Mennonite Economic Development Associates is a 4-star charity with Good demonstrated impact. It has an A- grade for results reporting, which is above average. Its funding reserves are within Ci’s reasonable range and can cover ten months of annual program costs. For every dollar donated to Mennonite Economic Development Associates, 60 cents are available to go to the cause, which is outside Ci’s reasonable range.

Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) is an international economic development charity that works to create sustainable jobs and improve economic opportunities in developing countries. Founded in 1953, MEDA supports farmers, entrepreneurs and businesses by improving access to finance, markets, technology and business support, with a focus on women and youth. MEDA reports that more than 700 million people live in extreme poverty, 80% of whom live in rural areas. In Sub-Saharan Africa, 10–12 million young people enter the workforce each year, while only about 3 million formal jobs are created.

MEDA operates through two main areas: Development Programs and Investment Programs. In F2025, it spent US$30.5m on its programs. All financial figures in this report are in U.S. dollars, while program and output figures are from MEDA International's F2025 reporting and therefore reflect its global operations, not MEDA Canada alone.

Development Programs accounted for 58% or $17.7m of program spending in F2025. MEDA works with farmers and businesses to improve productivity, market access and climate resilience while creating jobs.  In F2025, MEDA reported 145,341 clients, including 133,674 individuals and 11,667 businesses; 81% of clients were women and 37% were youths. Across MEDA's programs, 52,262 decent work opportunities were created, including 10,964 wage jobs and 41,298 self-employment opportunities.

Investment Programs received 42% or $12.8m of F2025 program spending. MEDA provides capital to businesses and investment funds that support job creation and economic growth. Companies supported through the MEDA Risk Capital Fund employed 26,419 people in F2025. Through the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund, a fund-of-funds initiative supporting early-stage small and medium-sized enterprises across Sub-Saharan Africa, MEDA has committed $85.0m to 16 investment vehicles to date. These vehicles have invested in 98 companies across Africa and created 8,908 direct jobs.

MEDA's audited financials are expressed in USD, and as such, the following analysis is also done in USD.

MEDA had total revenues of $33.6m in F2025. It received $6.6m in Canadian donations, representing 20% of revenue and $20.1m in international donations, equal to 60% of revenue. Most of its donations are funding associated with specific programs, including $18.9m for development programs and $13.7m related to fund-of-fund programs. In F2024, Mastercard Foundation contributed $62.0m towards work on its Africa Growth Fund, reported as other income. Government funding was $11.5m in F2025, equal to 34% of revenue.

The charity spent $30.5m on its programs, which is 91% of its revenue. It recorded a deficit of $4.8m in F2025, meaning it drew on its reserves to fund its operations.

Administrative costs were $6.5m, representing 19% of revenue (excluding investment income). The charity spent $1.4m on fundraising, equal to 21% of donations. Total overhead spending was 40%. For every dollar donated to Mennonite Economic Development Associates, 60 cents are available to go to the cause. This is outside Ci’s reasonable range.

MEDA held $115.2m in reserve funds (cash and investments) in F2025, of which $93.6m was donor endowed in the Mastercard Fund. Excluding donor-endowed funds, these reserves can cover ten months of annual program costs. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

The salary information below is presented in CAD.

This is a charity update that has been sent to Mennonite Economic Development Associates by Neela Jalilian on August 18, 2026.