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To make it easier for you to give where you want to make a difference, we’ve organized this year’s Top 100 charities into eight categories below.
Charitable giving is a deeply personal act. Your individual interests and lived experience shape what touches you and where you want to make an impact. So, here we’ve presented the top-rated charities by category to help you find the ones that match your interests and beliefs. Each list is top 10, except where the scoring resulted in a tie.
| Charity name | Total points | Transparency | Financial efficiency | Social results transparency | Administration costs as a % of revenue | Fundraising costs as a % of donations | Need for donations | Salary of highest-paid employee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruce Trail Conservancy | 97.0 | 92% | 100% | A | 11.3% | 11.1% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Alberta Conservation Association | 95.5 | 89% | 100% | A- | 6.5% | 0.0% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Nature Canada | 94.0 | 85% | 100% | B+ | 3.5% | 10.0% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society | 92.5 | 81% | 100% | B | 12.3% | 7.3% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Evergreen | 92.5 | 81% | 100% | B | 6.5% | 3.8% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Nature Conservancy Canada | 92.0 | 92% | 92% | A | 11.3% | 21.0% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| David Suzuki Foundation | 91.5 | 85% | 97% | B+ | 4.6% | 17.8% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Jane Goodall Institute | 90.5 | 89% | 94% | A- | 7.0% | 22.0% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| World Wildlife Fund | 90.5 | 89% | 94% | A- | 4.4% | 25.0% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Bird Studies Canada | 87.7 | 69% | 100% | B- | 8.9% | 11.0% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Charity name | Total points | Transparency | Financial efficiency | Social results transparency | Administration costs as a % of revenue | Fundraising costs as a % of donations | Need for donations | Salary of highest-paid employee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Way of Calgary and Area | 97.0 | 92% | 100% | A | 9.1% | 7.0% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| United Way of the Alberta Capital Region | 97.0 | 92% | 100% | A | 7.8% | 10.4% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| United Way Ottawa | 97.0 | 92% | 100% | A | 10.9% | 11.6% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Centraide of Greater Montreal (United Way Montreal) | 95.5 | 89% | 100% | A- | 6.8% | 7.1% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| United Way of Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo | 95.5 | 89% | 100% | A- | 7.0% | 8.5% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern New Brunswick Region | 95.5 | 89% | 100% | A- | 8.3% | 14.5% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto | 94.0 | 85% | 100% | B+ | 8.1% | 7.1% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| United Way of Winnipeg | 93.0 | 89% | 97% | A- | 2.6% | 18.1% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| United Way Greater Toronto | 92.5 | 81% | 100% | B | 5.1% | 12.7% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| United Way of Regina | 92.5 | 81% | 100% | B | 3.9% | 14.7% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Charity name | Total points | Transparency | Financial efficiency | Social results transparency | Administration costs as a % of revenue | Fundraising costs as a % of donations | Need for donations | Salary of highest-paid employee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria Hospice Society | 97.0 | 92% | 100% | A | 9.6% | 13.9% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Praxis Spinal Cord Institute | 95.5 | 89% | 100% | A- | 2.2% | 0.0% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Hospice of Greater Saint John | 95.0 | 100% | 94% | A+ | 7.7% | 23.9% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| World Federation of Hemophilia | 94.5 | 92% | 97% | A | 2.0% | 18.9% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Brain Canada | 94.0 | 85% | 100% | B+ | N/A | N/A | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| ALS BC | 92.5 | 81% | 100% | B | 12.0% | 12.7% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Huntington Society of Canada | 91.5 | 85% | 97% | B+ | 11.6% | 15.2% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada | 91.5 | 85% | 97% | B+ | 7.1% | 16.2% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Philip Aziz Centre for Hospice Care | 91.5 | 85% | 97% | B+ | 8.2% | 16.6% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service | 91.0 | 77% | 100% | B- | 