Scouts Canada
STAR RATINGCi's Star Rating is calculated based on the following independent metrics: |
✔
FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY
Most recent Audited financial statements available on the charity’s website.
C+
RESULTS REPORTING
Grade based on the charity's public reporting of the work it does and the results it achieves.
n/r
DEMONSTRATED IMPACT
The demonstrated impact per dollar Ci calculates from available program information.
NEED FOR FUNDING
Charity's cash and investments (funding reserves) relative to how much it spends on programs in most recent year.
11%
CENTS TO THE CAUSE
For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 11 cents are available for programs.
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OVERVIEW
About Scouts Canada:
Scouts Canada is a 2-star rated charity with below-average results reporting and overhead costs outside Ci’s reasonable range. It is financially transparent, and with its current funding reserves it can cover two years and seven months of annual program costs.
Founded in 1914, Scouts Canada aims to prepare kids for success through adventures and new experiences. Worldwide, the Scouting program has approximately 40 million members in 167 countries. Scouts Canada supports the programming, safety, and administrative needs of smaller local Scout groups. Scouts Canada does not provide a breakdown of spending on its programs.
Scouting participants are divided into five groups: Beaver Scouts (ages 5-7), Cub Scouts (ages 8-10), Scouts (ages 11-14), Venturer Scouts (ages 15-17), and Rover Scouts (ages 18-26). Groups participate in challenging outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, mountain biking, white-water rafting, and mountain climbing. Scouts also challenge themselves with community service and hands-on learning. In F2023, there were 41,709 youth members, of which 13,508 were beavers, 14,819 were cubs, 9,950 were scouts, 2,691 were venturers, and 741 were rovers.
Scouts Canada reports that donations support initiatives, such as Scouts for Sustainability and STEM Programming. The Scouts for Sustainability program supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) movement and encourages scouts to learn to take responsibility in caring for the environment. The charity also holds Youth Adventure Challenges. The Dragon Trail Quest challenge had over 1,000 adventurers in F2023, who completed over 15,300 activities.
In 2023, the World Scouts Jamboree was held in South Korea. This is a global gathering with Scouts from all over the world held once every four years. 377 Canadian Scouts went to this gathering.
Recent News: On June 24, 2021, CBC News reported that Scouts Canada employee, John Rietveld, was facing charges of historical child sex crimes. Scouts Canada confirmed that John Rietveld started working at the charity in 1975 and served as the president and executive director of Scouts Canada Foundation from 2002 to 2011. Kayleigh Kanoza of Scouts Canada stated that the charity was not aware of concerns related to Rietveld until 2018 when Ottawa Police Service revealed he was under investigation. In August 2023, CBC News reported that Rietveld was sentenced to four years in jail.
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Results and Impact
Charity Intelligence found Scouts Canada reported many stories but few quantified outcomes on its work.
While Charity Intelligence highlights these key results, they may not be a complete representation of Scout Canada’s results and impact. This charity is not yet rated on impact (n/r).
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Finances
Charity Intelligence consolidated Scouts Canada and Scouts Canada Foundation, using Scout Canada’s audited financial statements and Scouts Canada Foundation’s T3010 filing with the CRA. Money transferred between the two (inter-party transfers) were removed.
In F2023, Scouts Canada had total donations of $2.5m. The charity also received $16.0m in membership fees from clients, representing 70% of total revenues.
Administrative costs are 30% of revenues (less investment income), and fundraising costs are 59% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 89%. For every dollar donated, 11 cents are available for programs, which is outside Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.
In F2023, Scouts Canada spent $17.2m on its programs, which is 75% of revenues. The charity had a deficit of $1.9m and capital gains of $3.7m in F2023.
Scouts Canada has $48.2m in reserve funds (cash and investments), including $4.7m of donor-endowed funds from the World Scout Foundation. Excluding endowed funds, Scouts Canada could cover almost two years and seven months months of annual program costs with reserves.
This charity report has been sent to Scouts Canada for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.
Updated on May 31, 2024 by Alessandra Castino.
Financial Review
Fiscal year ending August
|
2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative costs as % of revenues | 30.2% | 39.4% | 55.2% |
| Fundraising costs as % of donations | 59.3% | 64.8% | 65.0% |
| Total overhead spending | 89.5% | 104.1% | 120.2% |
| Program cost coverage (%) | 256.0% | 393.8% | 359.0% |
Summary Financial StatementsAll figures in $000s |
2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donations | 2,459 | 2,382 | 2,705 |
| Government funding | 975 | 555 | 3,151 |
| Fees for service | 15,954 | 11,801 | 6,604 |
| Business activities (net) | 416 | 72 | 98 |
| Investment income | 3,147 | (1,623) | 7,393 |
| Other income | 120 | 75 | 3 |
| Total revenues | 23,070 | 13,262 | 19,953 |
| Program costs - International | 1,944 | 0 | 0 |
| Program costs - Canada | 15,278 | 11,346 | 13,845 |
| Administrative costs | 6,011 | 5,861 | 6,931 |
| Fundraising costs | 1,459 | 1,543 | 1,757 |
| Other costs | 240 | 395 | 0 |
| Total spending | 24,931 | 19,145 | 22,534 |
| Cash flow from operations | (1,861) | (5,882) | (2,580) |
| Capital spending | (3,739) | 660 | 6 |
| Funding reserves | 48,155 | 48,363 | 53,374 |
Note: CAMP OPERATIONS: Ci included revenues related to camp operations, increasing total revenues by $4.7m in F2023, $2.3m in F2022, and $2.3m in F2021. Ci included expenses related to camp operations, increasing total expenses by $6.3m in F2023, $4.3m in F2022, and $3.8m in F2021. INVESTMENTS: Ci included unrealized gains on investment, affecting revenues by $1.6m in F2023, ($4.8m) in F2022, and $3.8m in F2021. RETAIL: Retail revenue is reported net of expenses, decreasing revenue and expenses by $2.1m in F2023, $1.8m in F2022, and $1.2m in F2021. DEFERRED REVENUES: Ci adjusted for deferred revenues, affecting total revenues by $1.8m in F2023, $3.8m in F2022, and $1.2m in F2021. INTERNATIONAL COSTS: Ci included international program costs as reported on the charity’s T3010 filing with the CRA. ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS: Ci reported administrative costs from the charity's T3010 filing with the CRA.
Salary Information
$350k + |
0 |
$300k - $350k |
0 |
$250k - $300k |
0 |
$200k - $250k |
1 |
$160k - $200k |
0 |
$120k - $160k |
2 |
$80k - $120k |
7 |
$40k - $80k |
0 |
< $40k |
0 |
Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2023
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Comments & Contact
Comments added by the Charity:
Charity Contact
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