Recently Statistics Canada released preliminary estimates of charitable giving for 2023, based on T1 Personal Income Tax Returns. As of publication, these are the most recent figures available measuring charitable giving. While they are preliminary and systematically understate total giving when compared to final taxation statistics, they are a useful indicator of giving trends. This Research Note reviews these recent developments and serves as an update to our previous Research Bulletin¹ that examined charitable giving trends in greater detail.
While total charitable donations claimed on tax returns rose to $12.8 billion, giving remains below 2021 levels when adjusted for inflation and only 16.8% of tax filers donated—the lowest rate ever recorded. Donations continue to rely heavily on older, high-income donors.