Food for the Hungry Canada is a financially transparent 4-star charity. It has an average results reporting grade of B and reasonable overhead costs of 27%. Ci has given this charity a Good rating for demonstrated impact.

Founded in 1988, Food for the Hungry Canada (FHC) is a Christian charity that aims to reduce poverty. The charity states that poverty is a cycle that can be broken by targeting its root causes. It also states that nearly 700 million people live in extreme poverty worldwide, surviving on less than $2.15 a day.

Food for the Hungry Canada operates in seven countries, listed below. Charity Intelligence calculates that FHC spent $6.9m on its programs in its fiscal year ending September 2024 (F2024). The charity does not provide a breakdown of program spending on its website or in its annual report.

The Guatemala program supported 5,173 people across 12 communities in F2024. The charity reports that it trained 100 farmers in coffee production and selling in F2024. It also states that 175 children took part in reading circles and received two books each.

The Cambodia program supported 46,540 people across 62 communities in F2024. FHC provided 850 students with reading materials in F2024. It also built 40 latrines, providing sanitation for 107 people.

The Uganda program supported 29,400 people across seven communities in F2024. The charity distributed 600 story books to caregivers in F2024. As part of its emergency response, FHC reports it sent two million deworming pills to Uganda to protect children.

The Burundi program supported 6,144 people across 20 communities in F2024. FHC provided 1,780 children with school materials in F2024. It also provided 40 people with business skills training.

The Ethiopia program supported 28,564 people across nine communities in F2024. FHC reports that since 2016, it has provided over 18,500 people with access to drinking water by creating 80 new water sources.

The Bangladesh program supported 8,173 people across five communities in F2024. FHC states it distributed 10,000 mango, coconut, and lemon saplings in F2024. It also installed seven water pumps to increase access to safe drinking water.

The Rwanda program supported 15,652 people across five communities in F2024. FHC reports it established two community libraries in F2024, serving 3,692 students. It also held 46 nutritious cooking sessions for 4,272 people.

Food for the Hungry Canada’s audited financial statements follow activity-based costing, a best practice. Its expenses are clearly defined between program, administrative, and fundraising categories.

FHC reported its program costs split as international programs and Canadian programs in its F2023 audited financial statements. Its F2024 statements do not provide this division. As such, Ci reported program costs under international programs and public education and awareness under Canadian program costs in in F2024.

In F2024, FHC received $9.6m in donations. It also received donated goods valued at $3.4m.

Administrative costs are 11% of revenues (excluding investment income). Fundraising costs are 16% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 27%. For every dollar donated, 73 cents are available to go to the cause. This falls within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

In F2024 FHC spent $6.9m on its programs, which is 71% of its revenue excluding donated goods. In F2024 it had a deficit of $40k.

Food for the Hungry Canada has $1.2m in reserve funds (cash and investments). The reserves can cover 18%, or two months of program costs.

In F2024, FHC paid external fundraisers $337k who collected $1.8m in donations. This means it cost FHC 19 cents to raise $1 using external fundraisers. It is likely more cost efficient to directly donate to the charity.

This charity report is an update that has been sent for review to Food for the Hungry Canada. Changes and edits may be forthcoming. 

Updated on August 1, 2025, by Grady Simpson.