United Way of Halifax Region

Every charitable organization has fundraising expenses. Canada Revenue Agency requires that a registered charity spend its Disbursement Quota, (at least 80% of the money that qualifies for a tax receipt) on charitable activities. The remainder is available for management, administration, and other operating expenses. The average fundraising cost for charitable organizations across Canada is 26%. (Source: Imagine, formerly the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy/Canada West Foundation, 1996 survey of 1,512 charities.) United Way's fundraising costs are 18% or less.

When donors contribute to United Way, they have the choice to designate their donation to a specific Canadian charity. In recent years, approximately 52% of the money raised has been distributed to United Way funded agencies and Initiative, 30% designated to other charities by donors and 18% for expenses.

United Way makes every effort to reduce expenses through sponsored events and materials, and gifts in kind (donated advertising space in newspapers, on radio and television) as well as with the support of committed organizations loaning staff through the Loaned Account Development Officer program during the Annual Workplace Campaign.

United Way's Board of Directors review budgets annually to carefully restrict growth of expenses and to ensure maximum efficiency.

United Way of Halifax Region is one of six United Ways of the approximate same size, that have chosen to meet regularly to benchmark and share best practices with the goal of keeping costs contained.