Note: DEFERRED ADJUSTMENT: The charity uses deferred accounting. To show donors this information on a consistent basis, Ci adjusted for these deferred revenues. This affected revenue by ($135k) in 2023, $31k in 2022, and ($421k) in 2021. ENDOWMENT CONTRIBUTIONS: Ci included endowment contributions in donations, affecting revenue by $14k in 2023, ($33k) in 2022, and $11k in 2021.

Comment provided by Easter Seals Ontario on September 12, 2024:

Easter Seals Ontario is dedicated to improving the lives of children, youth, and young adults with physical disabilities from all backgrounds. For more than 100 years, our organization has helped to empower these deserving young people by providing the resources and support they need to live with greater independence, freedom, and dignity. At the heart of our organization is the core belief that every child, regardless of their abilities, should have the chance to overcome obstacles and pursue their dreams. We also believe that the hardest limitations aren’t physical, and with the right resources and support, anything is possible. It’s these convictions that inspire each of our initiatives. 

As the longest-standing organization dedicated to serving children, youth, and young adults with physical disabilities in Canada, we take pride in our continued success in supporting these individuals through our range of programs and services. In 2023, both of our accessible and inclusive summer camps saw a return to in-person programming for a second consecutive summer after a pause related to the COVID-19 pandemic. While we were pleased to welcome over 450 camp participants throughout the summer, we have faced unprecedented obstacles in delivering our camp program due to the evolving circumstances of recent years. Acquiring the required staffing, resources, and healthcare support has become more challenging and led to an increase in costs associated with our camp program. Our team, however, remains committed to finding innovative solutions and leveraging community support to ensure our camps continue to offer enriching experiences for participants in the years ahead. 

In addition to our accessible and inclusive camp programs, Easter Seals Ontario also provides funding for accessibility and mobility equipment, offers post-secondary scholarships and youth ambassador opportunities, and leads advocacy and public awareness initiatives.  In order to generate the necessary revenue to sustain and deliver these programs and services, we continued to rely heavily on in-person fundraising events throughout 2023. With the committed efforts of our staff and volunteers, we successfully hosted 55 in-person fundraising events, bringing together local businesses, community organizations, and engaged individuals to drive positive change for those we serve. Fostering grassroots community partnerships was a foundation of Easter Seals and today, we still believe it’s one of the most effective ways to spark visible and lasting change. Our events not only raise much-needed funds to support our mission, but they also help to raise awareness about the experiences of individuals with disabilities and the critical need to create more accessible, inclusive, and equitable communities. Unfortunately, in 2023, the rising costs of goods and services impacted our fundraising events throughout the year, resulting in an increase to our overall fundraising expenses.  While our team is already highly efficient in managing events cost-effectively, we continue to adapt to changing economic conditions and explore new strategies for diversifying our revenue streams. 

It is important to note that nearly all of Easter Seals Ontario’s revenue comes from public support, either raised at events or obtained through individual and corporate donations. However, the financial summary in the profile above notes approximately $19K of our 2023 revenue came from government grants. We want to provide clarification, as $8,952 of this amount was funding for the Northern Health Travel Grant program, and 100% of this funding was distributed to eligible Easter Seals Ontario clients. The remaining amount was $9,842, which is funding received from the City of Toronto property tax rebate program for registered charities. 

At the end of 2023, we marked the completion of our previous strategic plan and developed a new three-year plan that commenced in 2024.  This forward-looking plan is designed to deepen our impact by further enhancing our operational capabilities, enriching our core programs, and adopting innovative strategies to advance our mission. By looking ahead, we will continue to meet the needs of the community we serve and expand our reach and effectiveness across Ontario.  

LEARN MORE: EASTER SEALS ONTARIO 2023 ANNUAL REPORT