Bissell Centre is a three-star charity with best practices in financial transparency. It has a B+ results reporting grade which is above average. For every dollar donated to the charity, 68 cents are available to go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

Founded in 1910, Bissell Centre (BSC) helps eliminate poverty and homelessness in Edmonton through essential services and support programs. The charity shares its 2023-2028 Strategic Plan that aims to end poverty through improved services, reconciliation, systemic change, and sustainability. BSC has three main program areas: Individual, Family, and Community. In F2024, the charity spent $15.2m on its programs. Bissell Centre did not provide a spending breakdown of its programs on its website.

BSC offers nine programs for Individuals, including housing, employment services, and support for people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). In F2024, its Community Bridge program helped 566 individuals across 266 households prevent eviction. The Outreach Housing Team connected 1,722 individuals with housing resources. BSC’s Financial Empowerment Services supported 2,321 people with tax services, and returned $1,439,445 to the community in tax refunds. Bissell Centre’s Hope Terrace Supportive Housing provided year-round support services for 34 residents with FASD through 4,384 home visits.

The Family programs offer two main services to families: Early Childhood Development and a Basic Needs Program. The childcare program provides full-time childcare to families for a fee, and free temporary childcare to low-income families. In F2024, it helped 92 families and 189 children through 6,337 visits.

The Community program mainly provides wellness, arts, educational, and recreational activities for inner-city youth at the Bissell Centre. It also supports the Bissell Thrift Shop at two locations in Edmonton.

In F2024, Bissell Centre received $3.8m in donations. It also received $11.9m in government funding (62% of revenues), $1.4m in fees for service (7% of revenues), and $1.9m in business activity income (10% of revenues).

Administrative costs are 3% of total revenue and fundraising costs are 29% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 32%. For every dollar donated to the charity, 69 cents are available to go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. Bissell Centre does not report administrative expenses separately on its audited financial statements or T3010 filing with the CRA. Ci reported office and general expenses as an administrative expense. As a result, administrative expenses may be underreported for all years of analysis. 

Bissell Centre has $14.4m in reserve funds, these are its cash and investments. The charity can cover almost one year of current annual program costs with its existing reserves. In F2024, BSC recorded a surplus of $2.1m (11% of revenues) and spent $401k on capital expenditures.

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

Updated on August 16, 2024 by Alexia Tudose.