Trellis Society for Community Impact is a 4-star rated charity. It has above average results reporting and its overhead costs are within Ci’s reasonable range. The charity has $13.3m in reserve funds which can cover six months of annual program costs.

Founded in 2020, Trellis Society for Community Impact (Trellis Society) supports youth and families in the Calgary Area. The charity was created following the amalgamation of Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary and Aspen Family & Community Network Society. The charity’s programs focus on improving access to resources, developing support for communities and families and building resiliency against life’s challenges. Trellis Society strives for a world where everyone reaches their full potential. The charity’s programs fit into three main categories: Economic Stability, Mental Health & Wellbeing, and Belonging & Connection. Trellis Society does not provide a breakdown of how much it spends in each of these areas. In F2022, Trellis Society for Community Impact states that it directly served 5,902 individuals.

Economic Stability encompasses programs focused on stable housing, employment, income, basic needs, education and equitable access to resources. Trellis Society reports that it has received a surge in calls from families struggling with basic needs in F2022, many of whom have never needed financial help before. The charity adds that on a given night in Calgary, over 270 youths experience homelessness. In F2022, Trellis Society employed 276 youths and supported 254 students in completing high school. The charity’s Home Stay program provides financial support and resources for families facing eviction, financial instability or who have recently become homeless. In F2022, the program worked directly with 205 families and provided 350 instances of diversion support for people at risk of homelessness. Trellis Society’s youth shelter, Avenue 15, provides housing and basic needs to homeless youth aged 12 to 17. It also supports youth in reuniting with their families or finding alternative shelter. In F2022, Avenue 15 housed 2,800 bed nights and served 144 youths. The charity observed that 23 of these 144 youths were responsible for over half of the bed nights. To address youth with more complex needs facing chronic homelessness, Trellis Society introduced its Boreal housing program. The charity offers many other housing programs that cater to specific situations such as youth leaving foster care, Indigenous youth and LGBTQ2S+ youth.

Mental Health & Wellbeing focuses on social and emotional skills, healing from trauma, child and youth wellbeing and mental health. In F2022, 186 youths received counselling support from Trellis Society’s programs. The charity’s Ready, Set, Go! preschool programs help young children learn through play. Although the charity does not report the number of attendees in F2022, it states that 70 children attended preschool programs in F2021 and 282 children took advantage of after school programs and clubs. Trellis Society’s Hera program focuses on education for girls at risk of sexual exploitation to help them move forward in a positive direction. The All in for Youth program strives to help kids succeed in high school. In F2021, the program operated in ten high schools and served 254 youths.

Belonging and connection focuses on building relationships, cultural connections, family cohesion and feelings of belonging in the community. The charity reports that studies show significant settlement challenges for newcomer youth, making them vulnerable to social isolation, poverty and depression. It adds that Albera has the fourth highest youth newcomer rate in the country. In F2022, the charity’s Community Development and Family Resource Network team held 151 community events, which had 2,628 attendees. Trellis Society’s Circle Keepers supported 133 cultural ceremonies for program participants. The charity’s Community Development team strives to empower residents in vulnerable communities, by creating supports and community resources for them. The charity’s 1000 Voices program includes over 60 community groups and service providers and provides a space for building communities and connections. The Building Youth Connections program supports youth newcomers to help them be self-sufficient and integrated adults. In F2021, the program served 212 youths. The charity also strives to create a space of reconciliation and inclusion for Indigenous communities and hosts multiple events to this end during the year.

Trellis Society is financially transparent. Its audited financial statements are publicly available on its website. However, the charity’s foundation, Trellis Foundation for Community Impact, does not post its financial statements online.

Ci consolidated the financial position of Trellis Society and Trellis Foundation for Community Impact.

In F2022, Trellis Society for Community Impact received donations of $14.9m. It also received $31k in donated goods-in-kind. It received $16.8m from the government, representing 47% of total revenue. Administrative costs are 12% of revenues (excluding investment income) and fundraising costs are 5% of donations. This results in overhead spending of 16%, which means that for every dollar donated, 84 cents are available for programs. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

Combined, Trellis Society and the foundation have $13.3m in reserve funds, once $817k in interest-bearing debt is accounted for. The net reserve funds can cover 50% or six months of annual program costs.

­­This charity report is an update that has been sent to Trellis Society for Community Impact for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on August 31, 2023 by Victoria Allder.