Chalice honoured as one of Canada's best charities

From its origins in the basement of a church in Springhill, N.S., to receiving the top rating among Canadian international aid organizations from MoneySense financial magazine, Catholic charity Chalice has come a long way in sharing Christ with those in need.

The Charity 100, a study released online through MoneySense in June, was designed to provide Canadians with an accurate picture of the top 100 charities in the country. Grouping organizations by category, such as health services, hospital foundations or environment, the study ranked each charity under a variety of criteria.

Chalice, an international child sponsorship charity, finished atop its category with an overall grade of “A,” largely due to its efficiency and transparency. With 93 per cent of its total spending dedicated to its aid programs, and using on average only four dollars to raise every $100, Chalice scored consistently high in efficiency rankings among the 15 charities in the international aid category.

MoneySense also placed Chalice in the top three for its governance and transparency. Among the 100, Chalice stood with a group of charities tied for fifth.

“We’re hoping that people will see this and respond,” said Sehne Connell, marketing manager of Chalice, “It really comes back to helping those who need it.”

Chalice operates on a grassroots level, which is its key to success and efficiency, said Connell. Largely powered by speakers who travel from church to church, as well as by word of mouth in parishes and schools, Chalice simultaneously maintains a low budget and high yield.  

“We take it very seriously to be transparent,” said Connell. “We do regular visits to our sponsor sites.”

Chalice has also seen great results through its online sponsorship program, he said.

Operating within 15 different countries across the globe, Chalice sponsors more than 42,000 children. The charity regards itself as a relationship-building organization, as it allows its sponsors to choose a specific child to support. The child in turn writes to and prays for the sponsor; the letter is included with a yearly update including a status report and recent photo.

To learn more about Chalice, visit www.chalice.ca.