Aga Khan Foundation Canada

Aga Khan Foundation Canada is a 3-star charity. It has an average impact score, but is not financially transparent. The charity has a B results reporting score, which is average. For every dollar donated to the charity, 94 cents are available to go to the cause, which is within Ci's reasonable range. 

Founded in 1980, Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) is part of the Aga Khan Development Network, a group of international development charities operating globally. AKFC was founded by His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49^th Hereditary Iman of the Shia Ismaili Muslims. AKFC strives to break the cycle of poverty across Africa and Asia by improving living conditions and opportunities for the poor.

AKFC reports reaching over four million people with its projects annually. This includes work in the areas of agriculture and food security; civic engagement; climate resilience; early childhood development; education; engaging Canadians; gender equality; health and nutrition; and work and enterprise.

AKFC invests in institutions, projects, and relationships that facilitate an environment supportive of gender equality. The charity reports on its programs either after they have been completed or years after they commenced.

AKFC's Aswan Skills Development Program (ASDP) improved skills for both men and women in Aswan and Kom Ombo, Egypt. This program ended in F2022. In F2022, 477 businesses received customized business development services. The charity trained 1,387 people on entrepreneurship based on industry standards in F2022.

The charity’s IMPACT program improved the health of women and reduced maternal and newborn mortality across Tanzania. This program ended in F2021. IMPACT reached 1.1 million people, of which 65% were women.

AKFC improved early child development in refugee and marginalized communities in Kenya in a program called “CDMC”. This program ended in F2022. The charity reached 1,028 people in F2022. AKFC produced three peer-reviewed publications from this project in F2022.

AKFC's two largest projects are Foundations for Education and Empowerment ($57.6 million) and Foundations for Health and Empowerment ($67.3 million). Foundations for Educations and Empowerment is expected to reach 1.8 million people in Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Uganda. Foundations for Health and Empowerment is expected to reach 1.08 million people in Afghanistan, India, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. 

Aga Khan’s ASDP program reported a 53% increase from the baseline of graduates who use new/disposable income for social benefits. The charity reported a 35% increase from the baseline of youth who have acquired individual assets.

From 2015-2021, AKFC's program Health Action Plan for Afghanistan (HAPA) worked toward improving the health of Afghans in three provinces, specifically of women of reproductive age and children under five. The charity reported that by the end of HAPA, more than 31,000 children under two had received life-saving vaccines, 815 water supply points had been constructed, which are providing access to clean water for over 19,200 people, and over 320 people had graduated from nursing and midwifery degree and diploma programs.

Since 2016, AKFC’s AQCESS program has seen health facilities that are considered gender responsive increase on average across AQCESS' four target regions from 2% to 44%, health facilities with adequate infection control protocols from 9% to 64%, and facilities that conform with national safe delivery and newborn care standards from 22% to 34%.

AKFC’s IMPACT program (2017-2021) aimed to reduce maternal and newborn mortality in eight districts in northern Tanzania. By the end of the project, the percent of births attended by skilled health personnel increased by 25%. There was also a 30% increase in newborns breastfed within one hour of birth.

While Ci highlights these key results, they may not be a complete representation of Aga Khan Foundation Canada’s results and impact.

Charity Intelligence has given Aga Khan Foundation an Average impact rating based on demonstrated impact per dollar spent.

Aga Khan Foundation Canada is a Major 100 charity, meaning it is one of Canada’s largest in terms of donations. It is not financially transparent. Rather than posting its audited financial statements on its website, AKFC requires donors to contact it directly to receive this public information. Aga Khan has been reviewing this policy since 2011. Charity Intelligence has received its audited financial statements for this analysis; however, AKFC has asked that we not share these documents by publicly posting them. Of Canada's largest charities, the Major 100, AKFC is one of seven that are not financially transparent.

AKFC received $58.6m in donations in F2022. This is a 27% decrease compared to $80.8m in F2021. The charity received $24.9m in government funding, representing 25% of revenue. AGFC received $5.9m in donated land and building in F2022.

Administrative costs are 2% of revenue (excluding investment income) and fundraising costs are 4% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 6%. For every dollar donated to the charity, 94 cents are available to go to the cause, which is within Ci’s reasonable range.

AGFC has $121.0m in reserve funds. Its reserve funds can cover 149%, or one year and six months of its annual program costs.

In F2022, AKFC granted $47.0m, of which $44.7m went to Aga Khan Foundation, a private Suisse foundation.

Its audited financial statements disclose AKFC has pledged $95m to future programming. 

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Aga Khan Foundation Canada for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on August 23, 2023 by Liam Chapleau.