Founded in 1938, Children Believe, formerly known as Christian Children’s Fund of Canada, works toward a world where all children can achieve their full potential. It provides health services, education programs, and job skills to help communities overcome poverty. Children Believe is a member of the ChildFund Alliance, a network of 11 international aid charities that work in more than 60 countries. Children Believe currently works in six countries: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Nicaragua, and Paraguay.

In F2020, Children Believe’s three largest programs were Health and Nutrition, Education, and Strengthening Community Organizations.

Health and Nutrition projects were 46% of program costs in F2020. Children Believe helps to build and equip health centres, fund maternal health services, and train mothers on child nutrition. In F2020, it helped 254,300 people access maternal and child health services. Children Believe also runs awareness campaigns on child protection and family health, reaching 122,238 people during the year.

Education represented 36% of program costs in F2020. Children Believe helps to send children to school and raise awareness of children’s rights. The charity built or renovated 189 classrooms and libraries in F2020. It also provided 313,901 pencils, uniforms, and books to help 45,894 students attend school. In total, Children Believe reports that its school programs supported 466,000 children, teachers, caretakers, and family members in F2020. Its education campaigns on child rights also reached 164,170 people during the year.

Strengthening Community Organizations made up 12% of program costs. The charity funds children and youth-led initiatives that aim to improve their local communities. In F2020, Children Believe supported 77,000 youth-led projects. The charity also provides training and leadership opportunities for women to promote gender equality. It helped 17,077 women through job skills and business training programs in F2020.

The remaining 6% of program costs included Sustainable Economic Development (4%), Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (2%), and Emergency Response (less than 1%).

Children Believe received $20.7m in Canadian donations in F2020. During the year, it also received $6.7m in donated goods (18% of revenues), $6.2m in government funding (16%), and $3.8m in international donations (10%). Administrative costs are 8% of revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 25% of Canadian donations. This results in total overhead spending of 34%. For every dollar donated to the charity, 66 cents go to the cause. This is just within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

Children Believe has $9.6m in net funding reserves. The charity can cover 43% or around five months of annual program costs with its existing reserves.

According to its annual filings with the CRA, Children Believe uses external fundraisers. It paid external fundraisers $1.1m to raise $3.2m in F2020, at a cost of $0.34 per dollar raised.

Charity Intelligence has sent this update to Children Believe for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on August 16, 2021 by Eric Zhao.