United Way of Fort McMurray

1 C.A. Knight Way
Fort McMurray, AB T9H 5C5
Board President: Nichole Rymes
Executive Director: Cathy Steves

Charitable Reg. #:11926 0495 RR0001

STAR RATING

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

[Charity Rating: 4/5]

✔+

FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY

Audited financial statements for current and previous years available on the charity’s website.

B+

RESULTS REPORTING

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

n/r

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.

73%

CENTS TO THE CAUSE

For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 73 cents are available for programs.



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OVERVIEW

About United Way of Fort McMurray:

United Way Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo is a 4-star charity. It is financially transparent, has reasonable overhead costs, and has an above average results reporting grade. The charity has $8.5m in reserve funds, which can cover two years and eight months of program costs. 

Founded in 1978, United Way Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo (UWFM), formerly United Way of Fort McMurray, grants funds to local charities to improve lives and build a stronger community in Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. The charity’s three granting programs are: Healthy People Strong Communities, All That Kids Can Be and From Poverty to Possibility. In F2022, its three largest grant recipients were Pastew Place Detoxification Centre ($388k), Salvation Army ($320k), St Aidan’s House Society ($221k).

Healthy People Strong Communities

United Way Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo reports that 13 people in the Wood Buffalo region died of drug overdose in 2020. It adds that Community Mental Health services are highly sought after in the North zone and that social isolation affects the health of 30% of elderly people. As part of its Healthy People Strong Communities program, UWFM invests in programs that help communities by improving equity, connections and overall well-being. In F2022, Pastew Place supported 128 individuals in pre-treatment programs and transitioned 109 clients from pre-treatment to residential treatment centres. St Aidan’s Society delivered 282 Christmas Support Packages to seniors in Fort McMurray, Fort McKay, Anzac, and Fort Chipewyan. Waypoints Community Services Association (granted $122k by UWFM) provided 1,244 hours of counselling to sexual violence survivors.

Poverty to Possibility

United Way Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo explains that poverty is a complex issue and its cycle is hard to break. It states that 15% of Wood Buffalo residents are at risk of homelessness. UWFM invests in programs that provide food, shelter, and other services under its From Poverty to Possibility program. In F2022, The Salvation Army provided 18,253 bag lunches to people facing food insecurity. Centre of Hope (granted $188k by UWFM) served 204 individuals through the Outreach Program and completed 85 tax returns for 52 unique clients.

Helping Kids Be All They Can Be

The charity reports that only 83% of Alberta high school students complete high school within three to five years of entering grade ten. It adds that only 35% of children are developing appropriately in all areas of development. Under its Helping Kids Be All They Can Be program, UWFM supports initiatives that ensure children and youth can thrive. In F2022, Some Other Solutions Society for crisis prevention (granted $193k by UWFM) provided 133 on-to-one mentoring sessions for 39 young people and reached 63 youth through the Community Helpers program. The Hub family resource centre (granted $215k by UWFM) facilitated 111 safe exchanges for children to change caregivers in a stress-free environment. The charity’s Tools for Schools program with Staples provided 250 backpacks to students in the region in F2022.

UWFM also owns and operates The Redpoll Centre. The United Way subleases space to sports, arts, culture and social profit organizations.

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Results and Impact

In F2022, Wood’s Homes transitioned 37 youth back into family homes. Support Through Housing Team transitioned four Centennial House clients into the community and secured housing for five outreach clients. The Children’s Centre reports that 53 healthy babies were born to moms attending its programs. Safe Community Wood Buffalo trained ten new certified passenger seat technicians through its program.

While Charity Intelligence highlights these results, this may not be a complete representation of United Way Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo's results and impact.

UWFM is not yet rated for demonstrated impact (n/r).

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Finances

United Way Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo is financially transparent. Its audited financial statements are publicly available on its website.

United Way Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo received $2.8m in donations in F2022. Fundraising costs are 18% of total donations and administrative costs are 9% of revenues (excluding investment income). This results in total overhead spending of 27%, meaning that for each dollar donated, 73 cents are available for programs. This is within Ci's reasonable range for overhead spending.

United Way Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo has $8.5m in reserve funds, which can cover two years and eight months of program and grant expenses.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to United Way of Fort McMurray. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated July 11, 2023 by Victoria Allder.

Financial Review


Financial Ratios

Fiscal year ending December
202220212020
Administrative costs as % of revenues 8.8%5.6%6.9%
Fundraising costs as % of donations 18.1%14.3%6.3%
Total overhead spending 26.9%19.9%13.2%
Program cost coverage (%) 270.8%305.2%192.8%

Summary Financial Statements

All figures in $s
202220212020
Donations 2,860,3694,135,7524,799,931
Government funding 020,0008,250
Business activities (net) (83,768)(3,269)27,351
Investment income (375,452)536,495236,144
Other income 321,38300
Total revenues 2,722,5324,688,9785,071,676
Program costs 187,351293,890183,431
Grants 2,961,7382,998,0164,747,089
Donor-designated donations 154,797162,021251,490
Administrative costs 273,542230,353333,429
Fundraising costs 516,691592,236300,833
Total spending 4,094,1194,276,5165,816,272
Cash flow from operations (1,371,587)412,462(744,596)
Capital spending 015,4093,116
Funding reserves 8,528,15710,045,8819,505,653

Note: Ci reported Redpoll Centre revenue and expenses as net revenues under business activities, affecting total revenues and expenses by ($373k) in F2022, ($386k) in F2021 and ($340k) in F2020. Ci adjusted for non-government deferred donations, affecting revenue by ($142k) in F2022, ($110k) in F2021 and $25k in F2020. Ci reported unrealized gains on investment as revenue, affecting investment income and total revenues by ($808k) in F2022, $373k in F2021 and $98k in F2020. Ci backed out amortization from fundraising and administrative expenses based on the cost allocation provided in the financial statements. Ci reported expenses associated with Community Investment Process, Community Building, Tools For School, Personal Support Network, and Poverty Reduction as program expenses. Ci reporting United Way Dues as an administrative cost. Ci reported administrative expenses associated with Fire Recovery grants as administrative costs. 

Salary Information

Full-time staff: 20

Avg. compensation: $30,525

Top 10 staff salary range:

$350k +
0
$300k - $350k
0
$250k - $300k
0
$200k - $250k
0
$160k - $200k
0
$120k - $160k
1
$80k - $120k
1
$40k - $80k
2
< $40k
6

Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2022

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Comments & Contact

Comments added by the Charity:

No comments have been added by the charity.

Charity Contact

Website: www.fmunidedway.com
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Charitable Registration Number: 80340 7956 RR0001