Canadian Foodgrains Bank

About Canadian Foodgrains Bank:

Founded in 1983, Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFB) is an international-aid charity that aims to end global hunger. CFB is a partnership of 15 church and church-based agencies that work towards this goal. In F2017, CFB helped over 900,000 people in 35 countries through 3 international program types: Food Assistance, Agriculture and Livelihoods, and Nutrition. Its Canadian programs teach us about global hunger and lobby for related policy changes.  

A Charity Intelligence 2018 Top 10 Impact Charity

Canadian Foodgrains Bank’s largest program, Food Assistance, accounted for 58% of program spending in F2017. This program provides food for people who are hungry due to emergency crisis situations like war, droughts, or floods. Any food rations are purchased as locally as possible. Food Assistance also includes food-for-work opportunities, and vouchers for people to buy food from local vendors.

CFB spent 31% on its Agriculture and Livelihoods program. Teaching farmers about sustainable farming practices increases the amount of food produced. This works to reduce hunger in the long term.

CFB allocated 7% of program spending to Nutrition. This program provides education about proper nutrition but also offers fortified, nutritious food to malnourished children. Nourishing pregnant mothers and children under 2 is important for the child’s development.

In F2017, Canadian Foodgrains Bank ran 127 projects: 62% (79) were projects in Africa, 28% (36) in Asia, and 9% (12) in the Americas. CFB reports directly helping 924,845 people in F2017 (down 16% from F2016) at $47 per person based on total operating costs.

Results and Impact: In Charity Intelligence's assessment, Canadian Foodgrains Bank has high impact (see grid lower right). Canadian Foodgrains Bank reports that over 95% of food provided in crisis situations gets to those in need. In conflict zones, transport can be difficult. In F2017, CFB was involved in 15 projects in Ethiopia. After one of the Agriculture and Livelihood programs ran in Ethiopia, farmers used the sustainable practices they had learned to increase fava bean production by 25%. 

Financial Review:

Canadian Foodgrains Bank is a large charity with total monetary donations of $12.2m in F2017 as well as $3.6m in goods in kind. The Canadian Government provided CFB with $26.0m of funding in F2017, representing 56% of total revenues. Administrative costs are 6% of revenues and fundraising costs are 11% of donations – $0.83 of every donated dollar goes to the cause, which falls well within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

CFB’s funding reserves of $41.0m can cover 103% of annual program costs.

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

Updated on May 14, 2018 by Madison Kerr.