- We openly declare our cost of fundraising and administrative costs in our annual report. Historically our administration costs sit in between six to eight per cent. Our fundraising costs vary based on revenue we bring in and large scale events we hold.
- We are a diverse fundraising organization and some of our larger events such as the Ride, and Cash & Cars Lotteries may have higher costs associated with them. Our diversity is what sustains is and lets us continue to create an impact for Albertans facing cancer.
- We follow Canada Revenue Agency guidelines for fundraising, as well as regulatory and governance guidelines to ensure we are fiscally responsible.
- We know Canadians have a choice when it comes to investing their hard-earned dollars into a charity. We encourage transparency and want donors to ask questions so they can make informed choices. But the idea that overhead is the only meaningful measure of effectiveness is a popular misconception that has to be addressed.
- The true measure of a charity is on the impact of the cause it serves. At the Alberta Cancer Foundation we invest in people who deliver results that matter—faster diagnosis, better treatments and improved quality of life.
In the last 10 years, we have seen more advances in cancer research, treatment, and care than ever before. Scientists around the word argue that because we have spent the last few decades learning about the root causes of cancer, we are on the cusp of making big advances and accelerating the impacts on patients and families. For instance:
- Thanks to clinical trials in immunotherapy, survival rates for late-stage melanoma have improved from 20 per cent to 60 per cent.
- Breast cancer is considered 95 per cent curable if caught early.
- The five-year survival rate for localized prostate cancer is close to 100 per cent.
The clue is in our name. No other organization supports Albertans facing cancer as completely as we do. We are Albertans helping Albertans. While other cancer foundations may target specific cancers, we support Albertans with any type of cancer. As the only health foundation in Alberta that supports and covers the entire span of the province, we are constantly in search of ideas that will help Albertans facing cancer. We know our investments will only matter if they can be translated into meaningful outcomes that benefit patients and families. Our program investment framework allows us to do all of the strategic work on behalf of donors and researchers, so that when people invest with us, we guarantee their dollars are making the biggest impact for Albertans.
The Alberta Cancer Foundation is proud to be the official fundraising partner for all 17 Alberta Health Services cancer centres including the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary and the 15 regional and community cancer centres across the province. Alberta Health Services’ Cancer Care Alberta (CCA) researchers, clinicians and care teams are critical to our ability to raise funds. As the primary point of contact for patients and grateful families, Cancer CareAlberta employees are key stakeholders and we work closely together with CCA leadership to set investment priorities. We are privileged to support Cancer Care Alberta in providing Albertans facing cancer with the best possible treatment and care.
The Alberta Cancer Foundation focuses on ensuring the most efficient use of your donations. Based on the cost per dollar raised, direct mail provides a significant return on investment. Your donations are leveraged to raise even more money to better support Albertan cancer patients.
The Alberta Cancer Foundation does not sell or rent donor names. It does, however, exchange donor names from time to time with carefully selected charities. This is a cost-effective way for the Alberta Cancer Foundation to reach new potential donors. You may choose not to have your name shared.
