Sector Impact

Giving Breakdown

Charitable Perspectives

Donor Characteristics

Outreach & Communications

>

Foundations

Numbers at a Glance

2

Canada’s charitable sector is the 2nd largest per capita in the world, after the Netherlands [1]

Numbers at a Glance

170,000

The estimated number of charities in Canada [1]

Numbers at a Glance

2 million

The number of people who are employed by charities in Canada [1]

Numbers at a Glance

8.1%

Percentage of Canada’s GDP represented by the charitable sector [1]

Numbers at a Glance

60%

The top 1% of organizations command 60% of all revenues [1]

Numbers at a Glance

54%

Percentage of Canada’s charities that are run entirely by volunteers [1]

Canada’s charitable sector is the second largest per capita in the world, after the Netherlands. While there are an estimated 170,000 charities in Canada, more than half of those are run entirely by volunteers. Even so, the charitable sector employs 2 million people and represents 8.1% of Canada’s GDP, larger than the oil and gas or finance industries. The top 1% of organizations bring in the majority of charitable revenue.