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada’s reserves can cover four years and five months of program costs. The Foundation also has $10.3m in unfunded pension liabilities. 

Heart and Stroke uses external fundraisers as part of its fundraising activities. In F2023, external fundraisers raised $35.5m and were paid $3.6m. This means it costs 10 cents for every dollar raised.

Profile updated on May 28, 2024 by Abby Stout