By Peter Henderson on November 28, 2019

Canada’s top-rated charities 2020: Top 100

By Peter Henderson on November 28, 2019

Use this interactive table to learn about the country’s most highly rated charitable organizations, based on specific criteria including financial efficiency and transparency.

The United Way’s Calgary and Area chapter earned 97 out of 100 points and a top-10 place in this year’s Charity 100.

Overview Top 100 Charity Grades by Sector Methodology

The organizations included in our list range from large hospital foundations to local food banks, from local homeless shelters to international aid groups. Their missions are inspired by various ideologies and beliefs, and they are run by and for Canadians of all kinds.

According to both the American watchdog organization Charity Navigator and CanadaHelps, itself a registered charity focussed on boosting giving across Canada, fully 30% of charitable giving occurs in December. Our goal is to inform readers and provide them with the information they need as the giving season begins. Click here for the methodology we followed to arrive at this list.

Charity name	Total points	Transparency	Financial efficiency	Social results transparency	Sector	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+	Social Services - Food Bank (Distributor)	3.8%	1.9%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
George Hull Centre for Children and Families	97.5	100%	97%	A+	Social Services	3.6%	17.9%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Feed Nova Scotia	97.5	100%	97%	A+	Social Services - Food Bank (Multi-Service Agency)	4.5%	17.2%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Bruce Trail Conservancy	97.0	92%	100%	A	Environment	11.3%	11.1%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
United Way of Calgary and Area	97.0	92%	100%	A	Fundraising Org	9.1%	7.0%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
United Way of the Alberta Capital Region	97.0	92%	100%	A	Fundraising Org	7.8%	10.4%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
United Way Ottawa	97.0	92%	100%	A	Fundraising Org	10.9%	11.6%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Victoria Hospice Society	97.0	92%	100%	A	Health - Palliative	9.6%	13.9%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Chalice Canada	97.0	92%	100%	A	International Aid	4.3%	5.9%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
WE Charity	97.0	92%	100%	A	International Aid	6.0%	3.5%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
The Boundless School	97.0	92%	100%	A	Social Services - At-Risk Youth	2.9%	7.0%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Youth Without Shelter	97.0	92%	100%	A	Social Services - At-Risk Youth	5.4%	13.9%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Food Banks Canada	97.0	92%	100%	A	Social Services - Food Bank (Distributor)	2.0%	6.7%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
The Mississauga Food Bank	97.0	92%	100%	A	Social Services - Food Bank (Distributor)	4.2%	11.4%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Feed Ontario	97.0	92%	100%	A	Social Services - Food Bank (Multi-Service Agency)	5.2%	0.0%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Wesley Urban Ministries	97.0	92%	100%	A	Social Services - Homeless	6.8%	12.6%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Indspire	97.0	92%	100%	A	Social Services - Indigenous	9.9%	13.2%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Toronto Humane Society	95.5	89%	100%	A-	Animal Welfare	7.2%	7.4%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Alberta Conservation Association	95.5	89%	100%	A-	Environment	6.5%	0.0%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Centraide of Greater Montreal (United Way Montreal)	95.5	89%	100%	A-	Fundraising Org	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-	Fundraising Org	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-	Fundraising Org	8.3%	14.5%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Praxis Spinal Cord Institute	95.5	89%	100%	A-	Health	2.2%	0.0%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Canadian Foodgrains Bank	95.5	89%	100%	A-	International Aid	6.7%	8.4%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Emergency Relief and Development Overseas	95.5	89%	100%	A-	International Aid	5.2%	10.7%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Farm Radio International	95.5	89%	100%	A-	International Aid	10.0%	8.0%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Opportunity International Canada	95.5	89%	100%	A-	International Aid	3.4%	12.7%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Canadian Red Cross	95.5	89%	100%	A-	Social Services	2.0%	9.7%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Hope Air	95.5	89%	100%	A-	Social Services	3.8%	13.3%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
MADA Community Center	95.5	89%	100%	A-	Social Services	8.9%	2.0%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Mennonite Central Committee Ontario	95.5	89%	100%	A-	Social Services	4.7%	6.5%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Children's Cottage Society	95.5	89%	100%	A-	Social Services - At-Risk Youth	6.1%	7.5%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Trails Youth Initiatives	95.5	89%	100%	A-	Social Services - At-Risk Youth	5.6%	5.2%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Calgary Homeless Foundation	95.5	89%	100%	A-	Social Services - Homeless	9.5%	0.6%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Fresh Start Recovery Centre	95.5	89%	100%	A-	Social Services - Homeless (Addiction Recovery)	3.5%	13.7%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Covenant House Vancouver	95.5	88.7%	100%	A-	Social Services - Homeless (Shelter)	5.1%	14.7%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Discovery House	95.5	89%	100%	A-	Social Services - Women	6.6%	11.2%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
The Redwood	95.5	89%	100%	A-	Social Services - Women	8.9%	13.7%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada	95.5	89%	100%	A-	Social Services - Youth	10.2%	0.0%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Toronto Foundation for Student Success	95.5	89%	100%	A-	Social Services - Youth	2.4%	10.4%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Youth Employment Services	95.5	89%	100%	A-	Social Services - Youth	3.6%	14.4%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Hospice of Greater Saint John	95.0	100%	94%	A+	Health - Palliative	7.7%	23.9%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Habitat for Humanity Edmonton	95.0	100%	94%	A+	Social Services - Housing	8.6%	24.1%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
BC SPCA	94.5	92%	97%	A	Animal Welfare	8.7%	16.6%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
