Founded in 1990, A Better World Canada aims to inspire people to reduce poverty around the world. It has helped to fund development projects in more than 15 countries. In F2020, A Better World reported program spending in Afghanistan, Bolivia, Dominica, Ghana, India, Kenya, Rwanda, Thailand, and Tanzania. Its office is in Lacombe, Alberta.

A Better World runs three main programs: Education, Health, and Water.

Education represented 50% of program costs in F2020. A Better World helps to build classrooms and school buildings in developing countries. In F2020, it built 23 classrooms, 59 school toilets, 1 administration building, and 2 teachers’ offices. The charity reports that it has built or renovated 1,128 classrooms since founding, helping to enroll 50,760 students in school.

Health projects were 34% of program spending. A Better World funds medical teams that travel to local communities twice per year to treat patients and train health workers. In F2020, it helped to provide 62 surgeries, including postoperative care. It also built one new rehabilitation clinic during the year. Since founding, A Better World states that it has built or upgraded 16 health clinics.

Water projects were 4% of program spending. The charity aims to provide communities with clean water by drilling wells and installing water catchment systems. In F2020, it installed 15 new water catchment systems.

The remaining 12% of program costs included program delivery and operating costs (10%) and local projects (2%).

Charity Intelligence has scored A Better World as a zero in financial transparency since the charity refused to provide financial statements upon request. All financial information is from the charity’s unaudited T3010 filings with the CRA.

A Better World received $1.2m in Canadian donations in F2020. It also received $279k in international donations, $94k in sponsored travel expenses, and $17k in government funding during the year. Administrative costs are 6% of revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 3% of Canadian donations. This results in total overhead spending of 8%. For every dollar donated to the charity, 92 cents go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

A Better World has $1.6m in funding reserves, which can cover 1.8 years of annual program costs. The charity’s program cost coverage ratio spiked in F2020 since its revenues exceeded expenses by $641k, increasing funding reserves as a result. According to its annual report, A Better World decided to postpone certain projects and reduce program spending due to the covid-19 pandemic. It states that it has reserved 39% of F2020 revenues, roughly equal to $641k, for resuming these projects in 2021.

Charity Intelligence has sent this update to A Better World Canada for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on August 5, 2021 by Eric Zhao.