Founded in 1991, the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba (IRCOM) has a mission to “empower newcomer families to integrate into the wider community through transitional housing, programs, and services”. Programs and services include after-school programs, community resource programs, gardening programs, financial management and savings programs, and child care programs.

The charity operates two transitional housing sites in downtown Winnipeg called IRCOM House Ellen and IRCOM Isabel. The sites offer secure, affordable and clean apartments to newcomer families for up to 3 years after their arrival. IRCOM House Ellen supports an average of 300 families. IRCOM Isabel, which opened in June 2017, has 60 units for families of up to 8 people. Over the past three years, the charity reports 12-16% of tenants have purchased a home after 3 years in transitional housing units. In F2016, IRCOM housed 120 families (462 total tenants).

In addition to housing, IRCOM provides onsite support and services. After-school programs were delivered to 275 children and youth, including 75 new participants in F2016. The charity’s Asset Building Program teaches participants about saving and money in the Canadian context. IRCOM also helps tenants with their tax returns. Community resource programs ran 11 monthly workshops, 2 community meetings, 20 women’s groups and fitness sessions, and 16 grocery shuttle trips. The Newcomer Literacy Initiative consists of daily English classes for newcomers. Parents in the language program had 68 children in IRCOM’s ongoing childcare program while attending classes.

Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba is a small-cap charity with $810k in donations. Government funding contributed an additional $1.2m in revenue in F2016. Administrative costs were 33% of revenues. The charity did not report any fundraising costs on its audited financials or T3010 tax filing with the CRA. Assuming zero fundraising costs, for every $1 donated, 67 cents went to the cause. This falls within Charity Intelligence’s reasonable rage for overhead spending. Funding reserves of $554k can cover 5 months of program costs.

This report is an update that is currently being reviewed by Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated June 15, 2017 by Juliana Badovinac.