Canadian charities are struggling, affecting millions of Canadians in need.Meanwhile, Canadian grant-making foundations hold more than $175 billion in assets (2024), an increase of +18% versus 2023.
The Solution
At a time when charitable needs are rising, the rapid accumulation of tax-assisted charitable assets warrants reconsideration of the minimum annual payout requirement of foundations as good tax policy.
Increase the Grants is a Canadian public-policy initiative founded and largely supported by GIV3. It examines how Canada’s grant-making foundations accumulate and distribute charitable assets.
A higher Disbursement Quota (DQ) would ensure more tax-assisted charitable capital reaches charities and communities sooner than currently observed.
A 10% DQ would trigger an incremental $6.5 Billion for charitable purposes, each year, with zero cost to taxpayers.
And this is what Canadian taxpayers want (Ipsos poll).
Learn more
Facts at a Glance (2024)
CRA T3010 data; GIV3 analysis
| Measure | Finding | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Number of grant-making foundations | 11,000+ | |
| Estimated total foundation assets | $175.6B | +18% increase versus 2023 |
| Private foundation disbursement ratio | 5.9% | −0.4% decline versus 2023 (6.3%) |
| … asset increase from 2023 | +21.0% | |
| Public foundation disbursement ratio | 19.2% | +2.1% increase versus 2023 (17.1%) |
| … asset increase from 2023 | +11.0% | |
| Estimated incremental funding at 10% DQ | +$6.5B, annually | |
| Cost to Taxpayers | $0 |
This is a simplified analytical summary to make important points and is not identical to the statutory DQ calculation.