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 was reported as 26%. (Source: Imagine Canada 1996 survey of 1,512 charities.) United Way's fundraising costs are less than 16.1%.

When donors contribute to United Way, they have the choice to designate their donation to a specific Canadian charity. In 2011, approximately 56.9% of the money raised has been distributed to United Way funded agencies and initiatives. Twenty-seven percent has been distributed to other charities in HRM and across Canada in accordance with the wishes of donors designating their donations.

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 Representative 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 also meets with United Way's in Canada that are similar in size  to benchmark and share best practices with the goal of ensuring expenses continue to be maintained.

United Way's 2010 Annual Report with excerpts from 2010 financial statements can be found here.

Complete financial statements provided by Grant Thornton LLP can be found here.