Fewer Canadians give to charity every year. Between 2013 and 2023, the proportion of tax filers who gave to charity dropped by more than five percentage points, according to the Fraser Institute’s 2025 Generosity Index. Wealthy families are the exception: according to CanadaHelps, their share of the giving pie has been growing rapidly, and they now account for more than 20 per cent of donations even though they comprise less than 10 per cent of households. But is that sustainable? And if so, how?
For that and other reasons—the rise of donor-advised funds, the complexities of family foundations, the open question of next-gen support for the causes of their parents—these are interesting times not just for charities, but also for philanthropic families. And that is why we are, for the second year, publishing a Special Report on philanthropy, beginning next Monday. Over the course of the month, we’ll be asking experts in the giving sector about the challenges, but also the opportunities, in philanthropy today. (And there are opportunities, from the growth in women’s wealth to strategies to involve the next gen more deeply in family philanthropy.)
Our Special Report will include a closer look at donor-advised funds, and we’ll be publishing a list of the top Canadian DAFs and a discussion of whether the time has come for more regulation of these fast-growing giving platforms. As well, we will look at family foundations, addressing such issues as whether to spend them down or grow them, how to encourage next-gen participation, and some of the common myths about them. And because we firmly believe that generosity should be recognized and applauded, our first-ever list of the largest charitable gifts of the past year will be part of the Special Report.
Sign up, have a voice
We will also be giving readers a chance to hear directly from the experts. On Feb. 26, we will be hosting an online panel exploring the challenges and opportunities around philanthropy and the next-gen, featuring Dr. Sharilyn Hale, principal, Watermark Philanthropic Counsel; Ron Bernbaum, CEO and founder of PearTree Canada; Julie Quenneville, CEO of the UHN Foundation, and Danielle Robinson, national director, philanthropic advisory services, BMO. The “Who will give?” event is free, and you can register online now.
Finally, our February Special Report will also include the results of our second annual philanthropy survey, which is now in field. If you are a donor, an advisor or involved with a charitable family foundation, we encourage you to take the survey. It won’t take more than a few minutes of your time, and you will be making a valuable contribution to the understanding of family offices and philanthropy.
Joe Chidley is Managing Editor of Canadian Family Offices.
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