Toronto People with AIDS Foundation is a 2-star charity. It has a below average results reporting grade and its overhead costs are outside Ci's recommended range for overhead spending. The charity is financially transparent but is late in posting its most recent financials and its funding reserves can cover program costs for 1.5 years. 

Founded in 1987, Toronto People with AIDS Foundation (PWA) helps men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS. PWA connects people living with HIV/AIDS to each other, to provide support and inspire them to live out their dreams.  

PWA’s programs fall into two categories: client services (84% of spending) and financial assistance (16% of spending). Client services include practical support, dreaming and engagement, community access, and health and therapeutic care. In F2020, 2,258 people living with HIV accessed PWA’s services 36,584 times. The charity states that 55% of these people were over the age of 45 and 77% identified as men.  

The practical support program focus is to financially assist people with the purchase of uninsured prescription medication, supplementary treatments and nutritional supplements. PWA’s community access program connects people to government income programs, treatment access programs and to community food access programs. In F2020, PWA’s food program was accessed 20,450 times and it connected people with medical and other social services 4,791 times.  

The organization’s health and therapeutic care program provides individuals with free, on-site care, such as acupuncture and massage therapy, to complement their conventional treatments. In F2020, PWA’s complementary therapy and social programs were accessed 4,312 times.  

PWA states that emotional health is just as important as physical health when living with AIDS. The dreaming and opportunities program connects clients with peers to help people set goals that will contribute to a positive change in their lives. In F2020, 41 people living with AIDS served as paid peers and provided 884 services to clients, including appointment accompaniment, translation, emotional support and food delivery.  

The charity’s financial service program reimburses people for the purchase of uninsured prescription medication, supplementary treatment costs and nutritional supplements. In F2020, the financial assistance program was accessed 2,688 times.  

PWA received $2.0m in donations and special event fundraising revenue in F2020. The charity also received $1.3m in government funding in F2020. Administrative costs are 19% of revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 40% of donations and special events fundraising revenue. For every dollar donated, 41 cents go to the cause. This is outside Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.  

The charity has $2.6m in funding reserves which can cover annual program costs for 1.5 years.  

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Toronto People with AIDS Foundation for review. Comments and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated August 15, 2022 by Emma Saganowich.