United Way Greater Toronto is a 4-star charity. It is financially transparent and has reasonable overhead costs. It has an average results reporting grade. With its current funding reserves, the charity can cover one year and three months of annual program costs.   

Founded in 1956, United Way Greater Toronto (UWGT) fundraises from communities and grants to local agencies to fight poverty, improve social conditions, and drive change. It supports people across Peel, Toronto, and York Region. In 2015, United Way Toronto merged with United Way York Region. In 2018 it merged with United Way of Peel Region. UWGT primarily grants to local charities, working with over 300 community agencies to deliver programs. It also conducts research to identify causes of poverty and inequality in the GTA and works with local organizations to find solutions to such issues.

UWGT has spending relating to community services and program support, which include the costs for management, oversight and distribution of its grants, as well as administration costs for government programs. Total grants in F2025 were $104.6m. These include $69.5m in community investments that UWGT divides as follows: $60.9m for Community Services Sector, $3.0m for Inclusive Employment, $2.7m for Inclusive Communities, $2.1m for Strategic Initiatives and $800k for Community Real Estate. There is also $23.2m for donations designated by donors for specific charities but facilitated by United Way. Additionally, $8.1m in grants went to programs and organizations supported by government grants and $3.8m went to programs and organizations supported by restricted gifts. 

UWGT’s largest Community Service Sector grants in F2025 include: $2.7m to Family Service Toronto, $1.5m to Jewish Family and Child Service Program, $1.3m to The Neighbourhood Group, $1.3m to YWCA Toronto, and $1.2m to Canadian Red Cross – Toronto Region.  

UWGT reports reaching 1.8 million people in F2025 through over 700 programs delivered by over 300 agencies. The charity reports it has 9 community hubs across the GTA which had 5.8 million visitors in F2025. UWGT adds that it helped 150,000 people access culturally appropriate food and helped over 30,000 people access housing support. In addition, UWGT reports that the Inclusive Local Economic Opportunity (ILEO) program provided 1,544 employability support interactions since 2021.

United Way Greater Toronto is a Major 100 charity with donations of $134.3m in F2025. The charity received $10.8m in government funding, representing 7% of total revenues. Government funding decreased by 63% from $29.4m in F2024.  In F2024, UWGT received $15.5m in government funding through the Community Services Recovery Fund, which supports institutions in recovering from the short- and long-term impacts of COVID-19. By comparison, it received $351k from this fund in F2025 and $248k in F2023. 

Fundraising and administrative costs are 18% of total revenues (less investment income). This means that total overhead costs were 18% in F2025. For every dollar donated, 82 cents were available for programs. This falls within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.  

In F2025, UWGT spent $81.4m on grants, which is 63% of total revenues, less donor-designated grants. Its cost to research and manage these grants was $15.9m, representing 19% of grants, on top of other overhead costs. In F2025, the charity had an operating surplus of $6.1m, 4% of revenues, and capital expenditures of $2.1m.   

United Way Greater Toronto has $154.0m in reserve funds, of which $35.0m is donor endowed. Reserve funds are the charity's cash and investments. Excluding donor-endowed funds, the charity could cover one year and three months of annual program and grant spending.   

This charity report is an update that has been sent to United Way Greater Toronto for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.  

Updated on November 18, 2025 by Victoria Allder.