Shelter Movers is a four-star, financially transparent charity with an above-average B+ results reporting grade. It also has a reasonable amount of overhead spending and a reasonably sized reserve fund. For every dollar donated, 87 cents are available to go to the cause.

Founded in 2016, Shelter Movers provides free moving and storage services in 11 Canadian cities for women and children living with an abusive family member.  It does this by first processing referrals made by social workers, doctors, law enforcement, shelters, and schools before coordinating an emergency move with the client. Shelter Movers' volunteers also directly help clients during moving day. According to the charity, violence against women costs the Canadian economy $7.2 billion each year, with police reporting 93,000 nationwide domestic violence incidents annually.

Shelter Movers' only program is moving clients to safety from abusers. The charity spent $3.6m on this program in the fiscal year ending in March 2024 (F2024).

Moving is the charity’s only program. During F2024, the charity completed 1,788 moves across 11 Canadian cities, a 13% increase from 1,579 moves completed during F2023. The charity moved 3,431 parents and children.

Shelter Movers' audited financial statements follow line-item costing, meaning that it did not clearly disclose how much it spent on program, administrative, and fundraising activities in its audited financial statements. This is not a best practice.

During F2024, the charity received $3.6m worth of donations and special events revenue, a 50% increase from $2.4m received in F2023 and 68% of total revenue. The charity also received $1.8m worth of government funding, a 26% increase from $1.4m received in F2023.

Administrative costs are 9% of total revenue less investment income and fundraising costs are 4% of donations. This results in 13% total overhead spending, meaning that for every dollar donated, 87 cents are available to go to the cause. 

Shelter Movers spent $3.6m on its moving program during F2024, a 32% increase from $2.8m spent during F2023. The charity also made a $638k investment in Fireman Movers Inc. –  a Toronto-based professional moving and storage company. The charity acquired 70% of this company’s outstanding shares. According to the charity, this acquisition helps it meet increasing client needs throughout the Greater Toronto Area.

At the end of F2024, the charity had $1.8m worth of net reserve funds (cash and investments) that covers 51% or around six months of its annual program spending.

Profile updated by Julian Dranitsaris on March 25, 2025. Comments and corrections may be forthcoming.