London Food Bank is a 1-star charity with Average demonstrated impact. It has a below-average results reporting grade and it is not financially transparent. The charity's overhead costs are outside Ci's reasonable range for overhead spending, although this is not unusual for food banks.

Founded in 1987 by the husband and wife duo of Glen Pearson and Jane Roy, London Food Bank gives food to hungry people in London and distributes additional food to community organizations in Ontario. It also recovers food from farms and local grocery stores.

In F2020, 9,253 different households received assistance from London Food Bank, representing 22,144 distinct household members. Of these individuals, 72% visited four times or fewer. 40% of the individuals assisted were children and youth, and 8% were adults aged 60 or older. Of the people assisted, 80% lived in rental units, 6% lived in social housing, 3% lived in a shelter, 3% owned a home, and 8% did not disclose their housing arrangements. 

London Food Bank distributed over 2.7 million pounds of food in F2020.  The charity also distributed 32,783 hampers of emergency food in F2020. Its vehicles travelled over 36,600 km to pick up and deliver donations throughout the city and region.  

London Food Bank distributed 633,000 pounds of food to 30+ organizations in F2020, representing 23% of all food. The organizations include other charities in London, school lunch programs, and food banks.

The Community Harvest program collects produce from farmers and grocery stores which cannot be sold and would otherwise be thrown out or tilled back into the soil. London Food Bank also encourages individual gardeners to plant one extra row of seeds in their garden and donate the additional produce. 

London Food Bank received $4.2m in donations (214% increase from F2019) and $6.7m in donated food in F2020. It also received $896k (8% of revenues) in government funding. Administrative costs are 1% of revenues (less investment income), and fundraising costs are 2% of donations. For every dollar donated 98 cents go to the cause. This is outside Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending, although this is not unusual for food banks.

London Food Bank has $5.8m in funding reserves. Excluding donated food, funding reserves could cover annual program costs for 5.1 years.  

This charity profile has been sent to London Food Bank for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.  

Updated on August 11, 2022 by Emma Saganowich.