Founded in 1998, Toronto Foundation for Student Success (TFSS) works closely with the Toronto District School Board to provide food and after-school programs for students so they can succeed in school. According to TFSS, as many as 68% of children go to school hungry every day and 95% of children and youth do not have access to after-school programs. TFSS runs many of its programs in Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (as identified by the City of Toronto) to reach youth who are most in need of support. Besides food and after-school activities, TFSS provides students with medical care and financial aid in emergency situations.

A Charity Intelligence 2021 Top 10 Canadian Impact Charity

In F2020, TFSS allocated 94% of total program spending to Student Nutrition Programs. TFSS is under contract with the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services to run breakfast programs in schools across Toronto. The charity served an average of 212,900 meals per school day and 25,973,922 meals in total in F2020.

TFSS spent 5% of total program costs on its Beyond 3:30 program in F2020. Beyond 3:30 is the charity’s after-school program for at-risk youth living in Toronto. As of F2020, the program runs in 18 schools and has 1,200 enrolled students. Beyond 3:30 is for middle school students (aged 11 to 14 years) and runs from 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM each day. Students have access to homework help, cooking lessons, one-hour fitness training sessions, a financial literacy program, and a rotating schedule of arts programs. Community dinners, where students cook and serve meals to family and teachers, allow students to showcase what they have learned from the program.

TFSS allocated the remaining 1% of program spending to its Gift of Sight and Sound programs and Health Clinics. The Gift of Sight and Sound program performs vision and hearing checks in schools to identify students who need glasses or hearing aids. In F2020, 11,911 kids were screened, 2,995 were referred to optometrists, and 1,132 received free glasses. The charity’s Model Schools Paediatric Healthcare Initiative provides health clinic services directly in schools that are in high needs areas. These clinics provide medical care for kids who may not have a family doctor or health card, and/or are from families who recently moved to Canada and are unfamiliar with the Canadian healthcare system.

Recent News: In response to the covid-19 pandemic, TFSS pivoted its Student Nutrition Programs. In F2020, TFSS distributed over 100,000 grocery cards, which provided 3,000,000 meals to students in need.

In F2020, Toronto Foundation for Student Success had total donations of $3.1m. The charity also received $19.7m in government funding, representing 84% of total revenues. Administrative costs are 4% of revenues (excluding investment income) and fundraising costs are 4% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 8%. For every dollar donated, 92 cents go to the cause, which is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

TFSS has $8.5m in funding reserves. TFSS could cover 39% or four months of annual program costs with reserves, indicating a need for funding.  

Charity Intelligence sent an update of this report to Toronto Foundation for Student Success for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on July 15, 2021 by Sydney Olexa.