Author: administrator

Poppy Money: Little known about how poppy money helps Canadian veterans through the Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Fund

  
It’s poppy time. We pin a scarlet poppy on our lapels to remember all those who served and serve. Always have, always will. Yet when you put your money in the poppy boxes, do you ever wonder where the poppy money goes and how it helps veterans?
Naturally Charity Intelligence does. Each poppy box supports the Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Fund. Each box has a Royal Canadian Branch number. The CRA’s Charities Listing has  http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/haip/srch/basicsearchresult-eng.action?k=royal+canadian+legion&s=registered&p=1&b=true” rel=”alternate 241 Canadian legions as registered charities. Canadian Legion reports 1,400 branches across Canada. The Poppy website also reports that RCMP are included as veterans in receiving aid.
Looking at random Poppy Funds and Legion Branches on the CRA Charities Listing shows diverse Royal Canadian Legion activities. “Poppy money” is spent on an array of programs. As such, Charity Intelligence can’t answer your questions about where the poppy money goes, how much is raised, and how much is spent on veterans. It all depends on which legion branch box you put your money into. And, as I experienced, I can’t figure out if the legion box I bought my poppy from is even a registered Canadian charity[1].  
So don’t feel guilty about only putting a loonie in the poppy box. It will allow you to give more meaningful support to veteran charities that are transparent and accountable.
Here are a few examples of different legion poppy funds:
Edmonton: Royal Canadian Legion Greater Edmonton Poppy Fund – $368,322 in “other revenues” – assuming this is sales of poppies, of which it spends $152,973 (42%) on its charity programs providing direct assistance to veterans, ex-service persons and dependent spouses and children.
Kelowna: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/haip/srch/t3010form22quickview-eng.action?r=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cra-arc.gc.ca%3A80%2Febci%2Fhaip%2Fsrch%2Fbasicsearchresult-eng.action%3Fk%3Droyal%2Bcanadian%2Blegion%2Bbranch%2B26%26amp%3Bs%3Dregistered%26amp%3Bp%3D1%26amp%3Bb%3Dtrue&fpe=2015-09-30&b=121937247RR0001&n=ROYALCANADIANLEGIONBRANCH26″ rel=”alternate  Royal Canadian Legion Branch 26 registered as a charity in 2002, receives $131,639 in poppy sales in 2014, of which $70,647 (54%) is spent on its charity programs aiding ex-services personnel and their dependents based on financial need, providing bursaries to veterans’ children and grandchildren, and prizes for children for Remembrance Day literary and poster contests.
Moncton:  http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/haip/srch/t3010form22quickview-eng.action?r=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cra-arc.gc.ca%3A80%2Febci%2Fhaip%2Fsrch%2Fbasicsearchresult-eng.action%3Fk%3Droyal%2Bcanadian%2Blegion%2Bbranch%2B6%26amp%3Bs%3Dregistered%26amp%3Bp%3D1%26amp%3Bb%3Dtrue&fpe=2015-12-31&b=891302143RR0001&n=THEROYALCANADIANLEGION-MONCTON(NB#6)BRANCHPOPPYFUND” rel=”alternate Royal Canadian Legion Branch 6 received $105,837 in poppy sales and spends $67,238 (64%) in bursaries and money to winners of Remembrance Day Contest, youth leadership, help to vets health care, cadets, and others in need.
Toronto:  http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/haip/srch/t3010form22quickview-eng.action?r=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cra-arc.gc.ca%3A80%2Febci%2Fhaip%2Fsrch%2Fbasicsearchresult-eng.action%3Fk%3Dbranch%2B210%2B%26amp%3Bs%3Dregistered%26amp%3Bp%3D1%26amp%3Bb%3Dtrue&fpe=2015-09-30&b=888110046RR0001&n=ROYALCANADIANLEGIONCOLJELSTREIGHTBRANCH210POPPYFUND” rel=”alternate Royal Canadian Legion Branch 210 Poppy Fund – received $62,946 from poppy sales. It is volunteer-run with no staff, no administrative costs or fundraising costs reported, and granted $68,000 (more than 100%) to 3 veteran charities: Royal Canadian Legion Ontario Command, Tony Stacey Veteran’s Care Centre, and Canadian Legion Toronto Holmes.
Following the money, the  http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/haip/srch/t3010form22quickview-eng.action?r=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cra-arc.gc.ca%3A80%2Febci%2Fhaip%2Fsrch%2Fbasicsearchresult-eng.action%3Fk%3Dbranch%2B210%2B%26amp%3Bs%3Dregistered%26amp%3Bp%3D1%26amp%3Bb%3Dtrue&fpe=2015-09-30&b=888110046RR0001&n=ROYALCANADIANLEGIONCOLJELSTREIGHTBRANCH210POPPYFUND” rel=”alternate Royal Canadian Legion Ontario Command receives $1.6 million (legion branches and donations) and grants $365,868 to 68 hospital foundations and healthcare charities and spends $294,851 on its own charity programs – 41% is spent on grants and charity programs. In 2015, no grants were reported to Sunnybrook’s veterans, but $5,961 was given to SickKids Foundation.
 
