Wesley is a 4-star charity. It has a B- results reporting grade, which is below average. Its overhead spending is within Ci’s reasonable range, and it has reserve funds to cover five months of its annual program costs.

Formerly Wesley Urban Ministries, Wesley was founded in the basement of Wesley United Church in 1955. It aims to transform the lives of people who are homeless or in poverty in Hamilton, Halton, and Brantford. Wesley has three main programs: Newcomer and Community Services; Housing and Homelessness; and Child, Youth, and Family.

In the fiscal year ending March 2023 (F2023), Wesley spent $9.6m (45% of program spending) on Newcomer and Community Services. In F2023, Wesley served 752 Government Assisted Refugees (GAR) and 174 Secondary Migrants in Hamilton. It served 136 GAR clients in Brantford. In F2023, Wesley’s Ukrainian Settlement program served 463 clients. Wesley served 340 clients through virtual group workshops. In F2023, 415 clients participated in English Conversation Circle. Wesley’s Client Support Services team served 941 clients in Hamilton and 151 in Brantford. In F2023, Wesley’s Seniors program worked with 96 new clients, ran 24 workshops, and held two Royal Botanical Gardens trips.

Wesley spent $6.7m on Housing and Homelessness Services (32% of program spending) in F2023. In F2023, Wesley housed 70 individuals and families in Halton through the Housing First and Emergency Supportive Housing Programs. Wesley housed 42 individuals with complex needs through the Housing First Program. Wesley assisted 23 individuals in the Special Care Unit who were experiencing homelessness and struggled with alcohol.

Wesley spent $5.0m (23% of program spending) on Child, Youth, and Family Services. Wesley runs EarlyON child and family centres. These provide family-centred support for children up to six years of age. 1,290 unique children visited an EarlyON with their caregivers for a total of 10,669 visits in F2023. In F2023, 23 children attended free summer camp at the Beasley Community Centre. 138 children attended Wesley’s before and after school programs in F2023. The Family Home Visitors program supported 475 families and offered services in 21 different languages. Provincial Youth Outreach workers supported 564 youths participating in the program.

In F2023, Wesley received $3.3m from donations and special events. It also received $19.8m in government funding (79% of total revenue). Wesley made $1.8m from fees for service in F2023 (7% of total revenue). Administrative costs are 10% of total revenue (excluding investment income) and fundraising costs are 16% of donations. Overhead spending is 26%, which is within Ci’s reasonable range. For every dollar donated, 74 cents are available for the cause. In F2023, Wesley spent $20.0m on its programs (81% of total revenues excluding donated goods in kind).

In F2023, Wesley had a surplus of $1.6m and spent $10k on capital expenditures.

At the end of F2023, Wesley has $7.6m in reserve funds (cash and investments). $32k of reserve funds are donor endowed. Excluding donor-endowed funds, Wesley has reserve funds to cover 38% or around five months of its annual program costs.

This charity profile is an update that was sent to Wesley for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on August 13^th, 2024 by Thea Clark.