Shepherds of Good Hope is a two-star financially transparent charity with a Low demonstrated impact score. It has a B+ results reporting grade, which is above average. For every dollar donated, 76 cents are available to go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

Founded in 1983, Shepherds of Good Hope (SGH) provides both short and long-term support to Ottawa’s homeless population. The charity runs three overnight emergency shelters, hot meals through its soup kitchen, and daily evening social activities for its community. SGH also offers long-term transitional housing in its six community residences. According to the charity, over 1,900 people sleep in Ottawa’s shelters daily and there are over 12,000 people on Ottawa’s social housing waitlist. The charity runs three programs: supportive housing, transitional shelter services, and community services. SGH spent $16.4m on its programs in the fiscal year ending March 2023 (F2023).

Supportive housing was 40% of the charity’s program spending. With the goal of helping community members live independently, SGH provides long-term housing in six residences. The charity states that by building independence, those who leave their long-term shelters will no longer rely on emergency shelters. In F2023, the charity housed 253 people and provided the following age breakdown: 5% aged 18-30, 19% aged 31-49, 52% aged 50,64 and 25% older than 65.

Community programs was 35% of the charity’s program spending. This drop-in program offers people both hot meals and evening social activities. In F2023, the charity served 129,382 meals through its soup kitchen and welcomed 200 people each night for social activities.

Transitional shelter services was 25% of the charity’s program spending. SGH provides emergency housing in its three shelters who housed 229 people each night (83,585 total). SGH reported that people staying in its shelters stayed for an average of 40 days. The charity provided the following demographic breakdown for those staying in its shelters: 72% born in Canada, 17% born outside Canada, 4% refugees, and 7% undeclared.

Shepherds of Good Hope receives grants from the Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation, a separately registered charity established in 2004 that acts as the operating charity’s fundraising arm. SGH received $2.5m, $2.4m, and $2.4m from the foundation in F2023, F2022, and F2021 respectively. Charity Intelligence consolidated the operating charity’s and foundation’s audited financial statements for the following analysis.

Shepherds of Good Hope received $3.0m in donations, a 20% increase from $2.5m in F2022. The charity also received $24.8m in government funding which is 77% of total revenue and a 16% increase from $21.3m in F2022. Administrative costs are 3% of revenues and fundraising costs are 31% of donations. This results in 33% total overhead spending, meaning that for every dollar donated, 67 cents are available to go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

In F2023, the charity spent $16.4m on its programs, a 16% increase from $13.8m in F2022. The charity also has a $13.6m cash surplus in F2023 and increased its capital expenditures by $11.4m. The majority of this increase – $11.2m – is due to ongoing construction and repairs of SGH’s Murray and Merivale Road shelters.

At the end of F2023, Shepherds of Good Hope had $6.6m net reserve funds which covers 40% or just under five months of its annual program costs/spending. The charity owes $4.4m worth of interest bearing debts which were backed out of its reserve funds.

Profile updated by Julian Dranitsaris on July 15, 2023. Comments and corrections may be forthcoming.