Toronto Wildlife Centre is a 4-star charity that is financially transparent. It has an average results reporting grade of B and reasonable overhead spending of 19%. The charity has two years of program costs covered by its current reserves.

Founded in 1993, Toronto Wildlife Centre (TWC) provides medical treatment and rehabilitative care to sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals found by the public. TWC works across the Greater Toronto Area and is Canada’s largest wildlife centre in terms of patient admissions. Its mission is to promote the peaceful coexistence of people and wildlife. The charity’s overall goal is to rehabilitate and release healthy animals back into the wild. Toronto Wildlife Centre runs four core programs: Wildlife Rehabilitation, Education and Outreach, Wildlife Hospital, and Wildlife Rescue.

At the time of this update, TWC had not yet released its F2023 annual report, so Ci used the F2022 annual report.

Wildlife Rehabilitation was 53% of program costs in F2022. During the year, TWC admitted 5,825 sick, injured, or orphaned animals from 178 species, 14 of which are species are risk. Its rehabilitation programs help to nurse animals back to health and eventually release them back into the wild. Its patients in F2022 included 4,368 birds, 1,397 mammals, 55 reptiles, and 5 amphibians.

Education and Outreach programs and the Wildlife Hotline were 19% of program costs. TWC provides online resources on keeping pets safe, helping baby birds, and responding to injured wild animals. It also hosts events and school presentations to teach students about animals. In F2022, the charity ran a TWC Education Booth during EcoFair 2022. TWC’s Wildlife Hotline helps residents of the GTA quickly contact the charity to report animals in distress. Each year, TWC staff receive around 30,000 calls.

Wildlife Hospital funding made up 16% of program costs. TWC’s Wildlife Hospital treats injuries and performs lifesaving surgeries on wild animals. It has a team of wildlife veterinarians and volunteer specialists who work in the hospital. TWC also provides veterinary students with hospital placements and internships.

Wildlife Rescue was 11% of program costs. Through its Wildlife Rescue program, TWC saves animals caught in dangerous situations. TWC has a team of four staff members certified in ice rescues, water rescues, oil spill responses, and other skills.

Toronto Wildlife Centre had donations and special event revenues of $5.7m in F2023. It also received $230k in donated goods and $208k in investment income. The charity received $148k in government funding representing 2% of total revenues.

Administrative costs are 6% of revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 13% of donations and special events. This results in total overhead spending of 19%, which is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. The charity spent $3.1m on program costs in F2023, which is 48% of total revenues.

Toronto Wildlife Centre has $6.1m in reserve funds. These reserve funds are the charity’s cash and investments. The charity has two years of annual program costs covered by its current reserves.  

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

Updated on August 17, 2024, by Lily Ferguson.

Toronto Wildlife Centre is a donor-dependent charity that provides essential services to people and wildlife in our communities. We are so grateful to our supporters – from individuals to foundations and corporations – whose contributions sustain vital programs to help sick, injured and orphaned wild animals and educate members of the public. We do not receive regular government funding to operate these programs, with the exception of a small municipal contract, and occasional funding through government job creation programs. In addition, a grant from the City of Toronto contributes to the planning and development of our future new centre.

Updated by TWC on August 27, 2024.