Founded in 1965, United Way Winnipeg (UWW) grants funds to local charities to improve lives and build a stronger community in Winnipeg. The charity reports that one in four children in Winnipeg lives in poverty, and in Winnipeg’s poorest neighbourhoods, up to 40% of students are not graduating from high school.

In F2020, UWW granted $20.3m to 103 non-profit organizations plus an additional $1.1m in donor-designated grants. UWW’s three granting programs are: All That Kids Can Be, Poverty to Possibility, and Healthy People, Strong Communities. According to the charity, programs funded under the All That Kids Can Be program affected the lives of more than 80,000 youth at 36 partner agencies in F2020. Programs funded include 12 counselling and crisis intervention programs, 41 out-of-school and summer programs, and 28 leadership and mentoring programs. In F2019, UWW highlights its work reducing mental health stigma through connecting kids with 444 more mentors and 3,188 youth learning. 2,500 children improved their coping skills.

According to UWW, 50% of people have said that low income is a barrier to finding housing. In F2020, UWW’s Poverty to Possibility program funded a total of 22 agencies, 13 life and employment skills/social enterprise programs, and 12 asset building, money management and financial inclusion programs. The charity reports that these programs affected the lives of 30,000 Winnipeg residents in F2020. In F2019, UWW highlights providing financial literacy training and money management skills through the Manitoba Financial Empowerment Network to 53,000 people with almost 300 people opening a bank account.

UWW reports that more families are struggling both socially and economically. These families rely on services such as family resource centres to provide them with necessities so they can focus on long-term success. In F2020, UWW’s Healthy People, Strong Communities program funded 61 agencies, 39 community development programs, ten development programs, 29 life-skills and access-to-resources programs, and 62 counselling, wellness and education programs. The charity reports that these programs helped more than 225,000 people in F2020. In 2019, UWW supported 24 resource centres that helped families complete 263 tax returns with $1.2m in refunds and benefits. In F2020, families filed 1,576 tax returns with over $4.8m in refunds and benefits.

In 2020, UWW rallied the community in its Koats for Kids and distributed 1,096 winter boots, 4,332 winter jackets, along with thousands of ski pants, toques, mitts and scarves.

United Way Winnipeg is a Major 100 charity, meaning it is one of Canada’s largest charities in terms of donations. The charity received $27.9m in donations and $4.5m in government funding. Administrative costs are 3% of revenues and fundraising costs are 17% of donations. For every dollar donated, 80 cents go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

UWW reports it has a unique funding agreement with the province. Provincial funding of $4.5m mostly offsets UWW's fundraising and administrative costs of $5.7m. Charity Intelligence's analysis takes a holistic approach.

United Way Winnipeg’s total funding reserves of $37.4m can cover 1.5 years of annual program costs.

In 2020, United Way Winnipeg granted $20.3m to 103 Winnipeg charities and non-profits (average grant size $197k). The 10 largest grantees received $6.9m of total grants, 34%. Some of United Way Winnipeg’s largest grants, as reported are as follows: $1.1m to Manitoba Possible, $1.1m to Family Dynamics, $902k to SEED Winnipeg, $866k to NorWest Co-op Community Health, $607k to Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre, $577k to Boys and Girls Club of Winnipeg, $463k to CMHA Manitoba and Winnipeg, $443k to Community Education Development Association, $430k to A&O Support Services for Older Adults and $425k to CNIB.

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

Updated on August 6, 2020 by Tenzin Shomar. Following management comments, edits made on November 16, 2020 by Kate Bahen.