UNICEF Canada is a 3-star charity with Fair demonstrated impact. It has below average disclosure with a B- results reporting grade. It holds reserves within Ci’s reasonable range. For every dollar donated to UNICEF Canada, 73 cents are available to go to the cause. 

Founded in 1955, UNICEF Canada raises money for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). UNICEF is a UN agency that aims to protect children’s rights across the globe. UNICEF Canada’s mission is to empower Canadians to invest in the improvement of every child’s future. The charity provides lifesaving humanitarian aid including water, vaccines, and medical equipment to people in vulnerable communities. In the fiscal year ending December 2025, UNICEF Canada spent $45.0m to fund UNICEF’s international programs and spent $4.5m on advocacy and research programs in Canada.

The charity reports that one in five children worldwide grow up in a country facing a crisis lasting five years or more, and more than 600 million children and adolescents lack adequate math and literacy skills. In Canada, 20% of children live in poverty. Globally, vaccination rates are at their lowest level in 30 years, more than 2.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, and 640 million girls and women alive today were married before age 18.

UNICEF Canada mostly reports the results of UNICEF, the international charity. In 2025, the charity ran 6 main programs: Highest Priority Needs; Emergency Response; Education; Canadian Advocacy and Research; Health Nutrition and HIV AIDS; and Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, Child Protection and Climate.

Highest Priority Needs accounted for 35% of program costs in 2025. UNICEF provides basic needs to children in the most danger around the world. This program area acts as a flexible fund that allows UNICEF Canada to respond quickly wherever children are the most at risk. The charity did not clearly report which program(s) these funds supported in 2025. In 2025, UNICEF delivered lifesaving Survival Gifts (items such as blankets and food) to 23,038 children.

Emergency Response accounted for 24% of program costs in 2025. UNICEF provides humanitarian aid to people in emergency situations. In 2025, UNICEF Canada provided aid in Afghanistan, Gaza/Israel, Lebanon, Sudan and Ukraine. In Afghanistan, UNICEF helped over 20 million people access essential health services, screened 11.8 million children for wasting caused by acute malnutrition, and reached over 2.6 million people with essential water, sanitation, and hygiene supplies across all 34 provinces. In Gaza, UNICEF built 900 latrines, screened over 1 million children under five for malnutrition, and reached 1.3 million people with sanitation services. In Lebanon, UNICEF distributed 607 education kits across 104 shelters, reaching 30,350 children with learning supplies, recreational materials, and LEGO play boxes. It also supplied over 280,000 litres of fuel to water points and repaired 42 water systems and six wastewater systems. In Sudan, UNICEF vaccinated 1.3 million children against measles and admitted 612,134 children with severe wasting for lifesaving treatment. It reached 3.3 million children and caregivers with community-based mental health and psychosocial support, and provided 3.2 million children with access to education. The charity did not report specific results for Ukraine.

Education accounted for 26% of program costs in 2025. UNICEF works to enroll children in schools, train teachers, improve education infrastructure, and increase access to education materials in poor countries. In 2025, 6.9 million children accessed education services through UNICEF. UNICEF Canada also partners with the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation to equip adolescent girls in Uganda with life skills and challenge gender norms in their communities. Across six districts, the program has reached nearly 15,000 adolescents in 214 schools, with over 900 community members joining related activities.

Canadian Advocacy and Research accounted for 8% of program costs in 2025. UNICEF Canada advocates for children's rights within Canada and produces research comparing child wellbeing in Canada to that in other wealthy countries. In 2025, UNICEF Canada published the Canadian Companion to UNICEF Report Card 19, sharing its findings through media outreach and engagement with more than 50 parliamentarians, staff, and officials. The charity also engaged 3,182 Canadian youth as U-Reporters on issues like climate change and mental health through its digital polling platform.

The remaining 7% of program costs supported Health, Nutrition, HIV, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and Child Protection programs. In 2025, UNICEF vaccinated 5.7 million children against measles, screened 2.8 million children for wasting (severe malnutrition), provided mental health and psychosocial support to 4.6 million children and caregivers, and reached 21.1 million people with safe water. 

UNICEF Canada's audited financial statements use activity-based costing, a best practice. However, the statements don't clearly label provincial government funding or investment income. Ci instead sourced these figures from the charity's T3010 filing with the CRA.

In 2025, UNICEF Canada earned $85.1m in revenue. It received $81.4m in Canadian donations (96% of total revenue) and $2.9m in international donations (3% of total revenue).

UNICEF Canada spent $19.1m on fundraising, which is 23% of donations, and $3.2m on administration, which is 4% of revenue (excluding investment income). Total overhead spending is 27%. For every dollar donated to UNICEF Canada, 73 cents are available to go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

In 2025, UNICEF Canada spent $4.5m on programs (5% of total revenue) and distributed $45.0m in grants (53% of total revenue). It recorded a $13.3m surplus and spent $9k on capital projects.

UNICEF Canada has $35.5m in reserve funds (cash and investments). These reserves can cover 72%, or roughly nine months of annual program and grant costs. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

In 2025, UNICEF Canada paid external fundraisers $6.5m to raise $16.5m. The cost to raise a dollar using external fundraisers is 40 cents. It is likely cheaper to donate to UNICEF Canada through its website than through external fundraisers.

This charity update has been sent to UNICEF Canada for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming. Updated by Nick Reszetnik on July 20, 2026.