FRGeneral
Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada is an ally to and an advocate for children and youth involved in or at risk of entering the child welfare system. We:
- Raise and grant funds and deliver a wide range of programs and services in partnership with our national network of child- and youth-serving agencies. These programs and services are designed to remove barriers that limit the potential of children and youth who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing abuse and neglect.
- Provide a powerful voice for all those committed to the young people whom we serve and offer a space for young people with lived experience to have their voices heard.
- Provide access to the opportunities these young people need to build successful futures for themselves as contributing members of society who enjoy healthy relationships of their own.
Yes. Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada is working with our telemarketing partner, Public Outreach, to carry out our telephone fundraising program. Our goal with our telemarketing program is to gather support for children, youth and families affected by child welfare. Public Outreach has conducted training and they have great knowledge of the Foundation’s work.
In keeping with Imagine Canada’s Standards Program and best practices for fundraising, our canvassers receive an hourly wage and receive no commission for the supporters they sign up or the dollars they help raise. Their team of highly-trained professionals are passionate about our work and are happy to answer your questions about the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada.
Public Outreach phone canvassers are currently calling from the following telephone numbers: (604) 674-8471 and (416) 900-4468.
If you have any questions, you can reach Public Outreach toll-free at 1-888-326-5535, or contact the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada at [email protected] and 416-923-0924.
Since 1979, the Foundation has been strategically raising funds, providing grants, and developing programs that are delivered in partnership with child- and youth-serving agencies at a local, regional, and national level, with the objective of reaching young people involved with the child welfare system.
We have had strong roots in the Toronto community since the beginning, and our largest and longest standing partnership is with the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto.
This work is supported by a growing list of Canada’s top philanthropists, corporations, business leaders, and government funding for specific programs.
Unlike child welfare agencies, like the Children’s Aid Society, we are not a government agency. We are not directly involved in child protection, or investigation or apprehension, nor are we involved in the policies, practices, or governance of child welfare agencies.
The programs and services we fund are made possible through the generosity of our donors and supporters and are delivered in partnership with child- and youth-serving agencies across Canada.
The government provides most of the basic life necessities for children and youth in care from birth to age 18. But all kids need more than the basics to thrive –– and kids in care face many additional barriers.
We bridge the gap between what the government provides and what young people in care need to be able to do things most young people do with the help of their families: achieving an education, developing a positive identity and self-esteem, building a healthy support network, pursuing their passions, transitioning to independent adulthood, and navigating employment.
Government funding does not currently address preventative programs that strive to prevent young people from entering government care by building stronger communities and families. The Foundation is proud to grant funds to child- and youth-serving agencies committed to delivering preventative and co-designing new programs and initiatives focused on prevention.
We acknowledge the many lingering barriers and inequities impacting youth from care after they exit the system and make their transition to adulthood. The Foundation offers supports for youth over the age of 21 and up to their 30th birthday.
The children, youth, and families we serve are those who are in and from the child welfare system, from infancy to their 30th birthday. These children may have been taken into permanent care as Crown Wards, or living with their families under the watch of child protection agencies. We also support children and youth living in vulnerable family situations, who are at significant risk of experiencing abuse or neglect.
Through circumstances beyond their control and no fault of their own, these young people lack almost everything most kids take for granted, like a safe, stable home, someone to nurture their growth, and a sense of unconditional love.
Last year, we granted over $12.5 million in programs and services supporting over 15,000 children, youth and families across the country.
These programs included support to help young people achieve an education, support for families and communities to help keep kids at home, enrichment opportunities like camp, sports, and the arts, and support for young people transitioning from care to independent living.
To learn more about the impact our programs have on the lives of young people, read our Strategic Plan Year 3 Report.
In 2022-2023, our cost of fundraising was 23 per cent, with expenses held close to flat. This figure is on par with what other reputable Canadian fundraising organizations have reported and well below the CRA’s acceptable ratio of 35 per cent.
Learn more about our commitment to accountability and transparency.
Together with our partners, donors, and youth advisors, we are committed to developing and supporting targeted strategies that address the specific needs of Black, Indigenous, and other overrepresented populations of children, youth, and families involved with the child welfare system. Our goal is to help reduce the number of young people from these populations coming into and growing up in care.
We are committed to:
- Aligning the Foundation’s grants and programs with initiatives being delivered by our child welfare agency partners that specifically address the unique needs of Black and Indigenous children and youth.
- Co-designing new programs with select child welfare partners to specifically address the systemic issues that lead to the overrepresentation of targeted populations in child welfare.
- Engaging all Foundation stakeholders in ongoing education and learning to enhance knowledge and awareness of issues of social equity and justice.
- Developing advisory groups or committees to inform our strategies to address the underlying conditions that lead to overrepresentation of Black, Indigenous, and other populations of young people within the child welfare system.
Learn more about our commitment to supporting overrepresented populations of children and youth, as well as other Foundation priorities, in our Strategic Plan.
Yes. Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada has an SMS marketing program where we can text our supporters. Texts are only sent to supporters who have explicitly opted-in to receiving SMS text messages from us. Our SMS phone number is +1 (647) 905-0924. Users can opt out of receiving SMS’ by texting STOP to that number.
If you have any questions, contact the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada at [email protected] and 416-923-0924.
A consolidated tax receipt will be emailed to you in February after the previous tax year has closed. If you have any questions or concerns, contact us at 416-923-0924 or [email protected].
If you’d like to update your monthly donation (donation amount, withdrawal day or to request a cancellation) you can do so via our online Supporter Hub, calling the Foundation at 1-416-923-0924 or by emailing [email protected]. Thank you!