RBC published the findings of a recent poll, which was conducted online between May 27 and 29, 2026. A total of 1001 surveys were completed by adults aged 18 and older. The poll was part of a national campaign to raise awareness of the importance of the sector and the critical role it plays in helping to support Canadians and build stronger communities. According to the poll, close to 40% of Canadians reported using charity or nonprofit services over the past 12 months; an equal number (two in five) were unaware that the institutions they relied on most were part of the sector.
Which charities and nonprofits are Canadians relying on most?
- Healthcare services are the most utilized (68%), far exceeding food (26%) and education (15%).
- Canadians also recorded significant reliance on services related to housing (12%), social programming (12%), employment (9%), professional/skill development (6%) and cultural or recreational programming (6%).
Who uses charitable and nonprofit services?
- While many Canadians access these services, most (79%) engagement is occasional; however, one in five (21%) users rely on them regularly, leveraging these services to help them get by.
- Younger Canadians are more likely than older generations to access services for education and employment, while older Canadians rely more heavily on healthcare supports. Gen Z (44%) reported the highest usage among all generations.
- Canadians with children are significantly more likely than those without children to have used a charity or nonprofit in the last 12 months (49% vs. 36%).
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