Food Banks Quebec is a 4-star, financially transparent charity with an excellent A+ results reporting grade. Its reserves can finance 26% or slightly over three months of its annual program spending and it has 1% overhead, though it does not report the amount spent on fundraising meaning this is likely understated. For every dollar donated,  the charity reports that 99 cents are available to go to the cause.

Founded in 1988 and serving people in Quebec, Food Banks of Quebec (FBQ) buys, collects, organizes, and distributes food to its network of 33 organizations across the province. The charity also distributes grants to its network that help its members run food distribution operations. According to FBQ’s latest 2024 Hunger Report, its grantees are facing unprecedented demand due to the rising cost of living, with over 556,000 people each month visiting one of FBQ’s agency members.

FBQ runs two program groups: food distribution and agency member support. The charity spent $27.7m cash on its program operations, distributed $22.6m worth of grants, and distributed $126.4m worth of food in the March 2025 fiscal year (F2025).

Food distribution is FBQ’s main program. The charity distributes food to its 33-member agency network who then distributes food to over 1,300 local food banks before being given out to those in need. In F2025, FBQ distributed 24.8m kg of food (10.0m kg of which was recovered food from supermarkets that would have otherwise gone to waste) – a 30% increase from 19.1m kg distributed in F2024.

Agency member support includes FBQ’s granting operations. In F2025, FBQ distributed $22.6m (adjusted for grants payable) to 33 organizations. These grants help its network train new staff, renovate existing facilities, and create new programs. According to the charity, these grants helped its network distribute $346m worth of food across Quebec in F2025.

Food Banks of Quebec’s audited financial statements do not clearly report fundraising expenses meaning the charity follows line-item costing, which is not a best practice. Accordingly, Ci referred to the charity's T3010 filings with the CRA to report fundraising. Since its F2025 T3010 filings were not available at the time of this report, Ci reported zero fundraising expenses. This is likely understated.

In F2025, FBQ received $17.7m in cash donations and special events revenue (38% of cash revenue) and $28.5m of government funding (61% of cash revenue). It also received and purchased $126.4m worth of donated food in F2025.

Administrative costs are 1% of total revenue excluding investment income and the charity reports no fundraising costs. Its 1% overhead means that for every dollar donated, 99 cents are available to go to the cause. This is outside Ci's reasonable range and is likely underreported.

FBQ spent $27.7m cash on its program operations – a 35% increase from $20.6m spent in F2024. In F2025, FBQ began distributing gift cards to members located in remote regions. According to the charity, this is more cost efficient given the lack of infrastructure needed to handle large food delivery shipments in these regions.

Profile updated by Julian Dranitsaris on August 20, 2025. Comments and corrections may be forthcoming.

Questions? Contact jdranitsaris@charityintelligence.ca