Annual Report
Ministry Impact | 2018-2019
Letters from...
Allison Alley
President and CEO
Barry Slauenwhite
President Emeritus
Ian Lawson
Board chair
Rated as one of Canada’s best charities for financial integrity
Our foundations
Mission:
Releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name.
VALUES:
Integrity, Stewardship, Dignity, Excellence and Discernment
STRATEGIC ANCHORS:
Christ Centered, Church Based, Child Focused
CORE STRATEGY:
Christian holistic development of children in poverty in partnership with supporters and churches.
STRATEGIC INTENT:
Join God in releasing the most children possible from poverty in Jesus’ name with ever increasing effectiveness and efficiency.
SNAPSHOTS OF GLOBAL INITIATIVES
Amplify child protection to safeguard children from new and ongoing risks
Mature program to increase measurable impact and local contextualization
Empower our national offices and church partners to proactively adapt to changing political realities
Expand program to new regions to serve more children in extreme poverty
Leverage technology and innovation to scale the organization
Financial details
Here’s how your donations were used.
Ministry Activity funds
Sponsorship*
91.8%
Non-sponsorship
8.2%
*'Sponsorship' refers to all child development program funds.
Non-sponsorship*
30% Survival
22% Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
17% Education
17% Stability
8% to Children’s Ministry Launch
6% Health
*These activities are funded by donors to our Complementary Interventions and Survival Programs. Percentages are rounded.
The cost of fundraising
Of every dollar we spend, just 10.6¢ is used for fundraising efforts.*
This pays for all of our fundraising staff, print and media advertising, printing and distribution costs for our mailings, fundraising events and online activities. Compassion does not, directly or indirectly, pay finder’s fees, commissions or percentage compensation based on contributions.
*Excluding any gift where 100 per cent of the funds are designated to program use (such as child, family and centre gifts).
How we steward your resources
As certified members of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities, Compassion Canada is committed to handling the finances entrusted to us with the utmost integrity. This year, 82.9 per cent of funds were used for program activities benefiting the children we serve, and 17.1 per cent for support services.
Ministry activities
77.0% International program
5.9% Supporter services and advocacy
Support services
10.6% Fundraising
6.5% General and administration
Our generous Canadian supporters
In our last fiscal year, Compassion’s support came from 89,142 individuals, families and organizations. Their generosity allowed us to continue our mission of releasing children from poverty.
Individuals and families make up 97 per cent of our total supporters. The other 3 per cent comes from businesses, churches, schools, foundations, service or community organizations and other groups.
Supporter breakdown
89,142 Individuals and families
1,075 Businesses
916 Churches
97 Schools
48 Foundations
183 Other
Key results indicators
HISTORICAL SPONSORSHIP GROWTH
Cancellation rate
The percentage of supporters choosing to cancel their sponsorship in the last 12 months. Compassion Canada has one of the lowest cancellation rates among all global Compassion partners.
Canada
Global
Correspondence rate
The percentage of supporters writing a letter to their sponsored child in the last 12 months.
Canada
Global
Annual revenue and expenditures
Revenues
2019
2018
Child Development
Complementary Interventions
Child Survival
Leadership Development
Investment Income
Other Revenue **
Expenditures
2019
2017
Ministry activities
Child Development
Complementary Interventions
Child Survival
Leadership Development
Total Ministry Activities
Support services
Fundraising
Administration
Total Support Services
Funds for Future Ministries
Financials by Percentage
2019
2018
Ministry Activities
Fundraising
Administration
- Compassion’s 2019 audited financial statement
- Compassion’s 2018 audited financial statement
- Compassion’s 2017 audited financial statement
- Compassion’s 2016 audited financial statement
- Compassion’s 2015 audited financial statement
- Compassion’s 2014 audited financial statement
- Compassion’s 2013 audited financial statement
- Compassion’s 2012 audited financial statement
Compassion Canada proudly accepts the Seal of Organizational Integrity and Accountability from the Canadian Council of Christian Charities.
