Children Believe is a 4-star rated charity with Fair Demonstrated Impact. It has an A Results Reporting grade, which is above average. For every dollar donated to the charity, 68 cents are available to go to the cause, which is within Ci's reasonable range.

Founded in 1938, Children Believe (formerly Christian Children’s Fund of Canada) works toward a world where all children can achieve their full potential. It provides health services, education programs, and job skills to help communities overcome poverty. Children Believe is a member of the ChildFund Alliance, a network of 11 international aid charities that work in more than 60 countries. Children Believe currently works in eight countries: Ethiopia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Honduras, Nicaragua, India, Paraguay, and Ghana. The charity runs gender-focused programs to ensure girls and boys have equal opportunities and access to their community’s services. Children Believe spent $20.4m on its programs in F2024. It reports it reached 1,456,000 people across all its programs in F2024.

Education represented 49% ($9.9m) of program costs in F2024. Children Believe helps send children to school, improves education infrastructure, and supports early childcare and development. In F2024, Children Believe reached 589,699 people (300,746 girls and 288,953 boys) through its Education program. In F2024, there were 365,297 children enrolled in 395 Children Believe schools. The charity built 22 classrooms and renovated 75 schools in F2024.

Health and Nutrition represented 25% ($5.1m) of program costs in F2024. Children Believe helps to build and equip health centres, fund maternal health services, and train mothers in child nutrition. In F2024, Children Believe reached a total of 509,910 people in its program. The charity built and renovated 18 health facilities. 27,936 children received annual health care assessments in F2024.  

Cross-Cutting Themes represented 11% ($2.2m) of program costs in F2024. Children Believe runs Centres of Excellence initiatives in the countries it operates in. These centres serve as hubs to leverage innovation, share knowledge, and promote networking. Children Believe reports less on this program than the other programs it runs.  

Child Protection represented 7% ($1.4m) of program costs in F2024. The charity ensures children, especially girls, are protected from child marriages, sexual assault, and exploitation. In F2024, Children Believe reached 417,028 people through its program. The charity created 260 community groups that protect and help women and children that experienced abuse or exploitation. In F2024, Children Believe trained 8,620 government office workers and child protection actors on how to advocate for child rights and protections. Many people give monthly to Children Believe to sponsor children. In F2024, Children Believe sponsored 37,161 children.

Children and Youth for Change represented 5% ($1.0m) of program costs in F2024. The charity funds and creates youth-led initiatives to improve their local communities. In F2024, 248,484 (141,636 girls and 106,848 boys) were involved in groups or associations. The charity supported 4,827 Village Savings and Loans Associations that helped 78,445 poor youths to start their self-employment. In F2024, 11,260 youth mobilized and advocated against unfair environmental policies that harmed their communities.

The remaining 4% ($815k) of program costs were spent on Gender Equity and Emergency Response. The charity’s Gender Equity program reached 386,808 people and trained 48,881 community members on gender-based violence. The Emergency Response program reached 41,458 people. The charity provided $3.7m worth of, primarily, donated medicines and medical supplies in F2024.  

Children Believe received $19.2m in Canadian donations and $5.2m in international donations in F2024. The charity also received $3.6m in donated goods and $2.8m in government funding. It spent $20.4m on its programs, which is 62% of revenue.

Children Believe spent $5.2m on fundraising, which is 21% of donations (Canadian and international), and $3.5m on administration, which is 11% of revenue (excluding investment income). Total overhead spending is 32%. For every dollar donated to the charity, 68 cents are available to go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

Children Believe has $16.2m in reserve funds (cash and investments). These reserves can cover ten months of its annual program costs, which is within Ci’s reasonable range.

In F2024, Children Believe paid external fundraisers $2.2m to collect $4.3m. It cost 52 cents to raise a dollar through external fundraisers. It is likely more cost efficient to donate directly to the charity than through external fundraisers.

This charity report has been sent to Children Believe for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on May 30, 2025 by Liam Chapleau.