Blog 1 - Canadian Red Cross - Umika Bahl

The Canadian Red Cross Society generates $ 612,082,298 in revenue and $516,908,994 in expenditures amounting to overhead costs, fundraising efforts and staff related expenses according to CRA financial reporting.  The CRA website also indicates that Canadian Red Cross gains the majority of its funding through donations, funding from other organizations, government funding, fundraising efforts and the sales of goods and services. The CRA website lists the society’s largest expenditures as travel, advertising and office supplies.

The Canadian Red Cross Society’s annual reporting provided a break down of aid given and corresponding figures which included the Alberta wildfires resulting in $222.2 million spend on aid relief. This figure is a portion of the $323 million donated and obtained through grants in total to help the wildfire victims. The Canadian Red Cross Society’s annual report outlines all the international and local initiatives, which help justify the overhead costs. The main overhead costs are associated with travel and housing property payments, which are used for aid relief missions. Red Cross is known for being one of the first NGOs on the ground when a natural disaster hits and this level of disaster relief needs to be supported by the equivalent amount of funding.

Any sound operation thrives on process to achieve efficacy, which is obtained through education. The Canadian Red Cross spent $1,383,316 in one year to educate volunteers. This commitment to making sure the right aid is given and all volunteers know how to help in an emergency situation is what sets the Red Cross apart from other aid organizations. Listed on Canadian Red Cross Society’s annual report are features of inspiring individuals around the world who are helping give aid or working on a daily bases to improve the lives of local individuals. The features promote that Red Cross does not work on its own to provide a better life for individuals and highlights how individuals at every level must work together to make a difference.

The Annual report highlighted the following training measures taken by the organization.

“Our Prevention & Safety Programs In Canada Last Year

TAUGHT RED CROSS FIRST AID PROGRAMS TO OVER

621,000 Canadians

MAINTAINED CLOSE TO

11,000 Active First Aid Instructors

DELIVERED RED CROSS SWIMMING AND WATER SAFETY COURSES TO ALMOST

1.1 Million Canadians

AND MAINTAINED OVER

29,000 Active Swimming & Water Safety Instructors

OVER 738,000 Canadians 

ATTENDED RESPECT EDUCATION WORKSHOPS 

IN CANADA

MAINTAINED AND TRAINED

4,146 Youth Facilitators”

The Red Cross Society’s financial reports indicate that the majority of expenses are redirected into aid efforts and staff benefits including pensions that help justify the overhead costs of the organization. One of the largest expense for the organization is the land and property they own; however, if these homes help the organization house aid workers in times of disaster efforts and are used for aid work the rest of the time then this cost is also justified. The organization did not relieve a mismanagement of funds and the overall expenses seem to justify the means of the global aid that the Canadian Red Cross Society delivers.