Covenant House Toronto
STAR RATINGCi's Star Rating is calculated based on the following independent metrics: |
✔+
FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY
Audited financial statements for current and previous years available on the charity’s website.
A-
RESULTS REPORTING
Grade based on the charity's public reporting of the work it does and the results it achieves.
Low
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.
67%
CENTS TO THE CAUSE
For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 67 cents are available for programs.
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Programs
About Covenant House Toronto:
Founded in 1982, Covenant House Toronto (COVT) offers 24-7 support to youth who are homeless, trafficked or at risk. Covenant House Toronto reports that it has one of the highest staff to youth ratios among agencies serving this population in Toronto. As many as 40% of homeless youth were first homeless before the age of 16. Many of these young people have experienced trauma or face mental health issues. Left on the streets, kids can become involved in drugs, sex trafficking, or gangs.
In F2018, COVT allocated 47% of program spending to the crisis shelter. A total of 743 youth used the shelter, a 20% decrease since F2017. COVT notes that this is due to a record high daily number of youths staying in the shelter for longer periods of time, which is attributable to the lack of stable, affordable housing and sustainable employment opportunities for them. The on-site health centre provided 4,843 healthcare visits in F2018. There are emergency beds reserved for young women who were victims of sex trafficking or exploitation.
Long-Term Transitional Housing received 17% of program funding in F2018. This program prepares youths for living independently by offering workshops on budgeting, laundry, and grocery shopping. Job training and career counselling services are also available. If they stick to a personal plan including work or school, the youths can live in an apartment while paying a third of the market-rate rent. Covenant House Toronto has recently opened Avdell Home, its second supported housing program for victims of sex trafficking.
Covenant House Toronto allocated 21% of program funding to Community Support Services and Outreach. Support Services help homeless or low-income youths who live outside of the crisis shelter. Kids can access a COVT foodbank, get clean clothes, or access counselling. In F2018, 140 youths received support for mental health and addiction issues, 90 victims of sexual exploitation had specialized support, and 42 youths were matched with mentors.
In F2018, 7% of program spending was allocated to educating the public about youth homelessness and sex trafficking, 5% covered healthcare costs for youth, and 3% was allocated to program evaluation and research.
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Results and Impact
Given the high cost per client, impact per dollar was rated as Low by Ci (see impact grid in lower right).
COVT’s 2018-2022 Strategic Plan includes progress reports on its goals. As part of COVT’s goal to expand employment opportunities for youth, the charity increased the number of work placements, resulting in 477 jobs and job training placements in F2018. As part of COVT’s goal to expand homelessness and sex trafficking prevention, the charity developed a strategy to reconnect youths with their families and/or personal support network that helped 123 youths in F2018.
Impact Rating: Low
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Finances
Covenant House Toronto is a Major 100 charity, receiving $24.4m in donations in F2017. Administrative costs are 5% of revenues (excluding investment income), and fundraising costs are 28% of donations. For every $1 donated, 67 cents go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. COVT has $18.8m in funding reserves, which can cover program costs for just over one year.
Covenant House Toronto reports that unlike many other social services agencies, it is primarily donor funded, with nearly 80% of the agency's yearly budget coming from donors.
This charity report is an update that has been sent to Covenant House Toronto for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.
Updated on June 29, 2019 by Caroline McKenna.
Financial Review
Fiscal year ending June
|
2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative costs as % of revenues | 5.4% | 5.7% | 5.8% |
| Fundraising costs as % of donations | 28.1% | 28.5% | 33.0% |
| Program cost coverage (%) | 103.2% | 109.2% | 92.2% |
Summary Financial StatementsAll figures in $000s |
2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donations | 24,375 | 22,717 | 19,505 |
| Government funding | 1,585 | 1,018 | 1,007 |
| Fees for service | 2,675 | 2,711 | 2,622 |
| Investment income | 463 | 375 | 165 |
| Other income | 192 | 97 | 94 |
| Total revenues | 29,289 | 26,918 | 23,394 |
| Program costs | 18,216 | 15,799 | 14,730 |
| Administrative costs | 1,571 | 1,502 | 1,341 |
| Fundraising costs | 6,844 | 6,485 | 6,441 |
| Total spending | 26,631 | 23,786 | 22,512 |
| Cash flow from operations | 2,657 | 3,132 | 881 |
| Funding reserves | 18,798 | 17,260 | 13,581 |
Note: Ci adjusted for deferred capital contributions to report on a cash basis, affecting revenues by ($332k) in F2018, ($107k) in F2017, and ($507k) in F2016. Ci has adjusted amount due from Toronto Hostel Services affecting revenues by $206k in F2017 and ($2k) in F2016. Ci backed out amortization of capital assets on a pro-rata basis from program, administrative, and fundraising costs, affecting total expenses by ($543k) in F2018, ($808k) in F2017, and ($788k) in F2016.
Salary Information
$350k + |
0 |
$300k - $350k |
0 |
$250k - $300k |
1 |
$200k - $250k |
2 |
$160k - $200k |
2 |
$120k - $160k |
5 |
$80k - $120k |
0 |
$40k - $80k |
0 |
< $40k |
0 |
Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2018
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Comments & Contact
Comments added by the Charity:
Reserves: Covenant House maintains reserves equivalent to up to six months of annual operating revenue to ensure it can deliver services to youth and maintain its operation in the event that donations decline. Unlike other not-for-profit service delivery organizations in the country, CHT relies on fundraising as its primary source of income. Over 80% of every dollar spent to support our services to youth and our operations comes from donations. Given our substantial reliance on donations, it is critical, both from a legal and an accounting perspective, that we have sufficient reserves to ensure uninterrupted services which include costs associated with our facilities, staff, and delivery of programs to about 350 youth daily.
Charity Contact
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