Sistering

962 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON M6H 1L6
Director: Patricia O'Connell
Board Co-Chair: Anne Chappelle

Website: www.sistering.org
Charitable Reg. #: 10798 3009 RR0001
Sector: Social Services - Women
Operating Charity

Charity Rating

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Results Reporting

Grade: B-

The grade is based on the charity's public reporting of the work it does and the results it achieves.

Financial Transparency

Audited financial statements available only upon request [Audited financial statement for most recent year]

Need for Funding

Funding Reserves Program Costs

Spending Breakdown

Cents to the Cause

♦ ♦ ♦
95¢
75¢
avg
65¢
50¢
2016 2017 2018
For a dollar donated, cents funding the cause after fundraising and admin costs, excluding surplus.

Full-time staff #39

Avg. Compensation $62,502

Top 10 Staff Salary Range

$350k + 0
$300k - $350k 0
$250k - $300k 0
$200k - $250k 0
$160k - $200k 0
$120k - $160k 0
$80k - $120k 0
$40k - $80k 10
< $40k 0
Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2018

About Sistering:

Founded in 1980, Sistering helps women in Toronto who experience social isolation, homelessness, trauma and violence, discrimination, substance abuse, or need mental health support. Sistering aims to give these women equal access to opportunities to thrive in inclusive communities. Sistering’s main programs include: 24/7 Drop-In & Parkdale Outreach, Community Support Workers, Sisters Kitchen, Harm Reduction, On the Path to Employment, Spun Studio, and Advocacy.

Sistering’s drop-in centres offer women meals, showers, laundry facilities, clothes, shoes, internet access, counselling, legal aid, and more. In F2018, Sistering reported that 95,253 women visited its two drop-in centres. Sistering served 152,365 meals and distributed 22,594 personal care items at these locations.

Sistering’s Community Support Workers helped approximately 400 women in F2018. Sistering reported that it helped with 800 housing referrals, 576 shelter referrals, 30 landlord mediations, and 320 housing applications in F2018.

On the Path to Employment offers workshops, supports women pursuing higher education, and helps women find permanent jobs. In F2018, Sistering ran three main events which hosted 40 women. The program supported 20 women in volunteering roles and pursuing further education.

Results and Impact:

In F2018, Sistering reports it helped to secure housing for 60 women through its Community Support Workers. Additionally, 14 women gained employment through the On the Path to Employment and Spun Studio programs.

While Ci highlights these key results, they may not be a complete representation of Sistering’s results and impact.

Financial Review:

Sistering is a ­­­­medium-sized charity, with total donations of $2.7m in F2018. Administrative costs are 8% of revenues (excluding investment income) and fundraising costs are 1% of donations. For every dollar donated, 91 cents go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. Funding reserves of $230k can cover less than one month of annual program costs.

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

Updated on May 30, 2019 by Lauren Chin.

Financial Ratios

Fiscal year ending March 		201820172016
Administrative costs as % of revenues 7.9%9.2%10.0%
Fundraising costs as % of donations 2.2%3.9%6.5%
Program cost coverage (%) 31.2%37.9%40.7%

Summary Financial Statements

All figures in $s 		201820172016
Donations 1,335,439888,9971,420,743
Government funding 4,096,2143,250,8742,485,855
Special events 0066,310
Investment income 10,0755,0593,841
Other income 106,594112,25240,475
Total revenues 5,548,3224,257,1824,017,224
Program costs 4,534,3883,787,9072,990,104
Administrative costs 439,735390,863401,065
Fundraising costs 29,67535,03796,667
Cash flow from operations 544,52443,375529,388
Funding reserves 1,412,9071,437,1531,215,453
Note: Ci adjusted for deferred capital contributions to report amounts received instead of amounts amortized. This affected total revenue by ($110k) in F2018, ($185k) in F2017, and $329k in F2016. Ci reported Youth Challenge fund revenues in special events fundraising, and West Neighborhood House and Regent Park revenues in donations. Government funding includes amounts from Local Health Integration Network, Ontario Women's Directorate, Ontario Seniors Secretariat, City of Toronto, and Ontario Trillium Foundation. Ci gathered expense figures from the charity’s T3010 CRA filing and backed out amortization on a pro-rata basis from program and administrative costs. 

Comments added by the Charity:

Sistering is a multi-service agency supporting some of Toronto’s most marginalized women - poor, homeless or precariously housed, often victims of violence, and often facing mental health challenges. Our redesigned and updated website, launching shortly, will provide potential donors and others interested in our work with detailed information about the programs and services we deliver.

Some key services offered at our 24/7 Drop In:

  •  Three hot meals, soup and sandwiches overnight
  •  Showers and laundry facilities 
  •  Clothing and footwear 
  •  Telephones, mailing address and Internet access
  •  Crisis intervention and trauma-informed counselling 
  •  Housing support
  •  Harm reduction support and supplies 
  •  Peer support groups in English, Spanish, Cantonese and Mandarin
  •  Information, referral and accompaniment to social assistance, legal aid, doctors, and other appointments
  •  Onsite access to primary healthcare with general practitioners, psychiatrists and nurse
  •  Onsite access to a Settlement Worker and immigration lawyer 

 Sistering was one of only 62 agencies awarded Anchor Status this past year by the United Way of Toronto and York Region. Additionally, Sistering received a Vital Ideas Grant from the Toronto Foundation to explore the feasibility of a storefront for our social Enterprise, Inspirations Studio.

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