Ecojustice
STAR RATINGCi's Star Rating is calculated based on the following independent metrics: |
✔+
FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY
Audited financial statements for current and previous years available on the charity’s website.
A
RESULTS REPORTING
Grade based on the charity's public reporting of the work it does and the results it achieves.
n/r
DEMONSTRATED IMPACT
The demonstrated impact per dollar Ci calculates from available program information.
NEED FOR FUNDING
Charity's cash and investments (funding reserves) relative to how much it spends on programs in most recent year.
66%
CENTS TO THE CAUSE
For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 66 cents are available for programs.
My anchor
OVERVIEW
About Ecojustice:
Ecojustice is a 5-star rated charity that is financially transparent. It has an above average results reporting grade of A. Its overhead costs fall within Ci’s reasonable range and its reserve funds can cover nine months of program costs.
Founded in 1991, Ecojustice Canada Society (ECS) is a legal advocacy charity that argues for environmental protection and limiting climate change. Ecojustice represents citizens, organizations, businesses, and communities in court. The charity is based out of Vancouver, with regional offices in Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, and Halifax. To date, it has recorded 63 legal victories, 38 cases in progress, and one under appeal.
Ecojustice Canada Society focuses its advocacy in three main areas, listed below. ECS spent $9.3m on its programs in its fiscal year ending October 2024 (F2024).
The Climate program received 35% ($3.3m) of program spending in F2024. ECS reports that globally, 2024 was the warmest year ever recorded. It also reports that there were $8 billion in insured losses from severe weather events in 2024. ECS had 30 active legal initiatives and 15 active law reform projects in F2024.
The Healthy Communities program received 33% ($3.1m) of program spending in F2024. Health Canada estimates that air pollution is linked to 15,300 premature deaths and $120 billion in economic costs per year. In 2024, ECS published a report that revealed that pesticide use increased in Canada by 47% over the last ten years. ECS had 29 active legal initiatives and 10 active law reform projects in F2024.
The Nature program received 32% ($3.0m) of program spending in F2024. ECS reports that 80% of wetlands around urban areas and 80% of native prairie grasslands in Canada have been lost. In June 2024 ECS worked with six conservation groups to send a petition to help protect southern resident killer whales. ECS had 42 active legal initiatives and eight active law reform projects in F2024.
My anchor
Results and Impact
ECS reports on its legal action victories in its Victories Report.
In June 2024, Canada passed Bill C-59. This bill requires companies to back up their environmental claims with evidence. Ecojustice reports it contributed to this bill passage through its advocacy. Shortly after the bill passed, Pathways Alliance (a coalition of Canadian oil sands companies) stopped its net-zero claims.
ECS challenged Health Canada’s renewed approval of Mad Dog Plus, a glyphosate-based herbicide, in 2022. In February 2025, the court found the renewal was based on unsubstantiated reasons. It ordered Health Canada to make a new decision that addresses the new scientific information on glyphosate risks. ECS reports this decision sets an important precedent for Health Canada to use up-to-date information when making decisions.
ECS reports that Quebec’s “free entry” system allows anyone to register and get an exclusive right to explore for minerals on public land. Quebec grants these exclusive rights on Indigenous territories without consulting with Indigenous communities. ECS represented the Mitchikanibikok Inik First Nation, whose territory is subject to thousands of mining claims without their knowledge. In October 2024, the trial court ruled that Quebec has been breaching its constitutional duties in this regard for decades. Quebec is appealing the decision.
ECS reports that it created change in 13 key areas in F2024 (three Climate areas, six Healthy Communities areas, and four Nature areas).
While Ci highlights these key results, they may not completely represent Ecojustice Canada Society’s results and impact.
Charity Intelligence has not yet rated ECS on impact (n/r). This does not affect the star rating.
My anchor
Finances
ECS’s audited financial statements follow line-item costing, which is not a best practice. This means Ci referred to its T3010 filings to report program, administrative, and fundraising costs.
In F2024 ECS received $10.4m in Canadian donations and $1.1m in international donations. Administrative costs are 12% of revenues (excluding investment income). Fundraising costs are 22% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 34%. For every dollar donated, 66 cents are available to go to the cause. This falls within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.
In F2024 ECS spent $9.3m on its programs and grants, which is 77% of its revenue. In F2024 it had a deficit of $832k.
Ecojustice Canada Society has $7.4m in reserve funds (cash and investments). The reserves can cover 79%, or nine months of program costs.
According to its T3010 filing, Ecojustice used external fundraisers in F2024. It paid a total of $172k to external fundraisers during the year. While it is required, Ecojustice does not report how much these agencies raised.
This charity report is an update that has been sent for review to Ecojustice Canada Society. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.
Updated on July 8, 2025, by Grady Simpson.
Financial Review
Fiscal year ending October
|
2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative costs as % of revenues | 12.1% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Fundraising costs as % of donations | 21.7% | 22.9% | 13.9% |
| Total overhead spending | 33.9% | 33.1% | 23.5% |
| Program cost coverage (%) | 79.2% | 99.3% | 126.5% |
Summary Financial StatementsAll figures in $000s |
2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donations | 10,393 | 9,467 | 12,696 |
| International donations | 1,061 | 1,090 | 23 |
| Investment income | 568 | 251 | (372) |
| Other income | 105 | 27 | 10 |
| Total revenues | 12,127 | 10,834 | 12,357 |
| Program costs | 9,299 | 8,281 | 6,978 |
| Grants | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Administrative costs | 1,401 | 1,078 | 1,224 |
| Fundraising costs | 2,260 | 2,168 | 1,759 |
| Other costs | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Total spending | 12,960 | 11,541 | 9,963 |
| Cash flow from operations | (832) | (706) | 2,394 |
| Capital spending | 32 | 121 | 28 |
| Funding reserves | 7,366 | 8,223 | 8,828 |
Note: Deferred adjustment: ECS uses deferred accounting. To show donors information on a consistent basis, Ci adjusted for these deferred revenues. This affected revenue by ($15k) in F2024, ($205k) in F2023, and ($209k) in F2022. Amortization: Ci removed amortization on a pro rata basis from program, administrative, and fundraising costs in F2024, F2023, and F2022. T3010: Ci reported international donations from the charity’s T3010 and removed that amount from Canadian donations. Ci also used the charity’s T3010 filing to report program, administrative, and fundraising costs.
Salary Information
$350k + |
0 |
$300k - $350k |
0 |
$250k - $300k |
0 |
$200k - $250k |
0 |
$160k - $200k |
2 |
$120k - $160k |
8 |
$80k - $120k |
0 |
$40k - $80k |
0 |
< $40k |
0 |
Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2024
My anchor
Comments & Contact
Comments added by the Charity:
These comments were provided for a previous version of this profile.
Ecojustice is committed to operating at the highest standard. Toward this, Ecojustice is certified to the Imagine Canada Standard demonstrating operational excellence and leadership. Additionally, Ecojustice is committed to achieving justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion across our organization and to ensuring our work is consistent with and where possible advances reconciliation.
Charity Contact
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 604-685-5618