Founded in 1979, Centraide Outaouais (United Way of the Outaouais) aims to improve the lives of people in the Outaouais by collecting and distributing money to local charities. Centraide Outaouais reports that 8,200 families are living under the poverty line in the Outaouais, an area that includes Gatineau and the surrounding communities. The charity’s three granting programs are focused on: Improved Living Conditions, Youth Achievement and Building Strong Communities.

The charity reports that 33% of people using foodbanks are under the age of 18 and that 12% of applications for food aid come from immigrants. Through its Improved Living Conditions granting program, the charity supports organizations that offer food and distress support programs to the community. In F2018, Centraide Outaouais funded 56 organizations and two initiatives which resulted in 15,973 people being fed and 102 people reentering the job market.  

Centraide Outaouais reports that 15% of people aged 25 to 64 in Outaouais have no diploma. Through its Youth Achievement granting program, the charity supports organizations that run programs designed to decrease school dropout rates and stop bullying. In F2018, Centraide Outaouais funded 33 organizations and two initiatives that helped 16,025 youth.

Through its Building Strong Communities granting bucket, Centraide Outaouais works to help with the integration of new members in the community by supporting neighborhood and youth centres. In F2018, Centraide Outaouais funded five programs and four initiatives.

In F2018, Centraide Outaouais granted $2.0 million to local agencies. The three largest grant recipients were GÎTE AMI ($102k), Soupe Populaire de Hull ($67k), and Entraide de la Vallée ($64k).

The financial analysis completed by Charity Intelligence used incomplete, summary financial statements that included no notes as full statements were not available to Ci at the time of writing this report.

Centraide Outaouais is a medium-sized charity with donations of $3.2m in F2018. Administrative costs are 8% of revenues and fundraising costs are 19% of donations. For every dollar donated to the charity, 73 cents go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. Centraide Outaouais has $2.6m in funding reserves. Reserves can cover program and granting activities at the F2018 level for just over one year.

Charity Intelligence has analyzed the charity’s French audited financial statements to the best of our abilities but we recognize that detailed financial information in French is beyond our linguistic expertise. 

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

Updated on August 6, 2019 by Stefan Tetzlaff.