12.0% | 14.1% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Charity name | Total points | Transparency | Financial efficiency | Social results transparency | Administration costs as a % of revenue | Fundraising costs as a % of donations | Need for donations | Salary of highest-paid employee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wesley Urban Ministries | 97.0 | 92% | 100% | A | 6.8% | 12.6% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Calgary Homeless Foundation | 95.5 | 89% | 100% | A- | 9.5% | 0.6% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Fresh Start Recovery Centre | 95.5 | 89% | 100% | A- | 3.5% | 13.7% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Covenant House Vancouver | 95.5 | 88.7% | 100% | A- | 5.1% | 14.7% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Lookout Housing and Health Society | 94.5 | 92% | 97% | A | 7.9% | 15.5% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Homes First | 94.0 | 85% | 100% | B+ | 9.8% | 14.3% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Our Place | 94.0 | 85% | 100% | B+ | 11.5% | 14.8% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Calgary Drop-in | 93.0 | 89% | 97% | A- | 3.8% | 15.4% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| The Alex | 92.5 | 81% | 100% | B | 4.0% | 0.7% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Union Gospel Mission | 91.5 | 85% | 97% | B+ | 9.4% | 18.6% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Charity name | Total points | Transparency | Financial efficiency | Social results transparency | Administration costs as a % of revenue | Fundraising costs as a % of donations | Need for donations | Salary of highest-paid employee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jewish General Hospital Foundation | 92.5 | 81% | 100% | B | 4.2% | 14.4% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation | 90.0 | 81% | 97% | B | 11.4% | 17.4% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation | 88.0 | 70% | #N/A | C+ | N/A | N/A | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Ottawa Hospital Foundation | 85.5 | 70% | 97% | C+ | 5.6% | 17.8% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Children's Health Foundation | 85.0 | 81% | 92% | B | 18.8% | 4.3% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation | 83.5 | 77% | 92% | B- | 18.7% | 6.0% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Royal University Hospital Foundation | 83.0 | 70% | 94% | C+ | 4.5% | 20.4% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Health Sciences Centre Foundation | 82.0 | 55% | 100% | C- | 10.3% | 13.3% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Opération Enfant Soleil | 81.8 | 61% | 97% | B- | 7.5% | 18.4% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation | 81.0 | 77% | 81% | B- | 3.0% | 19.1% | Low funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Charity name | Total points | Transparency | Financial efficiency | Social results transparency | Administration costs as a % of revenue | Fundraising costs as a % of donations | Need for donations | Salary of highest-paid employee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chalice Canada | 97.0 | 92% | 100% | A | 4.3% | 5.9% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| WE Charity | 97.0 | 92% | 100% | A | 6.0% | 3.5% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Canadian Foodgrains Bank | 95.5 | 89% | 100% | A- | 6.7% | 8.4% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Emergency Relief and Development Overseas | 95.5 | 89% | 100% | A- | 5.2% | 10.7% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Farm Radio International | 95.5 | 89% | 100% | A- | 10.0% | 8.0% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Opportunity International Canada | 95.5 | 89% | 100% | A- | 3.4% | 12.7% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Humanitarian Coalition | 94.0 | 85% | 100% | B+ | 10.4% | 5.7% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Mennonite Central Committee Canada | 94.0 | 85% | 100% | B+ | 8.4% | 2.5% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Primate's World Relief and Development Fund | 94.0 | 85% | 100% | B+ | 6.8% | 4.0% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| World Renew | 94.0 | 85% | 100% | B+ | 5.2% | 8.9% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Charity name | Total points | Transparency | Financial efficiency | Social results transparency | Administration costs as a % of revenue | Fundraising costs as a % of donations | Need for donations | Salary of highest-paid employee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary Food Bank | 100.0 | 100% | 100% | A+ | 3.8% | 1.9% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| George Hull Centre for Children and Families | 97.5 | 