Centraide Montreal is a 4-star charity. It is financially transparent, has reasonable overhead costs, and has an above-average results reporting grade of A-. With its current reserves the charity can cover one year and eleven months of annual program costs.

Founded in 1966, Centraide of Greater Montreal (CGM) raises money to support charities in Montreal and Laval. The charity’s mission is to reduce poverty in Greater Montreal and make it more inclusive. CGM states that 48% of Quebeckers feel a significant level of financial anxiety. It also states that visible minorities are twice as likely to live in poverty as non-visible minorities.

A Charity Intelligence 2024 Top 100 Rated Charity.

Centraide of Greater Montreal focuses on four main areas, listed below. Charity Intelligence estimates CGM spent $63.3m on its programs and grants in its fiscal year ending March 2025 (F2025).

CGM reports that For Decent Living Conditions received 27% of program spending ($19.2m) in F2025. The charity funds agencies that address basic needs such as food and shelter. CGM supported 128 agencies and projects in F2025.

CGM reports that For Young People’s Present and Future Success received 26% of program spending ($18.0m) in F2025. The charity funds agencies that support young people’s development. It states this helps break the cycle of poverty. CGM supported 134 agencies and projects in F2025.

CGM reports that For a Strong and Cohesive Social Fabric received 24% of program spending ($16.8m) in F2025. The charity helps community agencies improve their leadership skills and expand their work. The Dataide subprogram helps agencies improve their digital skills. CGM reports it provided 500 hours of Dataide support to 78 agencies in F2025. CGM supported 142 agencies and projects in F2025.

CGM reports that For Inclusive Communities received 23% of program spending ($16.2m) in F2025. The charity aims to create a community where everyone feels welcome. It funds agencies that help people express themselves, overcome social isolation, and improve their mental health. CGM supported 131 agencies and projects in F2025.

Although CGM’s audited financial statements provide some disclosure on how much it spent on program, administrative, and fundraising activities, it did not break out its costs between fundraising and administration. There also appears to be material inconsistencies between its audited financials statements and its T3010 filing.

In F2025 CGM received $71.3m in donations. Administrative costs are 13% of revenues (excluding investment income). Fundraising costs are 16% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 29%. For every dollar donated, 71 cents are available to go to the cause. This falls within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

In F2025 CGM spent $63.3m on its programs and grants, which is 74% of its revenue. In F2025 it had a deficit of $1.9m.

Centraide of Greater Montreal has $122.0m in reserve funds (cash and investments). The reserves can cover 193%, or one year and eleven months of program costs.

Centraide of Greater Montreal’s F2025 T3010 filing with the CRA is not available at the time of this report. As such, compensation information reflects F2024. CGM’s T3010 filing reports that its three largest grants in F2024 were $2.8m to YMCAs of Quebec, $1.0m to Centre Éducatif Communautaire René-Goupil, and $1.0m to Accueil aux Immigrants de l'Est de Montréal.

CGM’s financial statements report grant commitments of $46.2m for F2026.

This charity report is an update that has been sent for review to Centraide of Greater Montreal. Changes and edits may be forthcoming. 

Updated on June 23, 2025, by Grady Simpson.