United Way Waterloo Region Communities

Suite 220, 50 Sportsworld Crossing Rd
Kitchener, ON N2P 0A4
CEO: Joan Fisk
Board Chair: Neena Gupta

Charitable Reg. #:11927 8133 RR0001

STAR RATING

Ci's Star Rating is calculated based on the following independent metrics:

[Charity Rating: 4/5]

✔+

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.

73%

CENTS TO THE CAUSE

For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 73 cents are available for programs.



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OVERVIEW

About United Way Waterloo Region Communities:

United Way Waterloo Region Communities is a 4-star charity. It is financially transparent, has reasonable overhead costs, and provides above average information on the results of its programs leading to a results reporting grade of B+.

Founded in 1981, United Way Waterloo Region Communities (UWWRC) grants funds to local charities to improve lives and build a stronger community in Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, Wilmot, Woolwich, Wellesley and North Dumfries. In 2017, United Way Kitchener-Waterloo and Area combined with United Way Cambridge and North Dumfries to become United Way Waterloo Region Communities. In F2023, UWWRC spent $3.7 million on programs and grants (this amount excludes donor designated grants, amortization, and amounts sent to United Way Canada).

UWWRC’s F2023 annual report is not yet available at the time of this update. The results below refer to F2022. In F2022, UWWRC granted to 209 agencies.

In F2022, 49% of UWWRC’s program and grant spending went to Meeting Basic Needs. This program aimed to help everyone access housing, food and healthcare as well as literacy skills and financial security.  It funded 37 programs and agencies that helped 55,238 people. 

26% of UWWRC’s program and grant spending in F2022 went to Reducing Isolation. This program aimed to help people maintain connections with family and friends. UWWRC funded 19 programs and agencies that helped 23,428 people. 

Empowering Mental Health accounted for 17% of program and grant spending. This program aimed to build a stronger community through mental health supports. UWWRC funded 19 programs and agencies that helped 23,428 people.

United Way of Waterloo Region Communities also reports that 8% of its program and grant spending went to not-for-profit sector support

In F2023, UWWRC shifted from these four main programs to “focused cause-based giving.” It now runs nine main programs. These are: Affordable Housing & Homelessness; Food Insecurity; Youth & Children; Literacy, Employment Skills & Assistive Devices; Mental Health & Addictions; Hate, Gender-based, & Family Violence; Community & Social Supports; Leadership, Volunteerism, & Capacity Building; and Innovation & System Change. 

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Results and Impact

United Way Waterloo Region Communities reports that in F2021 its Emergency Community Support Fund served 413,585 meals and sheltered 462 people who otherwise would not have basic food and shelter needs met. 

A grantee of UWWRC's Reducing Isolation program reported 93% of seniors felt more connected to the community after accessing services. 

While Ci highlights these key results, they may not be a complete representation of United Way Waterloo Region Communities’ results and impact.

This charity is not yet rated on impact (n/r). 

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Finances

United Way Waterloo Region Communities received $5.1m in donations in F2023. Fundraising costs are 16% of program donations and administrative costs are 11% of revenues, less investment income. Total overhead spending is 27%. For each dollar donated, 73 cents go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

Reserve funds of $8.3m can cover program and grant spending for two years and three months at the F2023 level. This includes $3.2m held in an endowment fund established at the Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation.

UWWRC’s F2023 T3010 filing with the CRA is not yet available at the time of this update. As such, compensation information reflects F2022.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to United Way of Waterloo Region Communities. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on August 22, 2023 by Emily Downing.

Financial Review


Financial Ratios

Fiscal year ending March
202320222021
Administrative costs as % of revenues 11.7%11.5%6.6%
Fundraising costs as % of donations 15.7%14.1%11.6%
Total overhead spending 27.4%25.6%18.2%
Program cost coverage (%) 225.1%216.6%161.8%

Summary Financial Statements

All figures in $000s
202320222021
Donations 5,0945,2215,850
Government funding 41262,235
Investment income 35137267
Other income 164187239
Total revenues 5,2975,6708,591
Program costs 792823689
Grants 2,8843,0364,316
Donor-designated donations 199198154
Administrative costs 614638547
Fundraising costs 799736681
Total spending 5,2895,4306,387
Cash flow from operations 82402,203
Capital spending 943
Funding reserves 8,2748,3588,102

Note: Ci reported government funding from the charity's T3010 filing with the CRA and backed out the difference from amounts reported on the audited financial statements from other income. As the F2023 T3010 filing with the CRA is not yet available, Ci reported government funding amounts directly from the income statement. To report on a cash basis, Ci adjusted for changes in deferred revenue in other income, affecting total income by ($102k) in F2023, $26k in F2022, and $131k in F2021. Ci reported United way of Canada affiliation fees in administrative costs. Ci backed out administrative costs allocated to fundraising and reported these amounts as fundraising. Ci also backed out amortization from program costs, fundraising costs, and administrative costs on a pro-rata basis.

Salary Information

Full-time staff: 19

Avg. compensation: $74,776

Top 10 staff salary range:

$350k +
0
$300k - $350k
0
$250k - $300k
1
$200k - $250k
0
$160k - $200k
0
$120k - $160k
0
$80k - $120k
4
$40k - $80k
5
< $40k
0

Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2022

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Comments & Contact

Comments added by the Charity:

United Way Waterloo provided this comment on February 4, 2022: 

United Way Waterloo Region Communities’ (UWWRC) impact information is updated bi-annually as results become available. Please visit our website, https://www.uwaywrc.ca/what-we-do/your-impact/ to see the impact a donation to UWWRC can do. If you have any questions about the efficiency or effectiveness of UWWRC please don’t hesitate to contact us.

United Way Waterloo provided this comment on December 1, 2021: 

During the time of this profile update our website was being revamped. Our new Impact page https://www.uwaywrc.ca/what-we-do/your-impact/ is now available showing the impact of the generous donations we receive each year in our local community. This information is updated bi-annually as results become available. If you have any questions about the efficiency or effectiveness of United Way Waterloo Region Communities please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Charity Contact

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Tel: 519-888-6100 



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Charitable Registration Number: 80340 7956 RR0001