Oxfam Canada
STAR RATINGCi's Star Rating is calculated based on the following independent metrics: |
✔+
FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY
Audited financial statements for current and previous years available on the charity’s website.
A-
RESULTS REPORTING
Grade based on the charity's public reporting of the work it does and the results it achieves.
Low
DEMONSTRATED IMPACT
The demonstrated impact per dollar Ci calculates from available program information.
NEED FOR FUNDING
Charity's cash and investments (funding reserves) relative to how much it spends on programs in most recent year.
61%
CENTS TO THE CAUSE
For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 61 cents are available for programs.
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OVERVIEW
About Oxfam Canada:
Oxfam Canada is a two-star charity with Low Demonstrated Impact. It has an A- Results Reporting grade, which is above average. For every dollar donated, 61 cents are available to go to the cause, which is outside of Ci's reasonable range.
Founded in 1963, Oxfam Canada (OXC) is an international aid charity focused on improving the material conditions of women and girls around the world. OXC is a branch of the charity Oxfam International, which has affiliated chapters across the world. OXC states that gender-based violence is one of the most prevalent human rights violations that disproportionally affects women, girls, and people from other disadvantaged populations worldwide. It also reports that globally, complications during pregnancy and childbirth are the second leading cause of death for girls aged 15 to 19. OXC’s main programs are Long Term Development, Humanitarian Aid, and Advocacy and Campaigning. In 2024, Oxfam Canada spent $34.7m on its programs. At the time of this update, Oxfam Canada's 2024 impact report was not yet available. While financial information refers to 2024, program information refers to 2023.
OXC’s Long Term Development programs account for 73% of OXC’s program spending, receiving $21m in 2023. OXC aims to promote sustainable gender equality and combat culturally entrenched gender roles. Among other activities, the charity conducted 156 community sensitization sessions to improve awareness of gender dynamics in 2023. It supported 75 public declarations and actions by influencers on the need for gender equality. Overall, it reports that 260,000 young women received help with sexual and reproductive health services.
OXC’s Humanitarian Aid program group accounts for 17% of OXC's spending, receiving $4.7m in 2023. It responds to urgent crises that require short-term assistance. In 2023, the charity distributed 26,832 hygiene and dignity kits. It also repaired, rehabilitated, installed, and upgraded 2,625 water points.
OXC’s Advocacy and Campaigning accounts for 10% of OXC's spending, receiving $2.8m in 2023. Its advocacy programs aim to bring about long-term change through legislative action. In 2023, the charity communicated 120 times with five Canadian fashion brands to discuss their progress toward paying their female workers a living wage. It hosted two Oxfam advocacy summits in 2023.
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Results and Impact
In F2023, the charity reports that 16 local governments implemented referral mechanisms for women’s sexual health services. It also reports that 49,034 women of reproductive age involved in its programs are current users of family planning.
Oxfam Canada reports that its advocacy contributed to the federal government introducing a bill to legislate childcare in Canada in early 2024. It reports that it was a key contributor to the formation of a fund at the November 2022 COP27 climate summit to support low-income countries coping with climate change.
Charity Intelligence highlights these key results. They may not be a complete representation of Oxfam Canada's results.
Charity Intelligence has given Oxfam Canada a Low impact rating based on demonstrated impact per dollar spent.
Impact Rating: Low
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Finances
Oxfam Canada's audited financial statements use activity-based costing, which is a best practice.
In 2024, Oxfam Canada received $13.6m in Canadian donations and $1.5m in international donations. The charity also received $27.0m in government funding, which is 60% of revenue. OXC spent $34.7m on its programs, which is 77% of revenue, and recorded a surplus of $2.3m, which is 5% of revenue.
Oxfam Canada spent $4.1m on fundraising, which is 30% of donations, and $4.0m on administration, which is 9% of revenue (excluding investment income). Total overhead spending is 39%. For every dollar donated to OXC, 61 cents are available to go to the cause, which is outside Ci's reasonable range.
Oxfam Canada has $17.3m in reserve funds (cash and investments), which can cover six months of its annual program costs. This is within Ci's reasonable range.
Oxfam Canada uses external fundraisers. In 2024, OXC paid fundraisers $2.0m to collect $6.4m. It cost 32 cents to raise a dollar through external fundraisers in 2024.
This charity report is an update that has been sent to Oxfam Canada for review.
Updated on July 21, 2025 by Liam Chapleau.
