United Way British Columbia
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.
B-
RESULTS REPORTING
Grade based on the charity's public reporting of the work it does and the results it achieves.
n/r
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.
79%
CENTS TO THE CAUSE
For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 79 cents are available for programs.
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OVERVIEW
About United Way British Columbia:
United Way British Columbia is a financially transparent 4-star charity. It has reasonable overhead costs and has a below-average results reporting grade. The charity has reserve funds that can cover program costs for eleven months.
United Way British Columbia (UWBC) was formed on July 1, 2021, after six United Ways merged. The merger combined United Way of the Lower Mainland, United Way of Trail and District, United Way Southern Interior BC, Thomson Nicola Cariboo United Way, United Way East Kootenay, and United Way Central and Northern Vancouver Island. On April 4, 2023, UWBC merged with Powell River and District United Way and on October 1, 2023, UWBC amalgamated with United Way of Northern BC. On February 3, 2025, UWBC merged with United Way Southern Vancouver Island. UWBC is now the sole United Way in British Columbia.
UWBC runs six main programs, listed below. Charity Intelligence calculates UWBC spent $88.0m on its programs and grants in its fiscal year ending March 2025 (F2025). UWBC also reports an additional $2.7m in donor-designated grants.
The Seniors program received 50% ($44.1m) of program spending in F2025. UWBC helps adults stay independent and engaged in their community. The charity reports that over 65,000 seniors received more than 800,000 healthy aging supports and services in F2025. It also held its biannual Summit on Healthy Aging. UWBC reports that over 450 people attended the event.
The Community Support program received 13% ($11.5m) of program spending in F2025. UWBC helps people build connections in their neighborhoods. Its Local Love grants provide up to $1k to support projects that make communities more caring and inclusive. UWBC reports it distributed almost 300 Local Love grants in F2025. Its Hi Neighbour program helps build stronger, safer, and more inclusive communities. The charity reports that almost 165,000 people were positively affected by the Hi Neighbour program.
The Community Services and Capacity Building program received 12% ($11.0m) of program spending in F2025. UWBC helps businesses and non-profits grow. The charity runs the Public Policy Institute (PPI). PPI brings together 25 leaders from the non-profit sector who want to learn how to understand and influence public policy. It runs six sessions for them, and the sessions include guest speakers, panelists, and reflection.
The Food program received 12% ($10.3m) of program spending in F2025. UWBC states that over one million British Columbians lack consistent access to nutritious food. The charity runs 26 regional food hubs. UWBC reports that it distributed 4.6 million meals and hampers to over 314,000 people in F2025.
The Children and Youth program received 6% ($5.4m) of program spending in F2025. UWBC’s School’s Out program provides food, wellness programs, and developmental support for children. The charity reports that over 6,000 children received support across 108 program sites in F2025.
The Helpline Services program received 5% ($4.1m) of program spending in F2025. UWBC runs the 211 British Columbia Helpline. The charity reports that 211 BC answered over 51,700 calls and made almost 129,000 referrals in F2025. This equates to 2.5 referrals per caller.
The remaining 3% of program spending went to Emergency Response (2%) and Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Reconciliation, and Decolonization (1%).
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Results and Impact
United Way British Columbia surveyed 97 people at its Summit on Healthy Aging in F2025. 92% of respondents rated their Summit experience as excellent or good. 76% of respondents indicated they were able to connect with like-minded people and build relationships.
The Youth Futures Education Fund grants money to adults, who have been in government care, to pursue post-secondary education. The charity reports that it has supported over 4,280 students since 2015. It reports that 71% of supported students graduated with a credential from their post-secondary program.
While Ci highlights these key results, they may not completely represent United Way British Columbia’s results and impact.
Charity Intelligence has not yet rated UWBC on impact (n/r). This does not affect the star rating.
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Finances
United Way British Columbia’s audited financial statements follow activity-based costing, a best practice. Its expenses are clearly defined between program, administrative, and fundraising categories.
In F2025 UWBC received $44.7m in donations. Administrative costs are 4% of revenues (excluding investment income). Fundraising costs are 17% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 21%. For every dollar donated, 79 cents are available to go to the cause. This falls within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.
UWBC spent $88.0m on its programs and grants in F2025, which is 189% of its revenue (excluding donated goods used and donor-designated grants). In F2025 it had a deficit of $51.7m.
UWBC has $92.8m in reserve funds (cash and investments). Excluding $9.7m in donor-endowed funds, the net funding reserves can cover 95%, or eleven months of program costs. Included in total funding reserves is the value of UWBC's funds held in trust at the Vancouver Foundation ($33.7m in F2025, $31.7m in F2024, and $29.9m in F2023).
On February 3, 2025, UWBC merged with United Way Southern Vancouver Island. The F2024 data is for the merged entity but is unaudited and may not be comparable to F2025.
This charity report is an update that has been sent for review to United Way British Columbia. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.
Updated on July 17, 2025, by Grady Simpson.
Financial Review
Fiscal year ending March
|
2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative costs as % of revenues | 4.0% | 1.6% | 2.5% |
| Fundraising costs as % of donations | 17.0% | 17.2% | 17.7% |
| Total overhead spending | 21.1% | 18.8% | 20.2% |
| Program cost coverage (%) | 94.9% | 178.1% | 155.8% |
Summary Financial StatementsAll figures in $000s |
2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donations | 44,738 | 44,733 | 35,640 |
| Goods in kind | 589 | 505 | 315 |
| Government funding | 301 | 768 | 98,622 |
| Investment income | 5,039 | 7,271 | 685 |
| Other income | (686) | 79,337 | (63,534) |
| Total revenues | 49,981 | 132,615 | 71,727 |
| Program costs | 9,405 | 8,158 | 4,943 |
| Grants | 78,631 | 68,874 | 51,569 |
| Donor-designated donations | 2,692 | 2,830 | 3,075 |
| Donated goods exp | 589 | 505 | 315 |
| Administrative costs | 1,816 | 2,006 | 1,802 |
| Fundraising costs | 7,622 | 7,681 | 6,303 |
| Other costs | 912 | 237 | 649 |
| Total spending | 101,667 | 90,292 | 68,658 |
| Cash flow from operations | (51,685) | 42,323 | 3,070 |
| Capital spending | 70 | 833 | 933 |
| Funding reserves | 92,828 | 146,139 | 95,101 |
Note: Deferred adjustment: UWBC uses deferred accounting. To show donors information on a consistent basis, Ci adjusted for these deferred revenues. This affected revenue by $6.0m in F2025, ($2.5m) in F2024, and $5.5m in F2023. Change in pledges receivable: Ci adjusted for change in pledges receivable. This affected revenue by $741k in F2025, $762k in F2024, and ($45k) in F2023. Change in grant receivable: Ci adjusted for change in grant receivable. This affected revenues by ($6.7m) in F2025, $81.9m in F2024, and ($69.0m) in F2023. Change in designations payable to agencies: Ci adjusted for change in designations payable to agencies. This affected expenses by ($59k) in F2025, ($473k) in F2024, and $223k in F2023. T3010: The most recent T3010 filing available at the time of this update was from F2024. As such, compensation information is from F2024. Amortization: Ci removed amortization on a pro rata basis from program, administrative, and fundraising costs in F2025, F2024, and F2023.
Salary Information
$350k + |
1 |
$300k - $350k |
0 |
$250k - $300k |
0 |
$200k - $250k |
3 |
$160k - $200k |
5 |
$120k - $160k |
1 |
$80k - $120k |
0 |
$40k - $80k |
0 |
< $40k |
0 |
Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2024
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Comments & Contact
Comments added by the Charity:
Charity Contact
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