Wesley is a 4-star rated charity. It has an above-average results reporting grade of A-. For every dollar donated, 72 cents are available to go towards the cause. Its reserve funds can cover almost four months of annual program costs.

Wesley Urban Ministries (Wesley) was founded in the basement of Wesley United Church in 1955. It aims to transform the lives of people who are homeless or in poverty in Hamilton, Halton, and Brantford. Wesley has three main programs: Newcomer, Employment and Community Services; Housing and Homelessness; and Children, Youth, and Family Services. In fiscal 2024 (year ended March), Wesley spent $23.0m on its programs.

In F2024, Newcomer, Employment and Community Services was 50% of program spending. In F2024, Wesley made 18,801 community referrals to support 2,098 clients. Wesley’s Ukrainian support program served 705 Ukrainians and housed 544 clients. In F2024, 67 clients accessed the charity’s Food Training Program and 59 clients completed certificates. In F2024, Wesley’s Employment Program for Newcomers had nine successful workshops.

In F2024, Children, Youth and Family Services were 26% of program spending. In F2024, the EarlyON child and Family Centres had 30,307 children visits and 23,341 adult visits. In F2024, 106 children attended before and after school programs and 106 children went on field trips. The Wesley Youth program housed 19 youths.

In F2024, Housing and Homelessness Services was 24% of program spending. Wesley offers emergency housing, transitional housing, and housing outreach programs. In F2024, Wesley’s Halton Housing First Program supported 58 individuals and permanently housed 13 individuals. In F2024, Hamilton Housing served 262 clients and housed 34 clients. The charity’s Emergency Supportive Housing Program supported 174 clients including 126 children.

Wesley’s audited financial statements follow line-item costing, meaning it does not disclose which expenses relate to programming, administrative and fundraising activities. This is not a best practice.

In F2024, Wesley received $2.2m in donations and special events revenue, down 34% from the $3.3m received in 2023. In F2024, Wesley received $21.7m in government funding which represents 83% of total revenues. Administrative costs are 7% of total revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 21% of total donations. For every dollar donated, 72 cents are available to go towards the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. In F2024, Wesley spent $23.0m on its programs which represents 88% of total revenues.

In F2024, Wesley had $7.1m in its reserve funds, of which $34k were donor endowed. Excluding the donor-endowed funds, these reserve funds can cover almost four months of annual program costs.

Profile updated on Aug 8, 2025 by Abby Stout.