Canadian Red Cross is a two-star charity with Low Demonstrated Impact. It has an above-average results reporting grade and is financially transparent. For every dollar donated, 56 cents are available to go to the cause, which is outside Ci's reasonable range. 

Founded in 1896, Canadian Red Cross (CRC) works to improve the lives of vulnerable people around the world. CRC is one of the 192 groups included in the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). In F2024, CRC’s main emergency priorities were wildfires across the Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. The charity also provided emergency support in Sudan, Türkiye, Syria, Mexico, Nepal, Ukraine, Gaza, and other countries around the world. Charity Intelligence was only able to update Canadian Red Cross's financial information for F2025. Program information refer to F2024 results. 

Canadian Red Cross has two main programs: Humanitarian Services and Health. 

In F2024, 83% of total program spending ($430.2m) went towards Humanitarian Services. Of this, $407.3m (95% of humanitarian services) was for Emergency Management, and $22.9m (5%) was for international programming. This program provides shelter, food, clothing, and supplies to people harmed by disasters in Canada and the rest of the world. In F2024, CRC deployed personnel in support of 29 emergency responses (outside of personal disasters) in Canada. The charity supported ten recovery operations. CRC states that over 81,000 people in Canada were supported after an emergency. Globally, CRC operated 39 programs in 27 countries supporting local Red Cross Red Crescent societies. The charity granted over $52m in financial contribution to global Red Cross Red Crescent efforts. 

In F2024, 17% of program spending ($85.8m) went to the Health program. This program operates in Canada to help improve the health and wellbeing of people and communities. In F2024, CRC loaned 303,958 pieces of medical equipment to those in need. Through the Meals on Wheels program, the CRC distributed 257,364 meals. The charity delivered 146,000 First Aid courses to over 869,000 individuals across Canada. 

Canadian Red Cross's audited financial statements use activity-based costing, which is a best practice. Ci used the charity's T3010 filing with the CRA to report government funding, fees for service, investment income, and international donations, as the charity's financial statements did not disclose this revenue. 

In F2025, Canadian Red Cross received $128.8m in Canadian donations. The charity also received $243k in government funding, which is 54% of revenue. The charity spent $444.7m on its programs, which is 98% of revenue and recorded a deficit of $61.0m. 

CRC spent $51.2m on fundraising, which is 40% of donations, and $16.7m on administration, which is 4% of revenue (excluding investment income). Total overhead spending is 44%. For every dollar donated, 56 cents are available to go to the cause, which is outside Ci's reasonable range. 

CRC has $303.1m in reserve funds (cash and investments), including $2.3m in donor-endowed funds. Excluding donor-endowed funds, the charity's reserves can cover annual program costs for eight months, which is within Ci's reasonable range. 

Canadian Red Cross uses external fundraisers. In F2025, the charity paid fundraisers $9.3m to collect $22.1m. In F2025, it cost 42 cents to raise a dollar through external fundraisers. 

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Canadian Red Cross for review.

Updated on September 5, 2025 by Liam Chapleau.