United Way of Alberta Capital Region
STAR RATINGCi's Star Rating is calculated based on the following independent metrics: |
✔+
FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY
Audited financial statements for current and previous years available on the charity’s website.
B+
RESULTS REPORTING
Grade based on the charity's public reporting of the work it does and the results it achieves.
n/r
DEMONSTRATED IMPACT
The demonstrated impact per dollar Ci calculates from available program information.
NEED FOR FUNDING
Charity's cash and investments (funding reserves) relative to how much it spends on programs in most recent year.
55%
CENTS TO THE CAUSE
For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 55 cents are available for programs.
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OVERVIEW
About United Way of Alberta Capital Region:
United Way Alberta Capital Region is a 3-star charity. It has above average disclosure with a B+ results reporting grade. It holds reserves within Ci’s reasonable range. For every dollar donated to United Way Alberta Capital Region, 55 cents are available to go to the cause.
Founded in 1941, United Way Alberta Capital Region (UWACR) works to improve the well-being of people in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region. This region includes Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, Sherwood Park, Strathcona County, St. Albert, Leduc County, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, and Parkland County. It focuses on three areas: mental health, education, and financial security, and funds partner agencies that deliver programs in each. UWACR helps children, families, and individuals who face poverty, mental health struggles, or barriers to finishing school. In the fiscal year ending March 2026 (F2026), the charity helped 456,719 people access support.
UWACR runs three main programs: Strengthening Mental Wellbeing, Eliminating Barriers to Educational Success, and Empowering Financial Security. In F2026, UWACR spent $17.3m on its programs and grants. UWACR also reports an additional $2.2m in donor-designated grants. Ci did not find a breakdown of program spending in the charity's annual report or on its website.
Strengthening Mental Wellbeing funds partner agencies that offer counselling, crisis support, and other mental health services across the region. Among the largest is 211 Alberta, a helpline that connects people to mental health and other support services by phone, text, or online chat. In F2026, UWACR funded 39 local agencies for this program, supporting 275,641 people. Its partnership with 211 Alberta supported more than 120,000 contacts through trained navigators, making 199,000 connections to community programs and services, with phone support available in 240 languages.
Eliminating Barriers to Educational Success funds programs such as All In For Youth (AIFY), which supports children through wraparound services from early school years to high school graduation, and Make Your Mark, which teaches kindergarten to grade 12 students about social issues and community engagement. In F2026, UWACR funded 23 local agencies for this program, supporting 153,658 people. 3,598 students took part in All In For Youth in F2026, and the program provided 226,620 meals and snacks.
Empowering Financial Security funds programs such as Financial Reality Check, an interactive budgeting simulation for high school students, and Empower U, a financial literacy program aimed at women and newcomers. It also leads Period Promise, which provides free menstrual products through schools, agencies, and workplaces across the region. In F2026, UWACR funded 33 local agencies for this program, supporting 195,312 people. 289 people completed Empower U. Period Promise ran eight product drives and distributed more than 27,000 period products.
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Results and Impact
A F2025 Impact Report on the All In For Youth program found that, of the 3,598 participants that year, students with 3+ years in the program saw 27.4% higher graduation rates. 79% of students enrolled in mental health therapy experienced improvement, and participating schools increased attendance rates to 81.4%
A 2024 Impact Genome Study of the Empower U program found that, of the 231 participants that year, 51% reported progress toward their goals by program completion, while 6% had achieved or were close to achieving them. Post-program evaluations showed a 16% increase in participants who had created a monthly budget and an 11% increase in those actively using one. The charity reports over $91k saved through matched savings.
While Ci highlights these key results, they may not completely represent United Way Alberta Capital Region’s results and impact. Charity Intelligence has not yet rated UWACR on impact (n/r). This does not affect its star rating.
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Finances
United Way Alberta Capital Region’s audited financial statements follow activity-based costing, meaning program, administrative, and fundraising costs are clearly separated. This is a best practice.
In F2026, UWACR earned $25.1m in total revenue. It received $14.9m in donations (59% of total revenue) and $9.9m in government funding (40% of total revenue).
Administrative costs are 7% of revenues (less investment income). Fundraising costs are 38% of donations. Total overhead is 45%. For every dollar donated to UWACR, 55 cents are available for programs. This is outside Ci's reasonable range.
In F2026, UWACR spent $17.3m on programs and grants, which is 69% of total revenue (excluding donor designated grants). It recorded a $1.8m deficit, drawing on its reserve funds. The charity spent $60k on capital projects.
UWACR has $5.9m in reserve funds (cash and investments). The reserves can cover 34%, or roughly four months of program costs.
This charity update has been sent to United Way Alberta Capital Region for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming. Updated by Nick Reszetnik on August 20, 2026.
Financial Review
Fiscal year ending March
|
2026 | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative costs as % of revenues | 7.4% | 13.2% | 9.8% |
| Fundraising costs as % of donations | 37.7% | 42.0% | 41.2% |
| Total overhead spending | 45.0% | 55.1% | 51.0% |
| Program cost coverage (%) | 34.4% | 48.5% | 61.7% |
Summary Financial StatementsAll figures in $000s |
2026 | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donations | 14,908 | 13,895 | 14,550 |
| Government funding | 9,942 | 7,900 | 14,905 |
| Investment income | 123 | 419 | 725 |
| Other income | 90 | 17 | 25 |
| Total revenues | 25,062 | 22,231 | 30,205 |
| Program costs | 12,357 | 12,117 | 11,880 |
| Grants | 4,895 | 5,451 | 9,384 |
| Donor-designated donations | 2,204 | 1,064 | 1,625 |
| Administrative costs | 1,838 | 2,870 | 2,885 |
| Fundraising costs | 5,616 | 5,833 | 5,992 |
| Other costs | 0 | 4 | 13 |
| Total spending | 26,909 | 27,338 | 31,779 |
| Cash flow from operations | (1,847) | (5,107) | (1,573) |
| Capital spending | 60 | 315 | 152 |
| Funding reserves | 5,938 | 8,515 | 13,123 |
Note: 1. Deferred adjustment: UWACR uses deferred accounting. To show donors information on a consistent basis, Ci adjusted for deferred contributions and deferred capital contributions. This affected revenue by ($1.7m) in F2026, ($1.7m) in F2025 and ($947k) in F2024. 2. Campaign pledges receivable: Ci adjusted for campaign pledges receivable. This affected revenues by $385k in F2026, ($992k) in F2025, and ($251k) in F2024. 3. Amortization: Ci removed amortization from administrative costs in F2026, F2025, and F2024. 4. Administration: Ci backed out administrative costs from program costs and reported it as administrative costs. 5. Change in grants receivable: Ci adjusted for changes in grants receivable. This affected revenues by ($48k) in F2026, ($569k) in F2025, and $2.4m in F2024.
Salary Information
$350k + |
0 |
$300k - $350k |
0 |
$250k - $300k |
0 |
$200k - $250k |
1 |
$160k - $200k |
0 |
$120k - $160k |
8 |
$80k - $120k |
1 |
$40k - $80k |
0 |
< $40k |
0 |
Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2025
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Comments & Contact
Comments added by the Charity:
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Charity Contact
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 780-990-1000