Charity Intelligence has only one report on a Royal Canadian Legion, the  https://www.charityintelligence.ca/charity-details/718-royal-canadian-legion-branch-poppy-fund” rel=”alternate Royal Canadian Legion Branch Poppy Fund in Calgary. 
Charity Intelligence has analysed 3 other large veteran charities:

• https://www.charityintelligence.ca/charity-details/792-canada-company Canada Company – highly rated 3-star charity, helping veterans get jobs. It does not receive poppy money.
• https://www.charityintelligence.ca/charity-details/566-true-patriot-love-foundation” rel=”alternate True Patriot Love Foundation – highly rated 3-star charity, supports veterans’ mental health through research, conferences, and inclusive activities like expeditions and the Invictus Games. True Patriot Love does not receive poppy money.
• https://www.charityintelligence.ca/charity-details/793-wounded-warriors-canada Wounded Warriors Canada – does not receive poppy money.

 
Canadian Legion has been in the news about its lack of transparency, executive travel and charging veterans for resources on PTSD.
David Pugliese,  http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-legions-10-fee-for-veterans-to-join-ptsd-support-group-raises-concerns “Canadian Legion’s $10 fee for veterans to join PTSD support group raises concerns: Legion members are questioning the fee, noting the organization has millions of dollars in the bank and already has service officers to help veterans at no cost.” National Post, June 11, 2016
David Pugliese,  http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-legion-suspends-82-year-old-member-for-questioning-groups-treatment-of-veterans “Canadian Legion suspends 82-year-old member for questioning group’s treatment of veterans”  National Post, June 7, 2016 
David Pugliese,  http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/royal-canadian-legion-shoots-down-bid-to-reveal-details-about-executives-salaries-and-travel “Royal Canadian Legion shoots down bid http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/royal-canadian-legion-shoots-down-bid-to-reveal-details-about-executives-salaries-and-travel  to reveal details about executives’ salaries and travel.” National Post, February 25, 2016
 
Endnote:
[1] If this wasn’t complicated enough, I “bought” my poppy from a box supporting Royal Canadian Legion Branch 344. Nothing comes up doing a CRA Charities search of “Legion Branch 344”. Using Google, Branch 344 is the  http://www.rcl344.com/” rel=”alternate Queen’s Own Rifles. 
The Queen’s Own Rifles website page says:  “the Annual Poppy Campaign is always well received locally and enables the branch to assist both our veteran members and local veterans either at home or in hospital. The funds raised enable the branch to contribute a great deal of support to much needed veteran’s assistance programs that are within the local community the district and nationally thus making the branch a great asset to the community.”
That’s all the information posted. No charitable registration number, no disclosure on how much money comes in, how much money goes out, and no idea on how many veterans get helped.
I of all people put my poppy money into a legion box that I can’t figure out if it’s a registered charity!
 
Interesting to know: Canadian Lieut-Col. John McCrae wrote the epic poem “In Flanders fields the poppies blow ….” in May 1915 at Ypres. From this poem, the scarlet poppy quickly became the universal symbol of remembrance. The lapel poppies were initially made in 1922 by disabled veterans providing them with a small source of income and allowing them to take an active part in maintaining the tradition of Remembrance. The Royal Canadian Legion took over poppy production from Veterans Affairs Canada. Today’s poppies are produced by a private company.
 

 
If you find Charity Intelligence’s research useful in your giving, please consider donating to support our work. Being entirely funded by donors like you maintains our independence and objectivity to help Canadians be informed in their giving. Canadians donate over $17 billion each year. This giving could achieve tremendous results. We hope Charity Intelligence’s research helps Canadians give better.
Legal disclaimer:
The information in this report was prepared by Charity Intelligence Canada and its independent analysts from publicly-available information. Charity Intelligence and its analysts have made endeavours to ensure that the data in this report is accurate and complete but accepts no liability.
The views and opinions expressed are to inform donors in matters of public interest. Views and opinions are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, organization, individual or anyone or anything. Any dispute arising from your use of this website or viewing the material hereon shall be governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario, without regard to any conflict of law provisions. 

In the horrific aftermath of the Quebec City mosque shooting, where 6 men were gunned down during peaceful prayer, 2 remain in critical condition, Canadians want to know how to help. These men supported their families, young children and elderly parents. There have been spontaneous vigils and signing on-line condolence registries. Let’s dig deeper and donate to the families of the victims.
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/islamic-cultural-center-of-quebec/” rel=”alternate Click here to give to the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec through CanadaHelps.

• Make a one-time donation
• Select the Help to Victims’ Family Fund

The Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec is a registered Canadian charity and donations will be tax receipted by Canada Helps. The mosque is a small charity (as are the majority of faith congregations in Canada) with donations of $198,004 last year.  The mosque has some money ($403,551) in reserves. For those looking for basic information, here’s a link to the CRA  http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/haip/srch/advancedsearchresult-eng.action?n=&b=890420540&q=0001&s=registered&d=&e=+&c=&v=+&o=&z=&g=+&t=+&y=+&p=1 charity’s annual filing.
Charity Intelligence has not analysed Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec in detail but from previewing its annual filings, all looks in order.  Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec charity registration number: 89042 0540 RR0001.
 

 
If you find Charity Intelligence’s research useful in your giving, please consider donating to support our work. Being entirely funded by donors like you maintains our independence and objectivity to help Canadians be informed in their giving. Canadians donate over $17 billion each year. This giving could achieve tremendous results. We hope Charity Intelligence’s research helps Canadians give better.
Legal disclaimer:
The information in this report was prepared by Charity Intelligence Canada and its independent analysts from publicly-available information. Charity Intelligence and its analysts have made endeavours to ensure that the data in this report is accurate and complete but accepts no liability.
The views and opinions expressed are to inform donors in matters of public interest. Views and opinions are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, organization, individual or anyone or anything. Any dispute arising from your use of this website or viewing the material hereon shall be governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario, without regard to any conflict of law provisions.