Fewer Canadian charities dipping into their reserve funds: Survey

Author Abigail Turner

More than half of Canadian non-profits (57 per cent) say they haven’t had to draw on their reserve or emergency funds this year, according to a new survey by Carlton University’s Financial Health and Funding Outlook.

The findings suggest non-profits appear to show signs of stability rather than growth.

The outlook comes despite ongoing economic uncertainty, affordability challenges and the effects of tariffs.

The results also show nearly half (41 per cent) of non-profits expect to break even by the end of 2025, while 25 per cent say they’ll finish the year with a surplus,  a modest but encouraging shift for a sector that has faced long-standing financial strain.

Looking to next year, 15 per cent of non-profits believe their funding would increase in 2026, 53 per cent anticipate it staying the same, and 21 per cent expect a decrease.

Tell us this made you smarter | Contact us | Report error

  • Abigail Turner is an award-nominated journalist who began her career in broadcast journalism. She worked primarily as a video journalist in Winnipeg before moving to Vancouver. Turner has taken on various roles in her career, including anchor and producer, while working in major outlets, including Global News and CTV News. She recently became the Special Projects Reporter at Future of Good.

    View all posts