ALS Society of Canada

393 University Avenue, Suite 1701
Toronto, ON M5G 1E6
CEO: Tammy Moore
Board Chair: Patrick Nelson

Charitable Reg. #:10670 8977 RR0002

STAR RATING

Ci's Star Rating is calculated based on the following independent metrics:

[Charity Rating: 3/5]

✔+

FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY

Audited financial statements for current and previous years available on the charity’s website.

A-

RESULTS REPORTING

Grade based on the charity's public reporting of the work it does and the results it achieves.

n/r

DEMONSTRATED IMPACT

The demonstrated impact per dollar Ci calculates from available program information.

NEED FOR FUNDING

Charity's cash and investments (funding reserves) relative to how much it spends on programs in most recent year.

61%

CENTS TO THE CAUSE

For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 61 cents are available for programs.



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OVERVIEW

About ALS Society of Canada:

ALS Society of Canada is a 3-star charity. It is financially transparent and has an above-average results reporting score. However, it has high overhead spending according to Ci’s reasonable range.  

Founded in 1977, ALS Society of Canada (ALS Canada) works to improve the lives of people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It also funds research to create a future without the disease. ALS causes motor neurons to break down, which leads to muscle weakness, impaired speech, and difficulty breathing. Currently, there is no cure for the disease and 80% of people with ALS die within five years of diagnosis. 

ALS Canada has four main programs: Community Service, National Research, Advocacy, and Public Awareness.  

In F2022, ALS Canada allocated 51% of program spending ($2.9m) to Community Services. This program provides equipment and support to people living with ALS. In F2022, the charity distributed over 2,800 pieces of equipment worth $1.6m. ALS Canada held 140 virtual support groups. In F2022, ALS Canada’s Community Leads supported 1,289 people living with ALS, their family members, and caregivers. Leads helped people navigate healthcare systems, access community resources, and find support groups 

In F2022, ALS Canada allocated 29% of spending ($1.6m) to National Research. The charity also leveraged this funding, in partnership with Brain Canada, for an additional $1.1m invested in research. Through the ALS Canada Research Program, the charity funds peer-reviewed research grants and fosters collaboration. In F2022, the charity funded 14 research grants – nine Discovery Grants, four Trainee Awards, and one Career Transition Award. ALS Canada invests in new areas of research that aim to have high impact. In F2022, the charity also hosted the ALS Canada Research Forum, which attracted 270 participants.  

In F2022, ALS Canada allocated 11% of program spending ($603k) to Advocacy. The charity held 30 meetings with 45 government officials in F2022. ALS Canada also led campaigns to increase access to new ALS therapies for patients. The charity submitted four proposals to the government about these therapies. It had over 450 people take part in an e-advocacy campaign about equitable access to treatment. 

ALS Canada allocated 5% of program spending ($291k) to Public Awareness in F2022. This year, the charity was able to host its Walk to End ALS in person again. The walk included 368 teams and 2,500+ individuals within Ontario. ALS Canada also reached 300,000 people with its June ALS Awareness Month Campaign about ALS clinical trials in Canada during F2022.  

ALS Canada allocated the remaining 4% of program spending ($247k) to other charitable expenses. 

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Results and Impact

In F2022, ALS Canada’s advocacy work led Health Canada to approve two new therapies, ALBRIOZA and Radicava, to treat ALS. The charity continued to advocate for equitable access to these therapies following their approval. 

While Ci highlights these key results, they may not be a complete representation of ALS Canada's results and impact. This charity is not yet rated on impact (n/r).

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Finances

In F2022, ALS Society of Canada reported total donations of $8.3m. Administrative costs are 5% of revenues (excluding investment income) and fundraising costs are 34% of donations. This means overhead costs are 39%. For every dollar donated to the charity, 61 cents go to the cause. This is outside Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending, and the charity has been outside the reasonable range for the past three years. 

ALS Society of Canada has reserve funds of $11.9m, of which $1.3m is donor endowed. Like many charities funding medical research, ALS Canada has multi-year funding commitments. In F2022, ALS Canada's research grant commitments totaled $2.6m, with $1.7m to be granted in 2023. Excluding ALS Canada's donor-endowed funds, the charity’s funding reserves can cover annual program costs and research grants for over one year and ten months. 

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

Updated on August 19, 2023 by Clive Stevens.

Financial Review


Financial Ratios

Fiscal year ending December
202220212020
Administrative costs as % of revenues 5.3%5.4%5.3%
Fundraising costs as % of donations 34.0%30.5%29.8%
Total overhead spending 39.3%35.9%35.1%
Program cost coverage (%) 189.2%228.5%240.4%

Summary Financial Statements

All figures in $000s
202220212020
Donations 8,2637,4266,443
Goods in kind 255185180
Lotteries (net) 261820
Investment income 1,747806150
Total revenues 10,2918,4356,793
Program costs 4,7454,0673,883
Grants 9121,5152,184
Administrative costs 452414353
Fundraising costs 2,8092,2611,917
Total spending 8,9188,2588,336
Cash flow from operations 1,373177(1,543)
Capital spending 000
Funding reserves 11,87913,90715,727

Note: To report on a cash basis, Ci adjusted donations by changes in deferred revenue from non-government sources. This affected revenues by ($633k) in F2022, $29k in F2021, and ($54k) in F2020. Ci adjusted for unrealized gains and losses, affecting revenues by $1.3m in F2022, $427k in F2021, and ($464k) in F2020. Ci reports lotteries net of expenses, decreasing revenues and expenses by $31k in F2022, $16k in F2021, and $17k in F2020.

Salary Information

Full-time staff: 51

Avg. compensation: $59,811

Top 10 staff salary range:

$350k +
0
$300k - $350k
0
$250k - $300k
1
$200k - $250k
0
$160k - $200k
1
$120k - $160k
1
$80k - $120k
7
$40k - $80k
0
< $40k
0

Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2022

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Comments & Contact

Comments added by the Charity:

Charity Contact

Website: www.als.ca
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 416-497-2267

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