CanadaHelps released the ninth edition of The Giving Report, an annual look at the charitable sector and the state of giving. The Giving Report 2026: The Evolution of Online Giving in Canada explores a significant shift in how donors are giving online. As Canada moves further beyond the pandemic era, the report examines the growth of online giving across the country, and the growing popularity of gifts of securities and monthly donations. The report also delivers practical takeaways to help charities plan and adapt with clarity and confidence.

CanadaHelps leveraged its vast volume and breadth of online giving data with demographic, financial, and psychographic insights from Environics Analytics, as well as new insights from Carleton University’s Charity Insights Project, the report offers a fulsome view of the opportunities in online giving today.

Key trends from The Giving Report 2026:

  • Strategic Giving is On the Rise: The number of securities donors has grown 200% since 2020, while the total value of these gifts has surged 361%.
  • Online Giving Isn’t Just for Cities: A significant geographic shift in giving is underway. While online giving in major hubs like Toronto and Montreal grew notably slower than the national average, Atlantic Canada has emerged as the country’s leader in online growth. Nova Scotia led the way, growing 58 percentage points faster than the national average since 2019 (+168% total), followed by Newfoundland and Labrador (+49% faster) and Prince Edward Island (+47%).
  • Donors Prioritize Local: Canadians are increasingly looking to their own communities. Local and regional organizations are now the largest cause area on CanadaHelps.org, with donations nearly tripling since 2019. In 2025 alone, giving to local causes reached $121.8 million, an 11% increase over the previous year.
  • Growth Areas in 2025: Several sectors saw double-digit growth in 2025, including
    • Environmental causes (+13%)
    • Animal causes (+13%)
    • Social Services (+12%), and
    • Arts and Culture (+12%).
  • Charities Under Pressure: Despite the rise in online dollars, the sector is struggling to keep pace with demand. More than two-thirds of charities report an increased demand for services amid staffing shortages and financial uncertainty. While 88% of organizations are still meeting their mission goals, they are doing so under the weight of national affordability and housing challenges.

The CanadaHelps Giving Report 2026: The Evolution of Online Giving in Canada is available here.