Hamilton Food Share is a 5-star, financially transparent charity. It has Good demonstrated impact and an above average results reporting grade. Its overhead spending is within Ci’s reasonable range. It has $1.4m in reserve funds which can cover a little under half a year of program costs.

Founded in 1992, Greater Hamilton Food Share (Hamilton Food Share) is the distribution hub for Hamilton's Emergency Food Network. The network consists of 16 member agencies, operating 23 emergency food programs that work to feed people in poverty. According to Hamilton Food Share’s 2022 Hunger Report, 4,220 people who access food banks in Hamilton each month are at extreme risk of homelessness. This is a 35% increase from last year. The report highlights that over 782 people ask for food support daily, and 53 seniors access a food bank daily. As part of the report, Hamilton Food Bank ran a survey that found that 48% of respondents would risk losing their housing without support from food banks.

Hamilton Food Share’s main program is food distribution. In F2022, the charity reports sourcing 4,542,216 lb of food, of which 59% was fresh. It distributed 4,089,922 lb of food, of which 52% was fresh, 41% was non-perishable and 7% was frozen. Hamilton Food share distributed a total of 4,649,910 meals through emergency food banks in F2022. The charity’s local food bank partners reported 257,382 visits this year. The charity states that 13,000 people visit food banks from its network every month. Hamilton Food Share also gives clients the option to pick up food directly from warehouses. 3,451 lb of food were picked up from warehouses during the year.

Hamilton Food Share also runs various projects. These include the priority food project, which aims to ensure certain priority items are always available at member agencies. The menstrual pilot project distributes menstrual products to the Emergency Food Network. The charity reports launching seven new projects in F2022.

Hamilton Food Share received $3.9m in cash donations in F2022. It also received an estimated $13.1m in donated food (76% of revenues) and $217k in government funding. Administrative costs are 2% of revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 7% of cash donations. This results in total overhead spending of 9%. For every dollar donated to the charity, 91 cents are available for programs. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

Hamilton Food Share has $1.4m in net funding reserves. The charity can cover 42% or five months of annual program costs with its existing reserves, showing a need for funding.

Charity Intelligence has sent this update to Hamilton Food Share for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on June 13, 2023 by Victoria Allder.