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.
High
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.
80%
CENTS TO THE CAUSE
For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 80 cents are available for programs.
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OVERVIEW
About The Compass:
The Compass is a 5-star rated charity with High demonstrated impact. It has above average disclosure with an A grade for results reporting. Its overhead spending and funding reserves are within Ci’s reasonable range.
A Charity Intelligence 2025 Top 100 Rated Charity.
Founded in 2002, The Compass (formally known as Lakeshore Community Outreach Centre) is a Christian food bank that also runs community programs in south Mississauga. It distributes groceries and prepared meals to people in need. According to the charity, the number of households it serves and the number of food bank visits both tripled over the last five years. One in 13 Mississauga households now uses a food bank, up from 1 in 37 five years ago.
The Compass runs two program groups: food distribution and community programs. In 2025, it spent $920k on its programs and distributed $1.1m worth of donated food and clothing. The charity did not provide any further breakdown of its program spending.
Food Distribution is The Compass's main program area. It distributes groceries and serves prepared meals to people in need in south Mississauga. In 2025, it distributed 954,958 lb of food and served 84,381 meals across 42,222 food bank visits. It served 5,333 unique individuals during the year. By 2026, The Compass aims to distribute 1,145,949 lb of food to 6,133 individuals.
Community Programs includes The Compass's tax clinic, children's camp, school supplies program, winter clothing program and Christmas gift card campaign. In 2025, the tax clinic filed 486 tax returns. The summer camp ran 135 weeks of programming for 77 campers. The charity distributed school supplies to 486 children and provided winter clothing to 97 people experiencing homelessness. Its Christmas gift card campaign supported 1,075 households.
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Results and Impact
In 2025, The Compass distributed 954,958 lb of food to 5,333 unique clients. Each client received 179 lb on average, or 23 lb per visit. This compares to 154 lb per client in 2024 and 156 lb in 2023.
The tax clinic filed 486 returns and returned $690,999 to clients through refunds and tax credits. This is an average of $1,422 per return.
While Charity Intelligence highlights these key results, they may not completely represent The Compass’ results and impact.
Charity Intelligence has given The Compass a High impact rating. This is based on its demonstrated social impact per dollar spent.
Impact Rating: High
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Finances
In 2025, The Compass had $2.8m in total revenues. Donations were $991k or 35% of revenues. Donated goods (food and clothing) accounted for $1.1m or 40% of revenues. Government funding was $499k or 18% of revenues. In 2025, the charity spent $920k on its programs. This is 54% of revenues less donated goods.
In 2025, administrative costs were $244k or 9% of revenues (less investment income). Fundraising costs were $130k or 11% of donations. For every dollar donated to the charity, 80 cents are available to go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.
As of 2025, the charity has $1.8m in cash and investments. All its investments are held in GICs. Its reserves can cover 2 years of its annual program costs. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.
Profile updated by Raihan Firosh on August 12, 2026. Comments and corrections may be forthcoming.
Financial Review
Fiscal year ending December
|
2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative costs as % of revenues | 8.8% | 9.6% | 5.1% |
| Fundraising costs as % of donations | 11.2% | 11.6% | 6.7% |
| Total overhead spending | 20.0% | 21.2% | 11.7% |
| Program cost coverage (%) | 200.1% | 168.7% | 197.8% |
Summary Financial StatementsAll figures in $s |
2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donations | 991,351 | 563,053 | 547,451 |
| Goods in kind | 1,120,327 | 936,164 | 953,929 |
| Government funding | 499,192 | 236,153 | 52,415 |
| Special events | 166,778 | 346,704 | 208,272 |
| Investment income | 42,133 | 51,646 | 36,095 |
| Total revenues | 2,819,781 | 2,133,720 | 1,798,162 |
| Program costs | 920,252 | 849,003 | 729,866 |
| Donated goods exp | 1,120,330 | 936,164 | 953,929 |
| Administrative costs | 243,897 | 200,484 | 88,900 |
| Fundraising costs | 130,196 | 105,142 | 50,623 |
| Total spending | 2,414,672 | 2,090,793 | 1,823,318 |
| Cash flow from operations | 405,109 | 42,927 | (25,156) |
| Capital spending | 162,273 | 19,874 | 41,881 |
| Funding reserves | 1,841,418 | 1,432,538 | 1,443,678 |
Note: 1. DEFERRED DONATIONS: Since The Compass follows deferred accounting, Ci adjusted donations for changes in deferred contributions to clearly show donors the year-to-year movement of cash within the charity. This affected total revenue by ($6k) in 2025, $6k in 2024, and $nil in 2023.2. DEFERRED GOVERNMENT GRANTS: Ci adjusted government funding for changes in deferred government grants, affecting total revenue by $48k in 2025, ($4k) in 2024, and $30k in 2023. 3. DONATIONS RECEIVABLE: Ci adjusted donations for changes in donations receivable, affecting total revenue by $132k in 2025, ($37k) in 2024, and ($79k) in 2023.4. LINE-ITEM COSTING: Since the Compass followed line-item costing for 2023, Ci referred to its T3010 filings with the CRA to help report program, administrative, and fundraising costs for 2023.
Salary Information
$350k + |
0 |
$300k - $350k |
0 |
$250k - $300k |
0 |
$200k - $250k |
0 |
$160k - $200k |
0 |
$120k - $160k |
0 |
$80k - $120k |
0 |
$40k - $80k |
4 |
< $40k |
3 |
Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2025
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Comments & Contact
Comments added by the Charity:
Comment added on August 12th 2026:
The need in our community remains at an unprecedented level. Since 2019, the number of people seeking support from The Compass Food Bank & Outreach Centre has tripled, and today more than 2,000 people rely on us each week. In 2025, we served 5,333 individuals through 42,222 food bank visits, distributed 954,958 lbs. of food and served 84,381 nutritious hot meals. One in three of the people we serve is a child.
But the story of 2025 is about much more than the amount of food we distributed. As the needs of our clients have become increasingly complex, The Compass has continued to evolve from a traditional food bank into a true Food Bank & Outreach Centre. Through our growing “Circle of Care” and network of community partners, we help people navigate housing, income supports, healthcare, employment, tax clinics and other essential services. In 2025, our partnering agencies supported 1,380 Compass clients.
None of this would be possible without an extraordinary community behind us. Our 453 active volunteers contributed 46,719 hours during the year, helping stock shelves, prepare and serve meals, support clients and create the welcoming, dignified environment that is at the heart of The Compass.
Our community's generosity was equally remarkable. Total revenues increased 22% to $2.646 million, donations increased 26%, and grant revenue more than doubled to over $548,000. At the same time, 85% of our expenditures went directly to operations and programming. Our 19th annual Walk the Walk also achieved a record result, raising $178,597 with the support of 312 walkers and our generous sponsors and donors.
We are deeply grateful to our volunteers, donors, member churches, community partners, staff and supporters who make this work possible. Together, we continue to provide not only food, but dignity, connection and practical support to neighbours experiencing food insecurity and homelessness in south Mississauga, living our mission of providing “Help for Today and Hope for Tomorrow.”
Charity Contact
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 905-274-9309