North York Harvest Food Bank is a 4-star, financially transparent charity with an Average impact rating and an average B results reporting grade. It has a reasonably sized reserve of cash and investments and 22% overhead spending. For every dollar donated, 78 cents are available to go to the cause.

Founded in 1986 and operating in Toronto, North York Harvest Food Bank (NYH) distributes food to individuals and 38 partner organizations such as other food banks, churches, and community health centres. The charity reports 49% (155,000) of its clients in 2024 are first-time food bank users because of the rising cost of living. Because of rising demand, NYH is planning to relocate to a new warehouse with larger loading docks and more storage capacity.

NYH runs two programs: food distributed to individuals and agency support. It spent $5.6m on its programs in the August 2024 (F2024) fiscal year.

Food to individuals was 55% ($3.1m) of its program spending. In F2024, NYH distributed food to 316,681 people (9% increase from 291,725 in F2023) across four locations. At the time of this profile update, NYH did not report the value or pounds of food distributed in F2024. Charity Intelligence (Ci) checked its audited financial statements, T3010 filings with the CRA, and F2024 annual report for this crucial information.

Agency network support was 45% ($2.5m) of its program spending and includes both food delivered to, and training provided for, its agency network. NYH supported 38 partner organizations who ran over 77 food programs thanks to the assistance provided by NYH. The charity also sells food to organizations outside its agency network. In F2024, NYH completed 937 food deliveries to 135 organizations who purchased food from the charity.

North York Harvest Food Bank’s audited statements follow activity-based costing – a best practice. This means its financial statements clearly separate program, administrative, and fundraising costs.

In F2024, NYH received $4.8m in cash donations and special events revenue (61% of total revenue). It also received $1.7m in revenue from the food it sold to organizations (fees for service) which is 22% of revenue in F2024. The charity also received $943k worth of government funding (12% of revenue).

Administrative costs are just over 4% of total revenue less investment income and fundraising costs are 18% of donations. Its 22% total overhead spending means that for every dollar donated, 78 cents are available to go to the cause, which is within Ci’s reasonable range.

North York Harvest Food Bank did not report the value of donated food received or used in its programs during F2024 in any publicly available information at the time of this profile update. This is unusual for charities in this sector.

NYH spent $5.6m on its programs in F2024 – a 24% increase from $4.5m spent on programs and grants distributed to its agency network in F2023.

At the end of F2024, NYH had $2.8m worth of reserve funds (cash and investments) that can cover 50% or six months of its annual program spending.

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