Oxfam Canada is a 2-star charity with Low demonstrated impact. It has strong disclosure, with an A grade for results reporting. Its funding reserves are within Ci’s reasonable range and can cover seven months of annual program costs. For every dollar donated to Oxfam Canada, 56 cents are available to go to the cause, which is outside Ci’s reasonable range.

Oxfam Canada (OXC), established in 1963, is an international development charity that works to reduce poverty by advancing women's rights and gender equality. OXC reports that poverty is driven by inequality, stating that up to 150 million fewer people could experience hunger if women had equal access to the resources needed for farming. It also states that two thirds of the 800 million people over the age of 15 who cannot read or write are women, and that worldwide, women earn 23% less than men.

As a member of Oxfam International, the charity works to address these systemic inequalities through its programs: Long-Term Development, Emergency Response, and Advocacy and Campaigning. In F2025, Oxfam Canada spent $32.9m on its programs. OXC directly benefited 14.6 million people, supported 530 women's rights organizations, and provided funding to 1,397 partner organizations. On average, it cost Oxfam Canada $3 for every person it reached in F2025.

Long-Term Development accounted for 60% of program spending in F2025, supporting projects in 25 countries. It aims to help people assert their rights and build better lives for themselves by promoting sustainable gender equality and combatting gender roles. The charity conducted 44 workshops, training girls on their rights to live free from gender-based violence, and access support services. It ran seven gender equality public campaigns in F2025, reaching 851,796 people. OXC also provided sexuality education for 17,648 youths in Mozambique and Uganda.

Emergency Response represented 28% of F2025 program spending. It responds to crises including climate induced disasters, conflicts, and other emergencies, delivering food, shelter, money, and protection services. OXC distributed 45,843 hygiene kits, 49,573 dignity and menstrual health kits, and 67,400 water kits in F2025. The charity repaired or installed 737 water points, serving 651,345 people, and distributed food assistance to 18,703 vulnerable individuals or households.

Advocacy and Campaigning accounted for the remaining 12% of program spending in F2025. These projects seek to influence public policy and address the root causes of poverty and inequality. In F2025, OXC mobilized more than 16,000 supporters to advocate for an end to Canadian arms sales to Israel, brought together over 200 participants at its Fair Fashion Festival, and published its seventh annual Feminist Scorecard, which assesses government inaction on key policy areas.

Oxfam Canada’s audited financial statements follow activity-based costing, which is a best practice. This means its expenses are clearly defined between program, administrative, and fundraising categories.

The charity had total revenues of $43.3m in F2025. It received $11.3m in Canadian donations, representing 26% of revenue, and $1.9m in international donations. Government funding was $21.4m, accounting for 49% of revenue.

OXC spent $32.9m on its programs, which is 76% of its revenue. The charity recorded a surplus of $2.8m in F2025.

Administrative costs were $3.5m, representing 8% of revenue (excluding investment income). It spent $4.1m on fundraising, equal to 36% of donations. Total overhead spending was 44%. For every dollar donated to Oxfam Canada, 56 cents are available to go to the cause. This is outside Ci’s reasonable range.

OXC uses external fundraisers, as reported on its T3010 filing with the CRA. In F2025, the charity paid the external fundraisers $2.7m to collect $7.5m in donations. This equates to a cost of 36 cents to raise one dollar using external fundraisers.

Oxfam Canada held $20.5m in reserve funds (cash and investments) in F2025. These reserves can cover seven months of annual program costs. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

This is a charity update that has been sent to Oxfam Canada by Neela Jalilian on July 2, 2026.