WE LOVE JESUS
I have a friend who one day said to me that she cannot bear to live because of her problems. Her mother passed away so she lives with her father. They couldn’t afford the school tuition fee so she felt desperate. I explained, “You still have God.” Now my friend has hope because she’s given everything into Jesus’ hand.
—Fifi, a sponsored teen in Indonesia
WE LOVE JESUS
I have a friend who one day said to me that she cannot bear to live because of her problems. Her mother passed away so she lives with her father. They couldn’t afford the school tuition fee so she felt desperate. I explained, “You still have God.” Now my friend has hope because she’s given everything into Jesus’ hand.
—Fifi, a sponsored teen in Indonesia
Leadership
Board of Directors
Chair
Rev. Ian Lawson
Lethbridge, Alberta
Adjunct Faculty Member of Briercrest College and Seminary
Vice-chair
Mark Fletcher
Halifax, Nova Scotia
VP of Projects and Construction, Teng Inc
Jennifer Adkins
Langley, British Columbia
Race and Ethnic Relations Specialist
PhD Student, University of British Columbia
David Burton
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Atlantic Regional Director General,Government of Canada (Canadian Heritage)
Dr. Marie Geschwandtner
Ottawa, Ontario
Chiropractor,
Hunt Club Chiropractic Clinic
Len Hummel
Scarborough, Ontario
Executive Director, Pentecostal Financial Services Group & Pension Fund, for the PAOC
Dr. Andrew Johnson
Calgary, Alberta
Infectious Diseases Specialist, Foothills Medical Centre
Clark Kassian
Calgary, Alberta
Lawyer,
Dentons Canada LLP
Shannon Williams
Duncan, British Columbia
Teacher, Cowichan School District
Executive Leadership
Allison Alley
President and CEO
Tim DeWeerd
CFO & Executive Director of Business Services
Janice MacInnis
Executive Director of Marketing
Deb Wilkins
Executive Director of Engagement
Mike Carmody
Executive Director of Technology
Misty Ropp
Executive Director of Human Resources
Past Presidents
Barry Slauenwhite, 1993 – 2019
Dave Macleod, 1983 – 1993
Rev. Jim Somerville, 1972 – 1983
Meetings
Board Meetings
October 25 – 26, 2018
January 31 – February 1, 2019
June 13 – 14, 2019
Finance and Audit Committee Meetings
September 6, 2018
May 23, 2019
Nominating and Governance Meetings
October 22, 2018
January 16, 2019
May 8, 2019
Global impact
Global impact
More than 2,000,000 beneficiaries are being assisted through compassion’s ministry.
CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
South America
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Peru
Africa
- Burkina Faso
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Kenya
- Rwanda
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Uganda
ASIA
- Bangladesh
- Indonesia
- Philippines
- Sri Lanka
- Thailand
PARTNERING WITH THE LOCAL CHURCH AROUND THE WORLD:
Columbia
Your generosity will help our church partners show the love and compassion of Christ by providing urgent needs of food and hygiene amidst the humanitarian crisis at the Venezuela/Colombia border.
learn more
Ghana
This year Compassion Canada donors will support children living with HIV and their caregivers by providing access to HIV testing, antiretroviral therapy and ongoing medical care and counselling.
learn more
Uganda
Compassion Canada donors are funding Survival initiatives at different Child Development Centres helping babies thrive and women escape poverty, illiteracy, and domestic violence while providing basic needs.
learn more
Indonesia and Haiti
This year the generosity of Compassion Canada donors will ensure that children have access to a clean washroom and a place to learn proper hygiene practices, decreasing their vulnerability to infectious diseases.
learn moreGifts of Compassion
OUR ANNUAL GIFT CATALOGUE continues to make real impact in the world. It’s one way that we see the lives of our generous supporters in Canada change as their giving brings transformation to children around the world.
Last year nearly 4,000 Canadians gave Gifts of Compassion, purchasing more than 12,000 gifts for children and their families.
