Human Concern International is a 3-star charity that is financially transparent. It has a B+ results reporting grade, which is above average. Its overhead spending is within Ci’s reasonable range, and its reserve funds could cover annual program costs for just over two months, also within Ci’s range.

Founded in 1979, Human Concern International (HCI) works to reduce global poverty and provide humanitarian aid. It is the oldest Muslim charity in Canada and delivers programs across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Canada. HCI uses a community needs-based approach by conducting needs assessments and partnering with local organizations, institutions, and governments to deliver its programs. The charity reports that over 360 million people worldwide currently need humanitarian assistance.

HCI runs six main programs: Emergency Relief, Local Program, Food & WASH, Education & Health, Child Sponsorship, and Seasonal. In 2025, HCI spent $49.8m in cash on its programs. A breakdown of spending by program was not provided for 2025.

Emergency Relief provides immediate assistance to communities affected by natural disasters, conflict, and humanitarian crises. In 2025, the program reached 1,267,655 people through 22 emergency projects in eight countries. In Gaza, HCI distributed 1.58 million kg of food, 5 million litres of clean water, 16,800 kg of baby formula, as well as hygiene kits, tents, and warm clothing.

Local Programs support vulnerable individuals and newcomers in Canada through initiatives focused on food security, employment support, education, and health services. In 2025 the program supported 28,170 Canadians, including 4,118 emergency/Gaza newcomers.

Food & WASH programs provide communities with access to essential resources, including food assistance, clean water, sanitation, and hygiene support. In 2025, HCI built 274 water wells, reaching 467,000 people with clean water across seven countries. The charity’s food security program supported 1,153,499 individuals through 34 projects in 14 countries. This included providing emergency meals, baked goods, and specialized distributions during Ramadan and Eid al-Adha.

Education & Health programs improve access to education and healthcare services for vulnerable communities. In 2025, HCI reached 24,821 people through 12 education programs across seven countries. Initiatives included scholarships for students from Gaza, education programs in underserved communities, and inclusive education opportunities for girls and people with disabilities. The charity reported that its health programs reached over 111,000 people, through seven projects carried out in five countries. It also provided eleven dialysis units to three hospitals in Gaza and performed 5,523 home visits for elderly people in Bosnia.

Other programs include Child Sponsorship and Seasonal Programs. In 2025, HCI supported 5,927 sponsored children by providing access to education, healthcare, and basic needs. Seasonal Programs provided food and essential items to vulnerable populations in Canada and internationally, including Ramadan food packages, Qurbani meat, school supplies, and winter relief.

Human Concern International’s audited financial statements use activity-based costing, a best practice. However, they do not disclose international donations or separate international and Canadian program costs, so Ci used the charity’s CRA T3010 filing to report these figures.

In 2025, HCI received $28.6m in Canadian donations (53% of total revenue) and $22.7m in international donations (42% of total revenue). The charity also received $3.0m in donated goods.

HCI spent $49.8m in cash on its programs, representing 97% of revenue (excluding donated goods). In 2025, it ran a $9.2m deficit.

Fundraising costs were $8.6m, which was 30% of donations, and administrative costs were $2.3m, which was 4% of revenue (excluding investment income). Total overhead was 34%, meaning that for every dollar donated, 66 cents are available to go to the cause. This is just within Ci’s reasonable range, which suggests 65-95 cents per dollar.

At the end of 2025, HCI had reserve funds (cash and investments) of $9.9m. These reserves could cover its annual program costs for just over two months, which is within Ci’s reasonable range. The charity also has $2.3m in loans receivable from related parties, including Human Concern UK and Human Concern US Inc.

HCI uses external fundraisers. In 2025, it paid $3.0m to raise $36.4m, costing 8 cents to raise a dollar through external fundraisers.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Human Concern International for review. 

Updated on August 4, 2026 by Ava Anderson.