Ronald McDonald House Charities Southwestern Ontario is a 3-star charity. The charity has a B- Results Reporting grade, which is below average. Its overhead spending is 19%, within Ci’s reasonable range, and its reserve funds can cover 4 years and 9 months of program costs. This exceeds Ci’s reasonable range.

Founded in 1985, Ronald McDonald House Charities Southwestern Ontario (RMSO) provides affordable housing for families with sick children receiving medical treatment in London and Windsor hospitals. The charity is formally known as Southwestern Ontario Childrens Care Inc. The charity reports that two of three Canadian families live outside a city with a children’s hospital, resulting in long distance travels. RMSO is a chapter of Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada.

RMSO runs three programs: a House in London, a House-Within-A-Hospital in Windsor, and a Family Room within the London Health Sciences Centre Children’s Hospital. In F2024, the charity reported that it provided 15,741 overnight stays with an average length of stay of 18 nights. The charity reported that it supported over 16,000 people in F2024. RMSO spent $3.0m on programs. The charity provides a program spending breakdown in its 2024 audited financial statements.

London House received 65% ($1.9m) of program costs in F2024. The London House is located near the London Health Sciences Centre Children’s Hospital and provides housing for families living over 40km away with a child (under 19) receiving treatment. After expanding in 2021, it has forty private rooms. The charity reports that families travel an average of 266 km from their homes to the London House.

Windsor House received 24% ($718k) of program costs in F2024. It provides accommodation for families with ill or injured children. It is located directly within Windsor Regional Hospital, with five private rooms and one short-term stay room. Families of children (under 18) receiving treatment at Windsor Regional Hospital are eligible. It offers a Day Pass Program, allowing families with a child in the hospital to access Windsor House amenities. The charity reports that families travel an average of 28 km from their homes to the Windsor House.

London Family Room received 11% ($329k) of program costs in F2024. It serves as a quiet rest area for parents who are reluctant to leave the hospital. It is equipped with two rooms for napping during the day or overnight stays. The Family Room gives caregivers a break to eat, shower, or do laundry while staying close to their children. The Family Room has a Cart with a Heart, mobilizing the Family Room’s services to the pediatric units for caregivers unable to leave their child’s bedside. The charity reports that families travel an average of 47 km from their homes to the Family Room.

The Houses ask families to give $10 per night but no family is turned away due to an inability to pay. 

Ronald McDonald House Charities Southwestern Ontario’s audited financial statements follow activity-based costing, a best practice. This means its expenses are clearly defined between program, administrative, and fundraising categories.

RMSO received $6.9m in donations and special events revenue in F2024. The charity had investment income of $1.2m in F2024. The charity spent $3.0m (43% of revenue, excluding investment income) on its programs. The charity spent $471k on administration, which is 7% of revenue. The charity spent $845k on fundraising, which is 12% of donations. For every dollar donated, 81 cents are available to go to the cause. This is within Charity Intelligence’s reasonable range of overhead, which is between 65 and 95 cents.

RMSO recorded a net surplus of $3.9m in F2024. It has net funding reserves of $14.1m in F2024. The reserves can cover 473% or 4 years and 9 months of its annual program costs. This is outside Charity Intelligence’s reasonable range, indicating that the charity does not need additional funding.

RMSO’s most recent F2024 T3010 filings with the CRA are not yet available at the time of this update. Ci will have the opportunity to update this profile with the latest information from these filings once available.

Profile updated by Leah Holmes on May 28, 2025. Comments and corrections may be forthcoming.