World Federation of Hemophilia	94.5	92%	97%	A	Health	2.0%	18.9%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Second Harvest	94.5	92%	97%	A	Social Services - Food Bank (Distributor)	2.3%	15.2%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Greater Vancouver Food Bank	94.5	92%	97%	A	Social Services - Food Bank (Multi-Service Agency)	10.6%	17.1%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Lookout Housing and Health Society	94.5	92%	97%	A	Social Services - Homeless	7.9%	15.5%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Nature Canada	94.0	85%	100%	B+	Environment	3.5%	10.0%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto	94.0	85%	100%	B+	Fundraising Org	8.1%	7.1%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Brain Canada	94.0	85%	100%	B+	Health	N/A	N/A	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Humanitarian Coalition	94.0	85%	100%	B+	International Aid	10.4%	5.7%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Mennonite Central Committee Canada	94.0	85%	100%	B+	International Aid	8.4%	2.5%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Primate's World Relief and Development Fund	94.0	85%	100%	B+	International Aid	6.8%	4.0%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
World Renew	94.0	85%	100%	B+	International Aid	5.2%	8.9%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Mennonite Central Committee British Columbia	94.0	85%	100%	B+	Social Services	7.2%	8.4%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Mennonite Central Committee Manitoba	94.0	85%	100%	B+	Social Services	5.2%	6.9%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Momentum Community Economic Development Society	94.0	85%	100%	B+	Social Services	8.4%	2.7%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
St. Stephen's Community House	94.0	85%	100%	B+	Social Services	8.0%	4.1%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
360°kids	94.0	85%	100%	B+	Social Services - At-Risk Youth	8.0%	11.4%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Homes First	94.0	85%	100%	B+	Social Services - Homeless	9.8%	14.3%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Our Place	94.0	85%	100%	B+	Social Services - Homeless (shelter)	11.5%	14.8%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter	94.0	85%	100%	B+	Social Services - Women	8.3%	8.5%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada	94.0	85%	100%	B+	Social Services - Youth	12.3%	10.1%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Habitat for Humanity Manitoba	93.7	84%	100%	A	Social Services - Housing	5.9%	8.3%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Knowledge Network	93.0	89%	97%	A-	Education	12.4%	19.9%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
United Way of Winnipeg	93.0	89%	97%	A-	Fundraising Org	2.6%	18.1%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
CODE	93.0	89%	97%	A-	International Aid	5.7%	19.0%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
International Justice Mission Canada	93.0	89%	97%	A-	International Aid	9.4%	17.5%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Furniture Bank	93.0	89%	97%	A-	Social Services	6.6%	18.9%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Calgary Drop-in	93.0	89%	97%	A-	Social Services - Homeless	3.8%	15.4%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society	92.5	81%	100%	B	Animal Welfare	11.6%	13.1%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
First Book Canada	92.5	81%	100%	B	Education	3.0%	0.0%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Frontier College	92.5	81%	100%	B	Education	4.3%	6.8%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society	92.5	81%	100%	B	Environment	12.3%	7.3%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Evergreen	92.5	81%	100%	B	Environment	6.5%	3.8%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
United Way Greater Toronto	92.5	81%	100%	B	Fundraising Org	5.1%	12.7%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
United Way of Regina	92.5	81%	100%	B	Fundraising Org	3.9%	14.7%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
ALS BC	92.5	81%	100%	B	Health	12.0%	12.7%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Compassion Canada	92.5	81%	100%	B	International Aid	5.6%	9.6%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
International Development and Relief Foundation	92.5	81%	100%	B	International Aid	3.8%	10.0%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Islamic Relief Canada	92.5	81%	100%	B	International Aid	2.4%	12.9%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Oxfam Quebec	92.5	81%	100%	B	International Aid	7.3%	13.2%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
War Child Canada	92.5	81%	100%	B	International Aid	2.6%	4.1%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
World University Service of Canada	92.5	81%	100%	B	International Aid	6.6%	11.1%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Canadian Constitution Foundation	92.5	81%	100%	B	Public Benefit	4.4%	0.7%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Salvation Army	92.5	81%	100%	B	Social Services	7.1%	11.6%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
CityKidz	92.5	81%	100%	B	Social Services - At-Risk Youth	7.5%	10.2%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
The Alex	92.5	81%	100%	B	Social Services - Homeless	4.0%	0.7%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Habitat for Humanity Niagara	92.5	81%	100%	B	Social Services - Housing	11.2%	14.2%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
YWCA Calgary	92.5	81%	100%	B	Social Services - Women	5.1%	10.3%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa	92.5	81%	100%	B	Social Services - Youth	6.0%	5.7%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Canadian Tire Jumpstart	92.5	81%	100%	B	Social Services - Youth	7.9%	7.8%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
President's Choice Children's Charity	92.5	81%	100%	B	Social Services - Youth	5.6%	4.2%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Canadian Olympic Foundation	92.5	81%	100%	B	Sports & Recreation	N/A	N/A	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Jewish General Hospital Foundation	92.5	81%	100%	B	Health - Hospital Foundation	4.2%	14.4%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Nature Conservancy Canada	92.0	92%	94%	A	Environment	11.0%	21.0%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Operation Eyesight Universal	92.0	92%	94%	A	International Aid	6.1%	23.9%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
World Vision Canada	92.0	92%	94%	A	International Aid	5.8%	21.6%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range
Daily Bread Food Bank	92.0	92%	94%	A	Social Services - Food Bank (Distributor)	3.3%	22.1%	High funding need	Top salary within expected range