Shop this years gifts
HEART TO HEART: An inspiring update from Uganda
Saviour was born with a heart defect. Without surgery, only one in four children with his condition live to see their 10th birthday. What’s more, the surgery is expensive and isn’t available in Saviour’s home country of Uganda.
For a family living in poverty, surgery was simply out of the question.
As Canadians’ hearts were touched by Saviour’s story, their generosity helped to bring transformation for the brave young boy. Strategic giving through the gift catalogue enabled Saviour to travel to India for heart surgery, which was a success.
Today, Saviour is doing well! He will still need a second surgery, so in the coming fiscal year, we will ask Canadians to again pray with us for his health and to give generously toward another successful surgery.
What a blessing, this annual way Canadians give—it is truly changing hearts!
Support SaviourHighlights
4,107 children protected from dengue fever in Peru.
250 toddlers in Colombia received nutritious meals and dietary supplements.
4,136 children received access to clean water through new wells.
Around the world
Stories of transformation
WE LOVE KIDS
Karunia, who bravely and beautifully lives with Apert syndrome, has thrived since she was enrolled in a Survival program in Indonesia as a 1-year old. She loves leading prayers and singing at her Compassion centre.
Read more
MATHEUS
As a teen, Matheus (Brazil) discovered his passion for photography at a Compassion centre workshop. He now studies advertising and marketing in college and aspires to be a media professional. He is also now mentoring youth in photography at the Compassion centre he attended as a child.
JEANNETTE
Two and a half years after the genocide, Jeannette (Rwanda) was registered in the Compassion program at a local church. Compassion helped Jeannette move forward to embrace a future full of possibility. She is now working as a pharmacist and plans to pursue a master’s degree.
JOHN
Thanks to Compassion’s commitment to helping young leaders pursue higher education, John (Peru) was able to study at one of the best universities in the country. John studied physical therapy, and graduated top of his class. Today, he works at a highly respected clinic, is married and has a young son. He also serves as lead pastor at his church.
WE LOVE KIDS
Karunia, who bravely and beautifully lives with Apert syndrome, has thrived since she was enrolled in a Survival program in Indonesia as a 1-year old. She loves leading prayers and singing at her Compassion centre.
Read moreLIVES CHANGE AT COMPASSION CENTRES. HERE’S HOW:
Age-appropriate Christian teaching and discipleship
Formal and non-formal educational opportunities
Health care, hygiene training and supplementary food
Personal attention, guidance and love
We love the church
Pastor Darío at a new Church Plant in Cerro Colorado, Peru. Their partnership with Compassion features childbased learning and play in every area of the building and has become a symbol of hope, serving 150 children and their families.
Read more
We love the church
Pastor Darío at a new Church Plant in Cerro Colorado, Peru. Their partnership with Compassion features childbased learning and play in every area of the building and has become a symbol of hope, serving 150 children and their families.
Read moreDid you know?
IN FISCAL 2019, COMPASSION CANADA:
- Marked the 111,727th child sponsored by 82,418 Canadians
- Celebrated close to 11,000 new child sponsorships
- Welcomed more than 200 new volunteers
- Presented our mission at events organized with 320 Canadian churches in a total of 220 different cities and towns across the country
- Saw 526 supporters embark on a total of 97 trips and visits to meet individually with 343 sponsored children
- Delivered 484,395 letters written by Compassion-sponsored children to their sponsors
- Mobilized over 1,000 volunteers to serve at 225 events
- Engaged with donors and prospective donors in over 22,000 phone calls, 6,000 chats and more than 21,000 emails through our Support Centre
- Received 12,000 gifts for children and their families through our annual Gifts of Compassion catalogue
- Moved the Annual Report online to increase financial stewardship and transparency
- Built upon the incredible talents of its existing staff by hiring 22 new employees
- Produced or partnered 68 live events including 11 shows on the Hillsong Young and Free Tour
- Saw sponsors write 187,369 physical letters and 95,396 online letters