Trends in Canadian Philanthropy

Canadian philanthropy is changing shape. Fewer donors are giving, but those who give are giving more, and they increasingly expect their philanthropy to be as organized as the rest of their financial lives.

Concentration of giving

Across two decades of tax-filer data, the share of Canadians claiming charitable donations has steadily declined, while total donation value has continued to grow. Giving is concentrating among fewer, larger donors, and those donors behave differently: they plan, they involve advisors, and they use structures.

The great wealth transfer

Canada is in the early stages of the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in its history. A meaningful portion of that wealth will move to charity, and families are looking for vehicles that support intentional, multi-generational giving. Donor-advised funds are purpose-built for this moment.

Rising donor expectations

Donors now expect the same digital quality from their giving that they get from their banking: online access, clear statements, fast receipting and responsive service. Programs that cannot deliver that experience will struggle to attract the next generation of philanthropists.

The donors driving Canadian giving today plan their philanthropy the way they plan their investments.

What this means for institutions

For financial institutions and foundations, these trends point in one direction: structured giving is becoming a core client expectation, not a niche offering. The organizations that succeed will pair a compelling giving product with dependable operations behind it. That operational layer is where DSI works every day.