Kidney Foundation of Canada is a 3-star charity with an average results reporting grade. It is one of Canada's largest charities, with funding reserves of $31.4 million that can cover 296% of annual program costs. Its overhead costs are 49% meaning that for every dollar donated, 51 cents go to the cause. This is outside Ci's reasonable range for overhead spending.

Founded in 1964, Kidney Foundation of Canada works to eliminate the burden of kidney disease for patients and their families. The charity's programs focus on funding research, serving patients, increasing public awareness of kidney disease, and advocating for better healthcare. The Foundation reports that one in ten Canadians has kidney disease and 3,200 people are waiting for a kidney transplant with a median wait time of three years and nine months. The Foundation has three programs: patient services, public education, and research.

The Foundation's patient services program offers patients information and referrals, educational materials, short-term financial assistance, and peer support groups. In F2021, the charity distributed 345 kits for youth to participate in virtual summer camp. The Foundation created the Active Living for Life program to increase physical activity in individuals with chronic kidney disease. 45-minute sessions were offered twice a week for ten weeks and consisted of warm up, strength training, balance training and cool down. The charity also provided $528k in short-term financial assistance to over 4,100 people and enabled over 1,900 people to access peer-to-peer support through Kidney Connect.

The Foundation's public education program provides education materials to people with kidney disease, hospital dialysis units and to the general public. As a part of this program, the Foundation gave out 42,579 patient handbooks and 27,145 educational brochures. The charity held 106 virtual Kidney Walks which attracted 2,700 participants. In F2021, the charity also held its first virtual forum, which consisted of a three-day online conference with 14 sessions.

The Foundation’s research granting program funds research across Canada related to kidney disease. In F2021, the Foundation distributed 95 grants to 30 research institutes, supporting 437 researchers. 25 grants went to KRESCENT Awards, 55 to Kidney Health Research Grants and 9 to Allied Health Kidney Awards. The KRESCENT program is focused on recruiting and training future leaders in kidney research, and Allied Health Awards encourage students to pursue master’s level education in nephrology (kidney specialization).

With donations of $26.9m in F2021, Kidney Foundation of Canada is a Major 100, meaning it is one of Canada’s 100 largest charities in terms of donations. Administrative costs are 13% of revenues (excluding investment income) and fundraising costs are 36% of donations. This means overhead costs are 49%. For every dollar donated to the charity, 51 cents go to the cause. This is outside of Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

The Foundation has funding reserves of $31.4m, of which $5.1m is donor-endowed. Excluding endowments, the charity’s reserves can cover 296% of annual program costs or roughly two years and eleven months.

This charity report has been sent to Kidney Foundation of Canada. Comments and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on June 17, 2022 by Angelina Curwin.