Brands for Canada is a 2-star rated charity. It is financially transparent and has below average results reporting and low demonstrated impact. Its overhead spending is within Ci’s reasonable range, and it has reserve funds to cover program costs for two years.

Incorporated in 1992, Brands for Canada provides new donated clothing and other basic-needs items to people in need. It has the same founders as Second Harvest and is formerly known as Toronto Windfall Clothing Support Service. Brands for Canada (BFC) reports that 1 in 7 Canadians live below the poverty line. It also states that most new unsold goods end up in landfills. BFC aims to serve the homeless, abused women and children, Indigenous people, at-risk youth, immigrants and refugees, and people with physical or mental disabilities.

BFC has three main programs: Distribution, Employment, and Recycling. The charity does not provide a breakdown of its spending by program.

For its Distribution program, BFC collects and redistributes brand-new clothing and basic-needs items. In F2023 the charity served 120,000 clients through 221 partner agencies. In F2023, Brands for Canada diverted 781,135 lb of items from going to landfills. The United Hearts subprogram focuses on children, students and families in need. In F2022, it gave out 600 backpacks filled with new clothing, personal care items and school supplies. It states that 12,500 students received supplies in 692 schools.

As part of the Employment program, the charity offers several job training programs. BFC’s Suitable Impressions program helps individuals by providing work clothing, personal image and first impressions training. In F2022, Suitable Impressions had 742 participants. BFC’s Edge is a 4-week program that provides job training to adults with disabilities.  In F2022, the Edge program had 42 graduates. BFC also provides full year placement opportunities within its own organization.

The Recycling program consists of recycling textiles and repurposing them into reusable composite. It also de-brands items to maximize their use.

Brands for Canada reported $3.0m in donations in F2023. That is a 48% increase from F2021. 

Administrative costs are 2% of total revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 5% of total donations. For every dollar donated to the charity, 92 cents are available for programs. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. BFC spent $2.0m on its programs in F2023, which is 60% of its revenues. The operating cash flow was 33% of its total revenues.   

Brands for Canada has reserve funds (cash and investments) of $4.1m which can cover two years of annual program costs. The reserve funds have increased by 38% since F2022. 

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Brands for Canada for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming. 

Updated on May 21, 2024 by Alessandra Castino.