Fewer small donors are sustaining growth, raising concentration concerns for non-profits
Online charitable giving in Canada in 2025 posted its strongest growth since the pandemic, but a new report suggests the increase is being driven by a narrower group of affluent donors, highlighting a growing concentration risk for nonprofits and the advisors who support philanthropic planning.
CanadaHelps said in its 2026 Giving Report that donations made through its platform reached $529 million in 2025, up 10% from the previous year. The increase amounted to $47 million in additional contributions and marked the largest annual jump in online giving since the COVID-era surge.
The report found that less than 0.5% of donors, or about 3,894 individuals, accounted for more than 16% of all donations through gifts of publicly traded securities. At the same time, the number of donors making large cash contributions expanded sharply, with 40% more donors giving between $1,000 and $9,999 and twice as many contributing $10,000 or more. Donations under $100 fell 17%.
"While the growth in online donations is a milestone, it masks a concerning trend: our charitable ecosystem is becoming increasingly top-heavy," says Duke Chang, President and CEO of CanadaHelps.
"As giving concentrates among a smaller group of wealthy donors, we risk losing the broad, community-wide participation that has historically sustained the work of charities and the Canadians who rely on them. If the generosity gap continues to widen and everyday donors disappear, many charities will soon find themselves without the diverse base of support they need to remain resilient and responsive to local needs."
The findings point to a growing role for advisors in helping clients structure tax-efficient gifts. CanadaHelps reported that the number of donors contributing securities has risen 200% since 2020, while the total value of those gifts has increased 361%.
Where most donors are?
The report also found that charitable giving is becoming more geographically dispersed. While major urban centres such as Toronto and Montreal posted slower growth than the national average, Atlantic Canada led the country in online donation gains. Nova Scotia recorded the strongest expansion, followed by Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island.
Canadians are also directing more money toward organizations in their own communities. Donations to local and regional causes nearly tripled since 2019 and reached $121.8 million in 2025, an 11% increase from the prior year.
Several cause categories posted double-digit growth last year, including environmental and animal organizations, each up 13%, as well as social services and arts and culture, both up 12%.
Despite the increase in online donations, the sector continues to face operational strain. More than two thirds of charities reported rising demand for services amid staffing shortages and financial uncertainty, according to the report.
