Dollars at work
How United Way Toronto allocates your fundraising dollars
By giving to United Way Toronto, your money is placed in the Community Fund, which is made up of donations from people like you and goes toward strengthening individuals, families and our community by supporting a network of agencies across our city providing vital health and social services. Your generosity helps hundreds of thousands of people throughout our city — single parents, abused women, children and youth, the elderly, the physically challenged, the homeless, and newcomers to our country.
United Way Toronto is the only major funding organization that delivers significant core operating support to social service agencies in our city. This base support of funding provides stability and allows our member agencies the flexibility to develop and respond to emerging needs of the individuals they serve. As part of our commitment to you, we always strive to go one step further in ensuring that of every dollar we raise, as much as possible goes to the community. As a responsible steward of our community’s resources, we make it a point to report to you how funds are allocated.
A look at where United Way Toronto’s fundraising dollars come from
Thanks to the generous support of our donors, United Way Toronto is able to support a network of agencies that are making a positive impact on our community. The following chart shows a breakdown of where our fundraising dollars came from, by percentage and group.
* This pie chart shows a breakdown of where United Way Toronto's fundraising dollars come from in 2011.
A look at how United Way Toronto distributes fundraising dollars
United Way Toronto’s fundraising and administration costs are highly efficient. In 2011, through the support of more than 22,000 volunteers and the donation of pro-bono services and supplies, we kept our year-round fundraising and administration costs to 14.4%. Canada Revenue Agency recommends that charities maintain a cost-revenue ratio no higher than 35%.
* Based on financial statements for year end March 31, 2011.
We keep our costs low by:
- Maintaining a strong internal fundraising department that conducts all our fundraising efforts. We do not hire third-party or commissioned fundraisers.
- Leveraging the tremendous work of more than 22,000 volunteers in workplaces across the city, including the volunteers who work for United Way on behalf of their employers for the fall campaign.
- Adhering to an internal mission that obligates us to run a lean and efficient organization. We work hard to keep our costs low; in fact, everything down to our office furniture is donated by generous supporters.
- Receiving free advertising space and airtime from a number of newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV stations, and outdoor media. We do not pay for advertising space and we also receive pro bono advertising creative services.