Financial Review
Fiscal year ending March
|
2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative costs as % of revenues | 9.0% | 6.4% | 6.6% |
| Fundraising costs as % of donations | 30.3% | 40.1% | 24.1% |
| Total overhead spending | 39.2% | 46.4% | 30.7% |
| Program cost coverage (%) | 49.9% | 50.1% | 49.4% |
Summary Financial StatementsAll figures in $000s |
2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donations | 13,612 | 11,180 | 11,920 |
| International donations | 1,531 | 3,609 | 4,123 |
| Government funding | 27,039 | 20,427 | 18,061 |
| Investment income | 394 | 169 | (30) |
| Other income | 2,521 | 4,278 | (2,759) |
| Total revenues | 45,097 | 39,663 | 31,314 |
| Program costs - International | 31,679 | 27,395 | 25,560 |
| Program costs - Canada | 3,015 | 2,823 | 2,033 |
| Administrative costs | 4,001 | 2,516 | 2,063 |
| Fundraising costs | 4,123 | 4,478 | 2,873 |
| Total spending | 42,818 | 37,213 | 32,528 |
| Cash flow from operations | 2,279 | 2,450 | (1,215) |
| Capital spending | 220 | 54 | 43 |
| Funding reserves | 17,296 | 15,150 | 13,638 |
Note: 1. Deferred Revenue: Ci included deferred revenue within other revenue, as the charity did not disclose the source. This affected revenue by $2.5m in 2024, $4.2m in 2023, and ($2.8m) in 2022. 2. Advances to Program Partners: Ci adjusted for the change in advances to program partners within international donations. This affected expenses by ($267k) in 2024, $1.1m in 2023, and ($377k) in 2022. 3. Amortization: Ci removed amortization from Canadian program costs, fundraising costs, and administrative costs on a pro-rata basis. Amortization was $174k in 2024, $174k in 2023, and $193k in 2022.
Salary Information
$350k + |
0 |
$300k - $350k |
0 |
$250k - $300k |
0 |
$200k - $250k |
0 |
$160k - $200k |
1 |
$120k - $160k |
5 |
$80k - $120k |
4 |
$40k - $80k |
0 |
< $40k |
0 |
Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2024
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Comments & Contact
Comments added by the Charity:
Oxfam Canada’s vision is a just and sustainable world. Our mission is to fight inequality and patriarchy to end poverty and injustice. Oxfam Canada is one of 21 members of the global Oxfam confederation working in 90 countries to end poverty and injustice.
Oxfam Canada contributes to change on three fronts: humanitarian relief; long-term development; and advocacy and campaigning. Through our humanitarian relief work, we provide emergency aid when disaster strikes or conflict breaks out. Through our long-term development work, we support projects that help people assert their rights and build better lives for themselves and their communities. Through our advocacy and campaigning, we harness the power of people to change the laws and practices that perpetuate inequality and keep people trapped in poverty. Working on these three fronts in tandem is what makes Oxfam unique. Our ambitions and our approach are outlined in our Oxfam Canada Strategic Framework 2021-25.
Accountability to our donors, our partners and the communities we work with is paramount to us. We are committed to full transparency about how we use donor funds, and to ensure that donations are managed well and ethically. Annually, Oxfam Canada complies with all prescribed regulatory requirements of the Canada Revenue Agency. We are accredited by Imagine Canada – an accreditation given to charities and non-profits that have taken part in the Imagine Canada Standards Program by identifying and reducing organizational risk, improving board governance practices, being transparent and accountable with finances and fundraising, and fostering a strong workforce. Oxfam Canada’s current and past annual reports and audited financial statements are available at https://www.oxfam.ca/who-we-are/about-oxfam/finances-and-accountability/.
In 2020, as reported in Oxfam Canada’s annual T3010 Registered Charity Information Return submitted to the Canada Revenue Agency, Oxfam’s Canada’s expenses were: charitable programs 78.34%; management and administration costs 8.01%; fundraising 11.69%; gifts to other registered charities and other qualified donees 0.19%; and other 1.78%. These percentages are calculated according to Canada Revenue Agency guidelines and based on Oxfam Canada’s audited financial statements.
Over the last three years, Oxfam Canada has taken crucial steps to invest in public fundraising to bolster our organizational resilience and sustainability. This has had an impact our fundraising ratios in the short term. The external fundraisers referred to in this Charity Intelligence report are fundraisers that recruit donors who will give ongoing monthly support rather than one-time donations. The return on investment is calculated over five years. This is a forward-looking strategy that provides predictable long-term funding for Oxfam Canada’s work, and which has already increased our capacity to respond to emergency and development needs, and do advocacy work to address the root causes of poverty. We expect fundraising costs to normalize in the coming few years. Oxfam Canada has also taken steps in recent years to build our Reserve Fund - a sign of Oxfam Canada’s commitment to our financial health, sustainability and resilience.
In partnership with our donors and supporters, Oxfam Canada is making lasting change. Visit Oxfam Canada’s website to find out more and learn how you can join us in the fight for equality and justice!
Added by the charity on August 23, 2021.
Charity Contact
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 1-800-466-9326