Aga Khan Foundation Canada is a 4-star charity with a Good demonstrated impact score. It is not financially transparent and has a below-average results reporting grade of B-. Its overhead spending is within Ci’s reasonable range, and its reserve funds could cover its annual program costs for one year and nine months, also within Ci’s range.

Founded in 1980, Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) is the Canadian agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). AKDN is a group of international aid charities, which operate globally. AKFC was founded by His Highness the Aga Khan. The charity’s mission is to improve quality of life and reduce poverty for people in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. AKFC reports that globally, over 3.5 billion people live on less than $2.50 a day.

AKFC states that its current programs reach more than four million people. These programs focus on agriculture and food security, civic engagement, climate resilience, early childhood development, education, engaging Canadians, gender equality and sexual violence prevention, health and nutrition, and work and enterprise.

AKFC breaks down its program spending into four main areas in its audited financial statements. It reports spending $57.9m (67%) on Multi-Input programs (including a 43.4m grant made to AKDN), $15.5m (18%) on Health programs, $9.3m (11%) on Education programs, and $4.0m (5%) on Canadian programs.

AKFC reports on its programs through updates covering the April 2025 to March 2026 period. Examples are provided below.

During the reporting period, AKFC’s Foundations for Health and Empowerment (F4HE) program directly reached 577,383 people in South and Central Asia. Its Broadening Economic & Social Transformation for Women’s Economic Empowerment & Recovery (BEST4WEER) program supported 145 start-ups and small businesses with technical assistance, provided 64 micro-grants totalling $156k to local and women’s organizations, and formed 25 women’s community savings groups linked to community networks. BEST4WEER directly reached 54,212 women and girls. The Foundations for Education and Empowerment (F4EE) program reached 239,690 people in East Africa. The International Development Education and Awareness (IDEA) program engaged 103,651 Canadian youth, including 46 participants in leadership camps. It also involved 62 teachers in professional learning circles.

Aga Khan Foundation Canada’s audited financial statements follow activity-item costing, a best practice. The statements list program and administrative spending separately. However, it does not separate fundraising spending from these two categories.

AKFC is not financially transparent. Rather than posting its audited financial statements on its website, AKFC requires donors to contact it directly to receive this public information. Of Canada's 100 largest charities, AKFC is one of seven that are not financially transparent.

In 2025, AKFC received $62.6m in donations, representing 55% of total revenue. It also received $29.1m in government funding (25% of total revenue) and $4.5m in investment income.

AKFC spent $38.9m on its international programs and $4.0m on Canadian programs, accounting for 38% of total revenue. It also spent $43.8m in grants ($43.4m of which went to AKDN). In 2025, the charity ran a surplus of $25.2m (22% of revenue).

Fundraising costs were $2.8m (5% of donations) and administrative costs were $1.9m (2% of revenue excluding investment income). Total overhead spending was 6%, meaning that for every dollar received, 94 cents are available to go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

AKFC ended the year with $150.0m in reserve funds (cash and investments), which could cover annual program costs for one year and nine months. This is also within Ci’s reasonable range.

This charity report is an update that has been sent for review to Aga Khan Foundation Canada. Changes and edits may be forthcoming. 

Updated on July 3, 2026, by Ava Anderson.

Charity email: akfc.info@akdn.org