United Way of Calgary and Area
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.
n/r
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.
82%
CENTS TO THE CAUSE
For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 82 cents are available for programs.
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OVERVIEW
About United Way of Calgary and Area:
United Way of Calgary and Area is a 5-star charity that is financially transparent. It has an A+ results reporting grade, which is above average. For every dollar donated to the charity, 82 cents are available to go to the cause.
Founded in 1940, United Way of Calgary and Area (UWCA) raises money to support charities in the Greater Calgary area. The charity’s mission is to bring communities together to create change. UWCA grants money to other charities and runs its own charitable programs as well.
A Charity Intelligence 2024 Top 100 Rated Charity.
United Way of Calgary and Area has four focus areas, listed below. Charity Intelligence estimates UWCA spent $42.2m on its programs and grants in 2024. UWCA also reports an additional $4.2m in donor-designated grants.
UWCA reports that it helped 242,288 people in 2024. It funded 173 organizations and supported 146 programs. Funding may support more than one focus area, so numbers reported per focus area will not add up to the total for the charity.
UWCA reports that it spent $12.4m (29% of reported program spending) on Social Inclusion in 2024. It states that 24% of Calgarians have a low sense of belonging to their community. The charity helps create equality and a sense of belonging for Calgarians. UWCA supported 116 programs and collaboratives in 2024. It helped 188,383 people.
UWCA reports that it spent $11.2m (26% of reported program spending) on Mental Health in 2024. It states that 29% of Calgarians do not have timely access to mental health services. UWCA supported 90 programs and collaboratives in 2024. It helped 131,737 people.
UWCA reports that it spent $9.8m (23% of reported program spending) on Socio-economic Well-being in 2024. It states that 9% of people live below the poverty line in Calgary. The charity helps improve people’s financial and living situations. UWCA supported 87 programs and collaboratives in 2024. It helped 120,073 people.
UWCA reports it spent $9.4m (22% of reported program spending) on Healthy Relationships in 2024. It states that 59% of Calgarians are concerned about high rates of domestic violence. The charity helps people form positive relationships. UWCA supported 81 programs and collaboratives in 224. It helped 114,796 people.
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Results and Impact
UWCA states that in 2024, 90% of participants surveyed in UWCA funded programs experienced improved quality of life. The charity also provides a breakdown by focus area, as follows:
- 91% of Social Inclusion participants reported their quality of life improved.
- 93% of Mental Health participants reported their quality of life improved.
- 84% of Socio-economic Well-being participants reported their quality of life improved.
- 85% of Healthy Relationships participants reported their quality of life improved.
While Ci highlights these key results, they may not completely represent United Way of Calgary and Area’s results and impact.
Charity Intelligence has not yet rated UWCA on impact (n/r). This does not affect the star rating.
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Finances
United Way of Calgary and Area’s audited financial statements follow line-item costing, which is not a best practice. This means it does not clearly differentiate program, administrative, and fundraising costs.
In 2024 UWCA received $44.1m in donations. It also received $5.8m in government funding. Government funding is 10% of total revenue.
Administrative costs are 2% of revenues (excluding investment income). Fundraising costs are 16% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 18%. For every dollar donated, 82 cents are available to go to the cause. This falls within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.
UWCA spent $42.2m on its programs and grants in 2024, which is 80% of its revenue (excluding donor designated grants). In 2024 it had a surplus of $2.3m.
United Way of Calgary and Area has $94.8m in reserve funds (cash and investments). Excluding $4.8m in donor-endowed funds, the net funding reserves can cover 214%, or two years and one month of program costs.
This charity report is an update that has been sent for review to United Way of Calgary and Area. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.
Updated on June 10, 2025, by Grady Simpson.
Financial Review
Fiscal year ending December
|
2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative costs as % of revenues | 1.9% | 1.1% | 7.1% |
| Fundraising costs as % of donations | 16.4% | 12.7% | 5.2% |
| Total overhead spending | 18.3% | 13.8% | 12.3% |
| Program cost coverage (%) | 214.5% | 194.9% | 216.5% |
Summary Financial StatementsAll figures in $000s |
2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donations | 44,067 | 52,654 | 54,937 |
| Government funding | 5,764 | 9,646 | 2,120 |
| Investment income | 6,938 | 5,978 | (6,407) |
| Other income | 136 | 174 | 305 |
| Total revenues | 56,905 | 68,452 | 50,955 |
| Program costs | 7,113 | 6,942 | 6,972 |
| Grants | 35,071 | 39,263 | 29,791 |
| Donor-designated donations | 4,217 | 4,364 | 6,965 |
| Administrative costs | 971 | 693 | 4,091 |
| Fundraising costs | 7,212 | 6,691 | 2,834 |
| Total spending | 54,584 | 57,953 | 50,653 |
| Cash flow from operations | 2,321 | 10,499 | 302 |
| Capital spending | 1,368 | 1,176 | 693 |
| Funding reserves | 94,750 | 94,041 | 83,224 |
Note: Deferred adjustment: UWCA uses deferred accounting. To show donors information on a consistent basis, Ci adjusted for these deferred revenues. This affected revenue by ($365k) in 2024, $8.4m in 2023, and $4.9m in 2022. Investment Income: Ci included realized and unrealized gains in investment income. This affected revenues by $5.1m in 2024, $3.7m in 2023, and ($8.4m) in 2022. Endowment contributions: Ci included endowment contributions in donations. This affected revenue by $8k in 2024, $5k in 2023, and $89k in 2022. Deferred sponsorship: Ci adjusted for deferred sponsorships. This affected revenues by $25k in 2024, ($21k) in 2023, and $71k in 2022. Amortization: Ci removed amortization on a pro rata basis from program and fundraising & administrative costs in 2024, 2023, and 2022. T3010: The most recent T3010 filing available at the time of this update was from 2023.
Salary Information
$350k + |
1 |
$300k - $350k |
0 |
$250k - $300k |
0 |
$200k - $250k |
2 |
$160k - $200k |
7 |
$120k - $160k |
0 |
$80k - $120k |
0 |
$40k - $80k |
0 |
< $40k |
0 |
Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2023
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Comments & Contact
Comments added by the Charity:
Learn More:
United Way Calgary and Area's 2024 Annual Report
United Way Calgary and Area's 2024 Annual Report Appendix
Charity Contact
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 403-231-6265