The Giving Report

Online giving increased, while overall giving will see a decline for the first time in years.

Projected overall giving declined +10% YoY

Giving grew in response to international crises such as the Australian bushfires and the downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752.

April 2019 / April 2020 / April 2020 / 261%

Giving also grew significantly in response to the first wave of COVID-19.

Some causes grew at much faster rates than other charitable categories. This includes Indigenous Peoples, social services, and health charities.

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Indigenous Peoples Charities (2.25x) / Overall Giving

Although total donations are still low, donations to Indigenous charities is one of the fastest growing categories.

Social Services Charities (2.2x) / Health Charities (1.8x) / Overall Charities

Online donations supporting social services and health charities grew significantly in response to COVID-19.

Canadians give to a diverse range of causes. Some important causes receive a smaller portion than others.

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Animals 6%, Arts & Culture 7%, Education 19%, Environment 5%, Health 26%, Indigenous Peoples 1%, International 12%, Public Benefit 16%, Religious 31%, Social Services 41%

Participation in giving has dropped. In 2007, 24% of Canadians made a donation. In 2017, that number decreased to 19%.

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24% of Canadians donated TBD 19% of Canadians donated

There is a growing giving gap. Current giving is driven by an aging population, and younger generations are not keeping pace.

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$3.5 Billion (Age 22-54) / $6.9 Billion (Age 55+)

Canadians 55+ give almost twice as much as Canadians aged 25-54.

25-34 (-4%) / 35-44 (-5%) / 45-54 (-7%) / 55-64 (-7%) / 65-74 (-5%) / 75+ (-5%)

Giving is decreasing in all age groups, even the generous over 55 category.

Data Sources and Clarifications

Throughout The Giving Report 2021 site, downloadable report and accompanying data tables, we include a reference number indicating the data source. Information on each data source, and relevant disclaimer or clarification information, is provided below.
Unless otherwise stated, all dollar figures are adjusted for inflation using constant 2018 dollars using Statistics Canada, Table 11-10-0047-01.

DATA SOURCE 1
Donations made using CanadaHelps.org

DATA SOURCE 2
Statistics Canada, Center for Income and Socioeconomic Well-being Statistics Income Statistics Division, T1 Family File, Reference 20041 – 980095. Postal Code Validation Disclaimer: The geography in T1FF requests are derived based on an amalgamation of Postal CodeOM. Statistics Canada makes no representation or warranty as to, or validation of, the accuracy of any Postal CodeOM data.

DATA SOURCE 3
Canada Revenue Agency, T1 Final Statistics, https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/programs/about-canada-revenue-agency-cra/income-statistics-gst-hst-statistics/t1-final-statistics.html.

DATA SOURCE 4
Statistics Canada. Table 36-10-0478-01. Supply and use tables, detail level, provincial and territorial (x 1,000)

DATA SOURCE 5
Statistics Canada. Table 36-10-0438-01. Supply and use tables, summary level, provincial and territorial (x 1,000,000)

DATA SOURCE 6
Statistics Canada. Table 36-10-0222-01. Gross domestic product, expenditure-based, provincial and territorial, annual (x 1,000,000)

DATA SOURCE 7
Conference Board of Canada. Recovery Rests on Vaccine Rollout: Canada’s Two-Year Outlook—January 2021. https://www.conferenceboard.ca/e-library/abstract.aspx?did=10963

DATA SOURCE 8
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Turning hope into Reality, OECD Economic Outlook, December 2020. https://www.oecd.org/economic-outlook/#global-outlook

DATA SOURCE 9
Statistics Canada. Non-profit institutions and volunteering: Economic contribution, 2007 to 2017. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/190305/dq190305a-eng.htm

DATA SOURCE 10
Canada Revenue Agency, T3010 Registered Charity Information Return Information Analysis by Imagine Canada (2018 reference year) Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0090-01 Labour force characteristics by province, territory and economic region, annual (2018 reference year)

DATA SOURCE 11
Canada Revenue Agency, Charities Directorate

DATA SOURCE 12
Canada Revenue Agency, T3010 Registered Charity Information Return Information Analysis by Imagine Canada (2018 reference year)

DATA SOURCE 13
Statistics Canada, Table 17-10-0005-01 Canada Revenue Agency, T1 Final Statistics