Furniture Bank is a 5-star charity with Average demonstrated impact. It is financially transparent, has an A+ results reporting grade, and has reasonable overhead spending.

Founded in 1998, Furniture Bank is a registered charity and social enterprise that distributes gently-used donated furniture to families in need. It aims to provide the comfort, dignity, and stability of a furnished home. Furniture Bank works with economically-vulnerable people, such as families leaving shelters, formerly homeless clients, and newcomers or refugees living in Canada. By collecting and delivering used furniture, the charity states that it redirects waste from landfills while providing furnished homes. Furniture Bank runs three main programs: Homing furniture collection and delivery program, Leg Up social employment program, and its Indigenous-led workshop. 

A Charity Intelligence 2023 Top 100 Rated Charity

Furniture Bank's Homing program represented 88% of total program spending in F2022. This program involves distributing used furniture to clients. In F2022, the charity delivered 51,004 different items to families. Working with 155 community agency partners and shelters, Furniture Bank reached 5,558 clients during the year. The charity furnished 2,625 units in Toronto, 710 in Ottawa, 369 in Barrie and Simcoe, and 30 in Winnipeg in F2022.

Furniture Bank's Leg Up social employment program accounted for 8% of program spending in F2022. Furniture Bank partners with local employment agencies to provide work experience, life and skills training, and meaningful work for those facing barriers to employment. The Leg Up program has employed over 250 employees since 2013. 

The remaining 4% of program spending was allocated to Furniture Bank's workshop and support services. The Indigenous-led workshop trains participants in furniture repair, upholstery, and woodworking to combat barriers to work. The workshop has served 20 people and repaired and salvaged 13,560 items since 2015. 

Furniture Bank had total cash donations of $931k in F2022. It also received $4.0m in donated household furnishings (48% of revenues), $1.8m in fees for service (21% of revenues), and $1.6m in government funding (20% of revenues).

Furniture Bank's administrative costs are 8% of revenues (less investment income), and its fundraising costs are 27% of cash donations and special events revenue. This results in total overhead spending of 35%. For every dollar donated to the charity, 65 cents go to the cause, which is within Ci's reasonable range for overhead spending.

Furniture Bank has $1.6m in reserve funds (cash and investments). Excluding the cost of donated furniture, Furniture Bank's reserves can cover 45% or over five months of its annual program costs.

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

Updated on July 11, 2023, by Sydney Olexa.