Youth Empowerment and Support Services
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.
B
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.
54%
CENTS TO THE CAUSE
For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 54 cents are available for programs.
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OVERVIEW
About Youth Empowerment and Support Services:
Youth Empowerment and Support Services is a 3-star financially transparent charity. It has an average results reporting score of B. For every dollar donated, 54 cents are available to go towards the cause. Its reserve funds can cover just over one year of annual program costs.
Founded in 1981, Youth Empowerment and Support Services (YESS), formally Youth Emergency Shelter Society, supports youths in crisis in Edmonton. The charity states that crises can happen anytime, and youth need a place to stabilize and sleep during the day. YESS runs two main programs: 24/7 Shelter, and Programs and Resources. In fiscal 2025 (year ended March), Youth Empowerment and Support Services spent $3.4m on its programs. The charity did not provide a program spending breakdown.
Youth Empowerment and Support Services operates a 16-bed 24/7 Shelter for youth between the ages of 15-21. The shelter provides beds and basic needs like food, clothing, showers, school supplies, and packed lunches. In F2025, the charity reported having an average stay of 16 days.
The charity’s Resources and Programs provide youth with medical care, addictions and mental health counselling, and help with housing resources. In June 2023, YESS moved its Armoury Building services to its Whyte Ave, Edmonton Location. The Whyte building is the same building as the 24/7 Shelter. YESS consolidated these services as there was a decline in attendance at the Armoury Building.
In F2025, Youth Empowerment and Support Services served 1,085 youths, a 21% increase from F2024. Of these youths, 50% were between the ages of 18-20, 51% identified as Indigenous, and 50% were male.
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Results and Impact
In 2022, YESS was awarded the Circle’s True Imagination Award for its Cohort Transitional Residence Pilot Project. This program successfully helped more than 40 youths transition to independent housing.
While Ci highlights this key result, it may not be a complete representation of Youth Empowerment and Support Services’ results and impact.
This charity is not yet rated on impact (n/r).
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Finances
In F2025, YESS received $3.2m in donations and special events revenue, an 18% decrease from the $3.9m received in F2024. In F2025, the charity also received $93k in government funding. Administrative costs are 21% of total revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 25% of total donations. For every dollar donated, 54 cents are available to go towards the cause. This is outside of Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. In F2025, YESS spent $3.4m on its programs which represents 68% of total revenues.
In F2025, Youth Empowerment and Support Services had $3.6m in its reserve funds. These reserve funds can cover just over one year of annual program costs. At the time of this update, the charity’s 2025 T3010 filings with the CRA were not available. The compensation reflects the 2024 information. Updates may be forthcoming once the 2025 information is released.
Profile updated on July 22, 2025 by Abby Stout.
Financial Review
Fiscal year ending March
|
2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative costs as % of revenues | 21.0% | 18.4% | 21.0% |
| Fundraising costs as % of donations | 25.0% | 21.9% | 22.5% |
| Total overhead spending | 46.0% | 40.2% | 43.4% |
| Program cost coverage (%) | 107.0% | 94.7% | 71.6% |
Summary Financial StatementsAll figures in $000s |
2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donations | 3,218 | 3,796 | 3,117 |
| Government funding | 93 | 252 | 941 |
| Fees for service | 1,271 | 1,280 | 1,011 |
| Lotteries (net) | 123 | 40 | 112 |
| Special events | 378 | 197 | 446 |
| Investment income | 311 | 655 | (70) |
| Other income | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Total revenues | 5,393 | 6,220 | 5,560 |
| Program costs | 3,389 | 3,700 | 4,033 |
| Administrative costs | 1,069 | 1,021 | 1,180 |
| Fundraising costs | 898 | 872 | 801 |
| Total spending | 5,356 | 5,593 | 6,013 |
| Cash flow from operations | 37 | 627 | (453) |
| Capital spending | 0 | 70 | 118 |
| Funding reserves | 3,627 | 3,502 | 2,888 |
Note: DEFERRED CAPITAL CONTRIBUITONS: YESS uses deferred accounting. To report on a cash basis, Ci adjusted for deferred capital contributions affecting total revenues by ($445k) in F2025, ($140k) in F2024, and ($104k) in F2023. DEFERRED CASINO REVENUE: Ci adjusted for deferred casino revenue affecting total revenues by $112k in F2025, ($31k) in F2024, and $44k in F2023. DEFERRED GOVERNMENT REVENUE: Ci adjusted for deferred revenue from governmental sources affecting total revenues by ($213k) in F2025, ($22k) in F2024, and $379k in F2023. DEFERRED DONATIONS: Ci adjusted for deferred donations affecting total revenues by ($104k) in F2025, $75k in F2024, and ($112k) in F2023. BELOW THE LINE REVENUE: Ci adjusted for below the line recognition of revenue for lease improvements affecting total revenues by $401k in F2025, $89k in F2024, and ($249k) in F2023.
Salary Information
$350k + |
0 |
$300k - $350k |
0 |
$250k - $300k |
0 |
$200k - $250k |
0 |
$160k - $200k |
0 |
$120k - $160k |
1 |
$80k - $120k |
3 |
$40k - $80k |
6 |
< $40k |
0 |
Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2024
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Comments & Contact
Comments added by the Charity:
Charity Contact
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 780-468-7070