Islamic Relief Canada is a 5-star charity with Good demonstrated impact. It has above average disclosure with a B+ results reporting grade. It holds reserves within Ci’s reasonable range. For every dollar donated to Islamic Relief Canada, 79 cents are available to go to the cause.

A Charity Intelligence 2025 Top 100 Rated Charity.

Founded in 2006, Islamic Relief Canada (IRC) delivers emergency aid and development programs to people affected by conflict, disaster, and poverty across more than 40 countries and in Canada. Two of its largest areas of operation are Gaza and Sudan. In Gaza, the charity reports over 70,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023 and 90% of the population cannot afford food. In Sudan, it reports 33.7 million people need aid and 75% of health facilities are out of service. In 2025, IRC supported over 130 projects globally and delivered assistance to 4.4 million people.

IRC runs five programs: Emergency Response, Development Projects, Orphan Sponsorship, Our Help at Home, and Seasonal Projects. IRC's annual report includes a program spending breakdown, though the 2025 report has not yet been updated with 2025 figures. The program spending percentages below represent 2024 data. In 2025, IRC spent $94.8m on programs and grants.

Emergency Response is IRC’s largest program, accounting for 43% of program costs in 2024. IRC provides people with access to food, clean water, shelter, education, sanitation, and healthcare in areas affected by natural disasters and conflict. In 2025, IRC reached 2,736,414 people across 16 countries though 46 projects. The largest area of spending was Gaza, where IRC reached 697,614 people, provided 2.2 million medical supply items, 71 million hot meals, clean water to 110,115 people daily and psychological support to 100,593 children and 503 women. The charity also highlighted its Emergency Response in Sudan, where it reached 219,486 people; Syria, where it reached 913,090 people; Afghanistan, where it reached 188,481 people; and Bangladesh, where it reached 170,571 people.

Development Projects accounted for 19% of program costs in 2024. IRC works in poor countries to improve food security; education; health systems; water, sanitation and hygiene; youth and women protection; and general livelihoods. In 2025, IRC ran 50 projects across 27 countries and reached 1,429,539 people. The countries where it reached the most people in 2025 were Yemen (270,875 people), Syria (202,693), Albania (190,190), Somalia (167,482), and Pakistan (149,020).

Orphan Sponsorship accounted for 15% of program costs in 2024. The program pairs each donor with a specific orphan on a one-to-one basis, with 80% of sponsorship funds sent directly to the orphan as cash transfers and 20% covering operating costs. In 2025, 27,684 orphans were sponsored, of which 47% were female and 53% were male. 46 orphans had disabilities. The countries with the most sponsored orphans in 2025 were Palestine/Gaza (10,507), Yemen (1,862), Mali (1,672), Pakistan (1,402) and Afghanistan (1,396).

Our Help at Home accounted for 12% of program costs in 2024. IRC runs programs across Canada to build healthy communities and support refugee resettlement. In 2024, IRC ran 10 projects reaching 21,951 people, including 5,896 who received Ramadan food hampers, 3,388 who received back-to-school kits, and 3,000 who received winter warmth kits. IRC also provided hardship grants to 701 Gazan families and sent 200 Gazan evacuee children to summer camp.

Seasonal Projects accounted for 12% of program costs in 2024. IRC distributes food packs to communities during Ramadan and provides Zakat al Fitr, Fidya, and Kaffara (religious giving) in the form of food supplies to the poor. In 2025, IRC's Ramadan program reached 117,061 people across 15 countries, including 13,528 in Palestine and 10,244 in Pakistan. During Eid (the biannual Islamic holiday), IRC distributed meat to 140,811 people across 23 countries and gave gifts to 10,187 children.

Islamic Relief Canada’s audited financial statements follow activity-based costing, which is a best practice. IRC does not disclose its international program spending, international donations, or grant distributions. Ci used the charity's T3010 to report this information.

In 2025, IRC earned $134.5m in revenue. It received $130.3m in donations (97% of total revenue), comprising $104.6m in cash donations and $25.7m in donated goods. Cash donations were split between $78.8m from Canadian donors and $25.8m internationally. The charity also received $3.0m in government funding.

Administrative costs are 4% of revenues (less investment income). Fundraising costs are 17% of donations. Total overhead is 21%. For every dollar donated to Islamic Relief Canada, 79 cents are available to go to the cause. This is within Ci's reasonable range.

In 2025, IRC spent $94.8m on programs (70% of total revenue). This includes $67.5m in international program costs, $12.1m in Canadian program costs, and $15.2m in grants. IRC recorded a $4.5m deficit, drawing on its reserve funds. The charity spent $1.7m on capital projects.

IRC has $20.8m in net reserves. Of this, $946k is donor endowed. Excluding donor-endowed funds, IRC could cover 21%, or roughly two and a half months of annual program costs.

This charity update has been sent to Islamic Relief Canada for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming. Updated by Nick Reszetnik on July 9, 2026.