Development and Peace revenues takes hit during pandemic

The latest annual report from Development and Peace reveals the financial toll that COVID-19 has taken on the Canada’s Catholic development and aid organization.

Total revenues from the fiscal year ending in August 2020 were $25.25 million, down from $34.38 million the previous year. The Share Lent campaign, a major source in its annual fundraising, yielded $4.8 million in 2019-20 compared to $7.6 million a year earlier, much of that drop impacted by the closure of churches during the pandemic.

“This seismic event altered all our lives,” wrote D&P’s president Evelyne Beaudoin and general manager Serge Langlois.

The drop in revenues was offset somewhat by budgetary cuts and a temporary layoff of employees last summer, the officials noted. It also was forced to drop its funding levels to its international partners. “You will notice in our financial statements that we avoided a deficit, but we were unable to continue with the same level of funding as usual to the Global South, which is also due to the end of some multi-year contracts with Global Affairs Canada.” 

A total of $10.2 million was invested in projects in the Global South, according to the report. A total of 15.6 million people were impacted by its programs, with community and humanitarian aid projects in 32 countries.

The last year has also seen organizational changes within D&P after a three-year review of about 60 of its international partners in conjunction with the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops over concerns that some were in conflict with Church teaching. In the end, D&P parted ways with about two dozen groups.

Despite the financial setbacks, Beaudoin and Langlois sounded a hopeful note for the future and its working relationship with Canada’s bishops.

“Together, we are moving forward in synodality to renew Development and Peace and to ensure that its mission remains a beacon of hope in a world thirsting for peace and justice.”