Rick Hansen Foundation is a 4-star charity. It has an A Results Reporting grade, which is above average. For every dollar donated to the charity, 67 cents are available to go to the cause, which is just within Ci's reasonable range. 

In 1985, Rick Hansen started the Man in Motion World Tour to create awareness of the potential of people with disabilities and to raise money to remove barriers.  As a Paralympic athlete, Rick wheeled 40,000 kilometres over two years and raised $26 million. In 1988, after the tour, the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) was created. The charity works to make a world without barriers for people with disabilities through accessibility ratings, certification, training and grants; removing barriers to nature; youth education, mentorship, and scholarships; and spinal cord injury research programs. The charity reports that eight million Canadian adults have one or more disabilities. In F2024, it spent $11.7m on its programs.

A Charity Intelligence 2024 Top 100 Rated Charity.

Accessibility represented 57% of program costs in F2024. This program uses the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) rating system. RHFAC determines the accessibility of commercial, institutional, and multi-family residential buildings. In F2024, RHF rated 147 sites, an increase from 122 in F2023. Since the founding of this program, RHF has rated 1,930 sites across 350 communities. The charity estimates that 1 million people visited sites approved by RHF’s Accessibility Certification. In F2024, 1,804 people enrolled in the RHFAC course, and 598 enrolled in the RHFAC training course. The charity worked with 150 organizations to remove physical barriers in 81 communities across Canada.

Awareness and Education represented 28% of program costs in F2024. RHF educates people about the importance of accessibility and the issues facing those with disabilities. The charity also advocates for government regulations that promote equality and teaches schools about accessibility and inclusion. In F2024, RHF collaborated with 35 disability organizations to advocate for the passage of Bill C-22, the Canada Disability Benefit Act. The charity reached 18,800 youths through 96 Ambassador presentations. RHF also granted $937,000 to help fund tuition for 527 disabled students. RHF recorded 5,200 visits to its School Resource Library in F2024.

Research represented 14% of program costs in F2024. RHF works to find a cure for paralysis and improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. RHF continued its funding of “Quality in the Built Environment”, a five-year collaborative project of 70 researchers, 14 universities, and 67 public and private organizations. The research focuses on how those active advocacy and accessibility regulations can improve quality of life and increase social value.

Rich Hansen Foundation’s audited financial statements use activity-based costing, which is a best practice.

RHF received $4.0m in donations in F2024 and $5.9m in government funding, which is 47% of revenue. The charity spent $11.7m on its programs, which is 92% of revenue. RHF recorded a deficit of $1.3m, meaning it drew on its reserves to fund its operations.

RHF spent $767k on fundraising, which is 19% of donations, and $1.5m on administration, which is 14% of revenue (excluding investment income). Total overhead spending is 33%. For every dollar donated, 67 cents are available to go to the cause, which is within Ci’s reasonable range.

RHF has $17.2m in reserve funds (cash and investments). These reserves can cover annual program costs for 1 year and 5 months. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Rick Hansen Foundation for review.

Updated on August 7, 2025 by Liam Chapleau.