United Way Winnipeg is a 4-star charity. It is financially transparent and has reasonable overhead costs. It has an above-average results reporting grade, and with current reserves it can cover annual program costs for one year and ten months.

Founded in 1965, United Way Winnipeg (UWW) works to improve the lives of people in Winnipeg. The charity’s vision is a thriving community where everyone can reach their potential. UWW focuses on three main areas, listed below. Charity Intelligence calculates UWW spent $30.7m on its programs and grants in its fiscal year ending March 2025 (F2025). It also reports an additional $1.2m in donor-designated grants. Ci did not find a program spending breakdown in the charity’s annual report or on its website.

UWW funded 41 agencies as part of its All That Kids Can Be program. The charity reports that 20% of children in Manitoba live in poverty. This is the highest child poverty rate of any province. UWW funded 37 youth counselling and crisis intervention services in F2025. It also funded 33 out-of-school summer programs and 32 leadership programs. UWW funded six Huddle Youth Wellness Hubs (HYWHs) in F2025. HYWHs provide mental health care and youth services. The charity reports that youth visited HYWHs 24,551 times in F2025.

UWW funded 18 agencies as part of its From Poverty to Possibility program. The charity reports that 70% of job vacancies in Manitoba are low paying and low skilled. UWW funded 33 employment and life skills services in F2025. It also funded 24 agencies helping homeless people and 18 money management programs.

UWW funded 59 agencies as part of its Healthy People, Strong Communities program. The charity reports that over 10,000 Manitoba children are in care. Of those children, 90% are Indigenous. UWW funded 78 counseling, wellness, and education services in F2025. It also funded 59 family support services and 27 mental health and addiction services. The charity supports 24 family resource centres (FRCs). FRCs provide basic needs and community services for families. UWW reports that FRCs recorded over 410,000 visits in F2025.

United Way Winnipeg’s audited financial statements follow activity-based costing, a best practice. This means its differentiates its costs between program, administrative, and fundraising categories.

In F2025 UWW received $26.8m in donations. It also received $9.7m in government funding. Government funding is 24% of total revenue.

Administrative costs are 3% of revenues (excluding investment income). Fundraising costs are 20% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 23%. For every dollar donated, 77 cents are available to go to the cause. This falls within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

In F2025 UWW spent $30.7m on its programs and grants, which is 77% of its revenue (excluding donor-designated grants). In F2025 it had a surplus of $2.5m.

United Way Winnipeg has $56.9m in net reserve funds ($57.2m in cash and investments less $261k in interest-bearing debts). The reserves can cover 185%, or one year and ten months of program costs.

This charity report is an update that has been sent for review to United Way Winnipeg. Changes and edits may be forthcoming. 

Updated on July 3, 2025, by Grady Simpson.