Feed Ontario is a five-star financially transparent charity with a Good demonstrated impact score. It has an A results reporting grade, which is above average. For every dollar donated to the charity, 95 cents are available to go to the cause.

Founded in 1992, Feed Ontario and its network of 1,200 food banks fight Ontario food insecurity. The charity maintains established partnerships with local farmers, large regional food banks like Food Banks Mississauga, and grocery outlets like Metro. Using its network and partnerships, the charity provides meals and groceries to those in need. Feed Ontario also redistributes wasted edible food and provides grants to its network food banks. According to the charity, the number of unique visitors rose 38% in F2023. The charity also states that 69% and 53% of Ontario food banks are concerned with insufficient food donations and funding respectively. The charity runs three programs: food distribution, network services & support, and research & advocacy. Since Feed Ontario did not disclose total program spending in the fiscal year ending March 2023 (F2023), Ci estimated the charity’s program spending breakdown.

A Charity Intelligence 2024 Top 10 Impact: Canadian Food Banks.

A Charity Intelligence 2024 Top 100 Rated Charity.

Food distribution was 71% of the charity’s program spending. In F2023, Feed Ontario distributed 7,300,000 lb of food to 1,200 Ontario food banks in its network, helping 592,308 unique individuals across 4,300,000 visits. Partnering with local farmers, the charity provided 34,977 beef and 1,074,857 chicken meals, 1,025,230 litres of milk, and 98,445 packs of eggs. The charity also salvaged 850,000 lb of food from grocery outlets like Food Basics and Metro in F2023.

Network services and support was 20% of the charity’s program spending. In F2023, the charity partnered with 30 local farmers and rescued 241,300 lb of food as part of its Farm to Food subprogram. The charity also saved over 1,000,000 lb of fresh and non-perishable food in collaboration with Food Banks Mississauga and the Food Bank of Waterloo Region. The charity also gave 30 grants and led 21 capacity building projects for its network.

Research and advocacy was 9% of the charity's program spending. In F2023, Feed Ontario published 2 research reports and delivered 7 policy recommendations in its 2023 pre-budget submission to the Ontario government. These policy recommendations received endorsements from 141 Feed Ontario network members.

In F2023, Feed Ontario received $3.2 m in cash donations and $17.1m worth of donated food in F2023, a 75% and 4% increase from F2022 respectively. Administrative costs are 2% of revenues and fundraising costs are 3% of donations, resulting in 5% total overhead spending. This within Ci's reasonable range and means that for every dollar donated, 95 cents are available to go to the cause.

In F2023, Feed Ontario spent $4.1m on its programs and grants which is 95% of revenues excluding donated food.

At the end of F2023, Feed Ontario had $5.6m in reserve funds (cash and investments) which covers 137% or slightly over 16 months of its annual program spending. This means that the charity can sustain its programs for 16 months in the absence of funding.

Profile updated June 4, 2024 by Julian Dranitsaris. Comments and corrections may be forthcoming.