Canadian Feed the Children

About Canadian Feed the Children:

Canadian Feed the Children (CFTC) is an international development charity that aim to break the poverty cycle. Its mission is to work with communities in Canada and across the globe to help overcome barriers of children’s development. CFTC's programs focus on food security, capacity building, and education in Bolivia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda, and with Aboriginal communities in Canada.

In 2012, Canadian Feed the Children adopted a new Theory of Change model, shifting its focus to long-term, community-based, sustainable development. In line with this change, CFTC no longer ships gift-in-kind medicines, which historically made up a large portion of the charity’s revenues.

In 2016, Canadian Feed the Children spent 75% of program costs on food security programs, helping people in communities grow more food, increase income so that they can afford food, and eat healthy. In F2017, 30,134 farmers, of which 60% were women, received agricultural training. The charity provided seeds, tools, plants, and livestock to 9,826 farmers, down from 21,807 farmers in F2016.

Canadian Feed the Children’s capacity-building programs, which were 13% of program costs in 2016, create self-sustaining communities by addressing gender inequality, adapting to climate change, implementing sustainable farming methods, and supporting local organizations that support child development. In F2017, CFTC helped 17,235 people, 80% of which were women, save or earn money through Village Savings and Loans groups. In Ethiopia, CFTC built two warehouses, each capable of storing 300,000 kg of grain, to support farming cooperatives and unions.

In 2016, Canadian Feed the Children spent 9% of program costs on education initiatives, focusing on early childhood development centres, quality primary school education, and ensuring children at school have meals. In F2017, 15 primary school classrooms were built or renovated, and 9 new school water and sanitation facilities were built. The charity trained 170 primary teachers, 223 education and early childhood development educators, and 1,573 parents. CFTC enrolled 4,567 children in childhood development centres. In its school nutrition program, CFTC provided 3.33 million meals and snack to children, down 34% from F2016. No information was provided for the remaining 3% of program costs.

Results and Impact: CFTC’s aquaculture programs in Ghana have provided a sustainable source of protein and income to 16,000 food-insecure children, women, and men. Bolivian urban agriculture projects reduced food insecurity from affecting 53% of families in the project in 2013 to 26% in 2016. CFTC’s food security project in a flood- and drought-prone region in Ethiopia improved access to irrigation from 16% in 2012 to 37% in 2017. The project reported increased production in high-value crops. For example, the percentage of households growing mung beans increased from 7.6% in 2012 to 25.6% in 2017. Due to CFTC’s community development project in Ghana, 50% of women have a say in household spending, and 75% say their economic contribution to the household is recognized, up from 25% recognition in 2012.

Financial Review:

Canadian Feed the Children is a Large charity with donations of $11.2m in F2017. Its administrative costs are 8% of revenues and its fundraising costs are 19% of donations. For every dollar donated, 73 cents go to the cause, falling within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. CFTC has funding reserves of $4.4m, resulting in a program cost coverage ratio of 53%. This means that the charity can cover just over 6 months of its annual program costs using its existing reserves, indicating a need for funding. The program coverage cost has consistently fallen from 92% in 2013.

CFTC used external fundraisers in F2016. The charity paid $501k to raise $2.9m from external fundraisers for a cost of 17 cents per dollar raised, improving from a cost of 51 cents per dollar in F2015. F2017 information is not yet available.

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

Updated on June 25, 2018 by Joeyanne Cheung.