100% | 97% | A+ | 3.6% | 17.9% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Feed Nova Scotia | 97.5 | 100% | 97% | A+ | 4.5% | 17.2% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Food Banks Canada | 97.0 | 92% | 100% | A | 2.0% | 6.7% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| The Mississauga Food Bank | 97.0 | 92% | 100% | A | 4.2% | 11.4% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Feed Ontario | 97.0 | 92% | 100% | A | 5.2% | 0.0% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Indspire | 97.0 | 92% | 100% | A | 9.9% | 13.2% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Canadian Red Cross | 95.5 | 89% | 100% | A- | 2.0% | 9.7% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Hope Air | 95.5 | 89% | 100% | A- | 3.8% | 13.3% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| MADA Community Center | 95.5 | 89% | 100% | A- | 8.9% | 2.0% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Charity name | Total points | Transparency | Financial efficiency | Social results transparency | Administration costs as a % of revenue | Fundraising costs as a % of donations | Need for donations | Salary of highest-paid employee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Boundless School | 97.0 | 92% | 100% | A | 2.9% | 7.0% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Youth Without Shelter | 97.0 | 92% | 100% | A | 5.4% | 13.9% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Children's Cottage Society | 95.5 | 89% | 100% | A- | 6.1% | 7.5% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Trails Youth Initiatives | 95.5 | 89% | 100% | A- | 5.6% | 5.2% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada | 95.5 | 89% | 100% | A- | 10.2% | 0.0% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Toronto Foundation for Student Success | 95.5 | 89% | 100% | A- | 2.4% | 10.4% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Youth Employment Services | 95.5 | 89% | 100% | A- | 3.6% | 14.4% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| 360°kids | 94.0 | 85% | 100% | B+ | 8.0% | 11.4% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada | 94.0 | 85% | 100% | B+ | 12.3% | 10.1% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| CityKidz | 92.5 | 81% | 100% | B | 7.5% | 10.2% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa | 92.5 | 81% | 100% | B | 6.0% | 5.7% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| Canadian Tire Jumpstart | 92.5 | 81% | 100% | B | 7.9% | 7.8% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
| President's Choice Children's Charity | 92.5 | 81% | 100% | B | 5.6% | 4.2% | High funding need | Top salary within expected range |
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Chalice, Canada – an International Charitable Organization is rated as top charitable organization in Canada . I feel proud and congratulate the staff work under Chalice, Canada. Your service to the people made a great and a positive impact on the lives of the poor and marginalized people in India. May God continue to bless you.
Hello …. I live in Lambton County, Ontario. Are the charitable organizations (Rebound, Inn of the Good Shepherd, Petrolia Food Bank, St, Joseph’s Hospice, etc.) here also evaluated? If so, where would I access your rating?
Thank you,
Tara Jessop
Where is the Heart & Stroke or the Cancer Society the main donor organizations?
I love this resource. Good to know which charities maximize my donation dollar instead of eating it up in salary. I like to know exactly what portion of my dollar gets to the ground.
I prefer your past years stays, where you actually listed the CEO salary. I can’t stomach high paid CEO’s for charities and so this info is important to me.
Very surprised to see WE Charity make this list considering that it is mired in controversy.
What’s the Cdn equivalent of St Jude’s Children’s Fund & how does it rate?
Have you evaluated any of the following organizations:
1/ War Amps Ontario
2/ Veterans Transition Network
3/ Plan International Canada Gifts of Hope
I have donated to each of these organizations for a few to several years..but I see no reference to any of them in your rankings…. I would like to know why they are absent from your evaluations.
Would it be possible to name organizations to avoid or do legal concerns, for doing so, make that unrealistic?
Due to the large volume of comments we receive, we regret that we are unable to respond directly to each one. We invite you to email your question to [email protected], where it will be considered for a future response by one of our expert columnists. For personal advice, we suggest consulting with your financial institution or a qualified advisor.
Is there a rating for FINCA Canada? Their activities would seem to be in the area of International aid.