YMCA of Greater Toronto is a 3-star rated charity with best practice in financial transparency and above average accountability to donors as seen in the B+ results reporting grade. For every dollar donated to this charity, 54 cents go to the cause. This is outside Ci's reasonable range for overhead spending. The charity's long-term debts exceed its liquid assets resulting in a negative program cost coverage figure.

Founded in 1868, YMCA of Greater Toronto (YMCA GTA) promotes personal growth, community involvement, and leadership. Its vision is to ensure that the Greater Toronto Area is home to healthy children, teenagers, and adults. Currently, YMCA of Greater Toronto reports that 95% of children aged 5 to 17 in the GTA do not meet daily exercise recommendations. YMCA GTA runs more than 450 centres across the Greater Toronto Area, offering health and fitness activities, childcare, youth programs, and employment services.

In F2021, YMCA GTA states that it made a total of 283,458 connections with members of the GTA community (down 54% from 622,457 in F2019). This included 80,052 uses of childcare and family services, 75,098 visits to health and fitness programs, and 65,070 members of youth programs. YMCA GTA’s employment services provide career guidance and workshops while its immigrant services offer language programs and settlement advice. It reports that employment services reached 4,405 clients whereas immigrant services reached 33,484. YMCA GTA also offers camps and outdoor education programs over the summer or during the school year. It reported 2,989 connections at its camps in F2021. The charity states that it also made 425 connections on a global setting.

YMCA GTA provides financial assistance to clients in need through subsidized childcare and gym memberships. In F2021, it provided over $500k in assistance to 11,947 clients, down from $5.8m in F2019.

In F2021, YMCA of Greater Toronto reported $2.9m in donations. It also received $188.9m in government funding (81% of revenues) and $29.1m in fees for service from programs and memberships (12% of revenues). Administrative costs are 7% of revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 40% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 46%. For every dollar donated to the charity, 54 cents go to the cause. This falls outside Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

YMCA GTA has $124.9m in long-term debts, exceeding its liquid assets of $70.2m and resulting in a negative program cost coverage figure. These debts represent loans to finance the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre YMCA construction and additional loans for the Cooper Koo Family YMCA and McDonald Family YMCA. Excluding debts, YMCA GTA’s gross funding reserves can cover almost three months of annual program costs.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to YMCA of Greater Toronto for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated July 8, 2022 by Angelina Curwin.