29 Connell Court, Unit 3
Toronto, ON M8Z 5T7
Executive Director: Helen Harakas
Board Chair: Donna Cansfield

Charitable Reg. #:13540 1180 RR0001

STAR RATING

Ci's Star Rating is calculated based on the following independent metrics:

[Charity Rating: 2/5]

FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY

Most recent Audited financial statements available on the charity’s website.

D+

RESULTS REPORTING

Grade based on the charity's public reporting of the work it does and the results it achieves.

Low

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.

91%

CENTS TO THE CAUSE

For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 91 cents are available for programs.



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OVERVIEW

About Brands for Canada:

Brands for Canada is a 1-star rated charity that is not financially transparent, has below average accountability to donors as seen in the D+ results reporting grade, and has low demonstrated impact. For every dollar donated to this charity, 91 cents go to the cause. This is within Ci's reasonable range for overhead spending.

Incorporated in 1992 by the founders of Second Harvest, one of Canada's largest food banks, Brands for Canada Ontario (formerly known as Toronto Windfall Clothing Support Service) provides new donated clothing and other basic-needs items at no charge to people living in poverty. Brands for Canada (BFC) reports that 1 in 7 Canadians live below the poverty line and the majority of new unsold goods end up in landfills. BFC aims to serve the homeless, abused women and children, at-risk youth, immigrants and refugees, and people with physical or mental disabilities. Its office is in Toronto.

BFC reports to have received 232,012 lb of clothing, 166,935 lb of personal items, and 74 skids of products from 78 donors. Donated new clothing and personal care items are sorted by job training participants and volunteer groups. These items are collected from donors and participating brands across Canada and distributed through social service agencies and public schools to those in need.

The charity offers several job training programs. It provides personalized programs for people with special needs, Indigenous people, refugees and youth. BFC’s Suitable Impressions program is a full-day workshop that helps individuals who are looking to secure a job. It covers key areas such as first impressions training, health and wellness, credit and budgeting, confidence building, and networking. BFC’s Edge program provides training to adults with disabilities. 

BFC also runs a kids’ programs called United Hearts. The United Hearts program is in partnership with Toronto District School Board and Peel District School Board. It delivers boxes filled with new clothing and personal care items to schools in these areas.

 

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Results and Impact

BFC states that 97% of Edge program graduates report having gained decision making skills, self-confidence and optimism. 

Charity Intelligence has given Brands for Canada a Low impact rating based on demonstrated impact per dollar spent.

Impact Rating: Low

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Finances

Brands for Canada reported $2.0m in donations in F2021. BFC also received $560k in government funding. Administrative costs are 2% of total revenues and fundraising costs are 7% of total donations. For every dollar donated to the charity, 91 cents go toward program costs. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. Brands for Canada has funding reserves of $1.8m which can cover one year of annual program costs.

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

Updated on August 22, 2022 by Angelina Curwin.

Financial Review


Financial Ratios

Fiscal year ending March
202120202019
Administrative costs as % of revenues 1.9%2.1%15.1%
Fundraising costs as % of donations 6.7%5.8%36.4%
Total overhead spending 8.6%7.9%51.5%
Program cost coverage (%) 102.2%58.4%42.5%

Summary Financial Statements

All figures in $s
202120202019
Donations 2,016,0132,048,087290,475
Government funding 559,893437,250255,501
Fees for service 10,94017,84017,412
Special events 003,371
Investment income 18,15315,5866,702
Total revenues 2,604,9992,518,763573,461
Program costs 1,789,6861,884,9531,710,909
Administrative costs 48,45752,50485,830
Fundraising costs 135,152119,685106,908
Total spending 1,973,2952,057,1421,903,647
Cash flow from operations 631,704461,621(1,330,186)
Capital spending 000
Funding reserves 1,828,9991,100,379726,865

Note: Ci reports donations on a cash basis and has adjusted for deferred revenue, affecting donations by $606k in F2021, $297k in F2020, and ($1.2m) in F2019.

Salary Information

Full-time staff: 13

Avg. compensation: $63,094

Top 10 staff salary range:

$350k +
0
$300k - $350k
0
$250k - $300k
0
$200k - $250k
0
$160k - $200k
0
$120k - $160k
1
$80k - $120k
4
$40k - $80k
5
< $40k
0

Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2021

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Comments & Contact

Comments added by the Charity:

No comments have been added by the charity.

Charity Contact

Website: www.brandsforcanada.com
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 416-703-8435

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Charitable Registration Number: 80340 7956 RR0001