Trails is a 3-star charity with average impact. The charity has an average results reporting grade and $7.8m in reserves that can cover charity programs for almost seven years.

Founded in 1992, Trails Youth Initiatives (Trails) works with at-risk youth in Toronto. The charity aims to support and challenge youth to become contributing members of their community. It provides outdoor skill development, mentorship, high school credits, bursaries and job opportunities through a multi-year multi-step program called Four years, Four seasons.  

Teachers from schools in Toronto’s most vulnerable neighbourhoods refer students to Trails. The students selected are chosen because they have the potential but not the support to overcome challenges facing them. Trails selects roughly 40 new at-risk youth to join its program each summer. Kids participate in the program from age 12 to 16 with a two-week stay at Trails’ camp each summer and a weekend visit once a month throughout the school year.  

Students do physically challenging activities including high ropes, yoga, skiing, and canoe trips. There is also training on conflict resolution, problem solving, resume writing, career planning, communication, and First Aid. Students can receive credit for up to three high school health and fitness courses. In F2022, 128 students were part of the Four years, Four seasons program. 

Trails Youth Initiatives also offers fifth- and sixth-year programming for select students. As a fifth-year leader in training, students work with a younger group of students. A sixth-year facilitator in training is a paid intern who receives job skills and leadership training.  

After completing the Four Years, Four Seasons program, alumni can participate in the For Life program which provides mentorship, bursaries, networking and learning opportunities. In F2022, Trails distributed $186k in bursaries to help 39 program graduates pay for post-secondary tuition. In total, Trails supported 72 people through its alumni support. 

Trails is aiming to expand its programming. By 2026, it hopes to have 176 kids enrolled in its 4-year program.

In F2022, Trails Youth Initiatives received $1.4m in cash donations and special event fundraising revenues.

Administrative costs are 9% of total revenue excluding investment income. Fundraising costs are 18% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 28%. For every dollar donated to the charity 72 cents go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. 

Trails has $7.8m million in reserve funds. These reserve funds are its cash and investments and can cover program costs for almost seven years.

Trails funding reserves earned investment income of ($502k) in F2022. This includes $498k in investment income and $1m in unrealized investment losses. In F2022, the annual return on investment was -0.6%, compared with investment returns of 16% in F2021.

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

Updated on May 23^th 2023 by Brenleigh Jebb.