STAR RATINGCi's Star Rating is calculated based on the following independent metrics: |
✔+
FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY
Audited financial statements for current and previous years available on the charity’s website.
A
RESULTS REPORTING
Grade based on the charity's public reporting of the work it does and the results it achieves.
High
DEMONSTRATED IMPACT
The demonstrated impact per dollar Ci calculates from available program information.
NEED FOR FUNDING
Charity's cash and investments (funding reserves) relative to how much it spends on programs in most recent year.
85%
CENTS TO THE CAUSE
For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 85 cents are available for programs.
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OVERVIEW
About The Compass:
The Compass is a 5-star, financially transparent charity with a High impact rating and an excellent A results reporting grade. It has a reasonably sized reserve of cash and investments and 15% total overhead spending. For every dollar donated, 85 cents are available to go to the cause.
Founded in 2002, The Compass is a Christian food bank that also runs community programs throughout Mississauga. It distributes both groceries and prepares meals for those in need. According to the charity’s 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, it has enhanced its programs in 2024: trained more kitchen staff, added fresh fruit to breakfast, and added salads to dinners. The charity reports 1/13 Mississauga households used a food bank in 2024 – nearly triple the 1/37 ratio in 2020.
A Charity Intelligence 2024 Top 10 Impact: Canadian Food Banks
A Charity Intelligence 2023 Top 100 Rated Charity
The Compass runs two program groups: food distribution and community programs. It spent $935k cash on its programs and distribute $933k worth of donated goods (food and clothing) in the December 2024 fiscal year. The charity did not provide any further breakdown of its program spending.
Food distribution is The Compass’ main program. In 2024, the charity distributed 972,035 lb of food (5% decrease from 1,025,613 lb distributed in 2023) to 6,321 unique individuals (15% decrease from 6,567 people in 2023) across 46,111 visits. It also served 71,624 meals in 2024. According to its strategic plan, it will give out 1,137,281 lb of food to 7,396 individuals in 2025.
Community programs include the Compass’ tax clinic, children’s camp, school supplies distribution, drop-in clothing bank, and Christmas gift card campaign. The charity runs a tax clinic where its staff help clients qualify for tax credits. It completed 313 tax returns in 2024. The Compass also operates a children’s summer camp for low-income families. It ran 97 weeks of programming for 52 campers, so each child stayed an average of 13 days at The Compass’ summer camp. It also distributed school supplies to 452 children, provided 1,443 Walmart gift cards, and provided winter clothing for 96 homeless people in 2024.
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Results and Impact
Since The Compass distributed 972,035 lb of food to 6,321 people during 46,111 visits, each person received around 154 lb of food during 2024 (156 lb of food / person in 2023). It also means clients received around 24 lb of food / visit.
The Compass spent $1.2m cash on its operations in 2024. This means it spent around $1.19 / lb of food distributed.
The charity’s clients who received help filing their taxes at its tax clinic received $1,091,629 across the 313 completed tax returns, or $3,488 / completed return.
While Charity Intelligence highlights these key results, they may not completely represent The Compass’ results and impact.
Charity Intelligence has given The Compass a High impact rating. This is based on its demonstrated social impact per dollar spent.
A Charity Intelligence 2024 Top 10 Impact: Canadian Food Banks
Impact Rating: High

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Finances
The Compass’ audited financial statements follow line-item costing, meaning it does not clearly separate its program, administrative, and fundraising costs. This is not a best practice.
In 2024, The Compass received $913k worth of cash donations and special events revenue (43% of total revenue), $933k worth of donated goods (44% of revenue), and $236k in government funding (11% of revenue). Its administrative costs are 7% of total revenue less investment income and its fundraising costs are 8% of cash donations. Its 15% total overhead means that for every dollar donated, 85 cents are available to go to the cause.
In 2024, The Compass spent $935k cash on program operations (28% increase from $730k in 2023) and distributed $933k worth of food and clothing (2% decrease from $954k in 2023).
At the end of 2024, The Compass had $1.4m in reserve funds (cash and investments). This can cover 154% or slightly over one year and six months of its annual program spending.
Profile updated by Julian Dranitsaris on June 20, 2025. Comments and corrections may be forthcoming.
Financial Review
Fiscal year ending December
|
2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|
Administrative costs as % of revenues | 7.3% | 5.1% | 4.0% |
Fundraising costs as % of donations | 7.9% | 6.7% | 2.7% |
Total overhead spending | 15.1% | 11.7% | 6.7% |
Program cost coverage (%) | 153.2% | 197.8% | 213.4% |
Summary Financial StatementsAll figures in $s |
2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|
Donations | 566,053 | 547,451 | 595,892 |
Goods in kind | 933,164 | 953,929 | 591,482 |
Government funding | 236,153 | 52,415 | 18,292 |
Special events | 346,704 | 208,272 | 165,867 |
Investment income | 51,646 | 36,095 | 5,899 |
Total revenues | 2,133,720 | 1,798,162 | 1,377,432 |
Program costs | 934,789 | 729,866 | 698,257 |
Donated goods exp | 933,164 | 953,929 | 591,482 |
Administrative costs | 150,913 | 88,900 | 55,153 |
Fundraising costs | 71,927 | 50,623 | 20,394 |
Total spending | 2,090,793 | 1,823,318 | 1,365,286 |
Cash flow from operations | 42,927 | (25,156) | 12,146 |
Capital spending | 19,874 | 41,881 | 137,999 |
Funding reserves | 1,432,538 | 1,443,678 | 1,489,942 |
Note: 1. LINE-ITEM COSTING: Since The Compass follows line-item costing, Ci referred to its T3010 filings with the CRA when available to help report program, administrative, and fundraising costs. 2. DEFERRED DONATIONS: Since The Compass follows deferred accounting, Ci adjusted donations for changes in deferred contributions to clearly show donors the year-to-year movement of cash within the charity. This affected total revenue by $6k in 2024, ($nil) in 2023, and ($35k) in 2022. 3. DEFERRED GOVERNMENT GRANTS: Ci adjusted government funding for changes in deferred government grants, affecting total revenue by ($4k) in 2024, $30k in 2023, and ($nil) in 2022. 4. DONATIONS RECEIVABLE: Ci adjusted donations for changes in donations receivable, affecting total revenue by ($37k) in 2024, ($79k) in 2023, and ($20k) in 2022.
Salary Information
$350k + |
0 |
$300k - $350k |
0 |
$250k - $300k |
0 |
$200k - $250k |
0 |
$160k - $200k |
0 |
$120k - $160k |
0 |
$80k - $120k |
0 |
$40k - $80k |
1 |
< $40k |
0 |
Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2023
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Comments & Contact
Comments added by the Charity:
Charity Contact
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