United Way Greater Toronto is a 4-star charity. It is a large charity with $134.6m in donations in F2022. It is financially transparent and has reasonable overhead costs. It has an average result reporting grade. With its current funding reserves, the charity can cover one year and three months of annual program costs. 

Founded in 1956, United Way Greater Toronto (UWGT) aims to improve social conditions by gathering community volunteers and financial resources. In 2015, United Way Toronto merged with United Way York Region. In 2018 it merged with United Way of Peel Region. United Way Greater Toronto raises money to fight poverty in Toronto, York and Peel Regions. It primarily grants to local charities, but also runs its own community development programs and conducts research to identify causes of poverty and inequality in the GTA.

Total grants in F2023 were $101.6m. These include $66.9m in community investments that UWGT divides as follows: $61.3m for Community Services Sector, $2.8m for Youth Success, $2.2m for Building Strong Neighbourhoods, and $602k for Strategic Initiatives. There is also $22.2m for donations designated for other charities but facilitated by United Way. The remaining $12.5m in grants went to programs and organizations supported by restricted gifts and government emergency funded programs.

UWGT’s largest community investment grants in F2023 include: $3.2m to Family Service Toronto, $1.5m to Jewish Family and Child Service Program, $1.4m to The Neighbourhood Group, $1.3m to YWCA Toronto, and $1.2m to Canadian Red Cross – Toronto Region.

UWGT reports helping over 2 million people in F2023 through over 650 programs delivered by 300 agencies. In F2023, UWGT maintained 19 partnerships and systems initiatives, and disbursed over 60 community and agency-led quick action grants. Through its programs and disbursements, the charity helped over 68,000 youth receive support and opportunities to help them achieve their potential. UWGT also helped over 14,000 improve their employment opportunities and financial security.

United Way Greater Toronto is a Major 100 charity with donations of $134.6m in F2023. The charity received $8.1m in government funding, representing 6% of total revenues.

Fundraising costs are 14% of donations. In note 1a of its financial statements, United Way Greater Toronto discusses its allocation of general and administrative costs but it does not report how much it spent on them, as most other United Ways do. For every dollar donated, 86 cents go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

United Way Greater Toronto has $145.0m in reserve funds, of which $30.2m is donor endowed. Reserve funds are the charity's cash and investments. Excluding donor-endowed funds, the charity could cover one year and three months of annual program costs.

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

Updated on June 30, 2023 by Alessandra Castino.