ADRA Canada is a two-star charity with a Low demonstrated impact score. It has a B- results reporting grade, which is below average. Its overhead spending is within Ci’s reasonable range, and its reserve funds could cover program costs for approximately four months, also within Ci’s range.

Founded in 1985, Adventist Development and Relief Agency Canada (ADRA Canada) was created by the Seventh-day Adventist Church to help people affected by poverty, disaster, and injustice. ADRA Canada is part of the global ADRA network, which works in more than 120 countries to deliver humanitarian assistance and support long-term development for vulnerable communities. It provides interventions that bring water, sanitation, health, food, education, and income assistance to those in need. According to the charity more than 400 natural disasters occur each year, affecting the lives of millions of people.

ADRA Canada runs two main international programs: Humanitarian and Emergency Assistance, and Development Programs. It also runs a smaller Canadian Programs stream. In the fiscal year ending March 2025 (F2025), ADRA Canada spent $22.5m on its programs.

 Development Programs received 53% ($12.0m) of reported program spending in F2025. This program helps communities improve their long-term living conditions. It aims to reduce poverty by supporting access to education, job training, sustainable practices, food, clean water, and healthcare. The charity reports helping 152,541 people through 16 Development projects in F2025.

 Humanitarian and Emergency Assistance received 40% ($9.1m) of reported program spending in F2025. This program provides help to people affected by disasters and crises. It delivers essentials like food, clean water, shelter, and medical support to meet urgent needs. ADRA Canada reports helping 557,825 people through 23 Emergency projects in F2025.

Canadian Programs accounted for 7% ($1.5m) of reported program spending in F2025. This program provides emergency relief across Canada in response to disasters such as wildfires and floods, and supports communities through food security, employment, homelessness, and environmental initiatives. In F2025, ADRA Canada reported that this program helped 167,716 people across 91 projects.

In F2025, ADRA Canada received $13.6m (55% of total revenue). This was a 29% decrease compared to $19.1m in F2024. The charity also received $9.3m in government funding.

ADRA Canada spent $22.5m on programs in F2025, running a $148k deficit.

Fundraising costs were $1.2m (9% of donations) and administrative costs were $1.3m (5% of revenue less investment income). Total overhead was then 14%, meaning that for every dollar received, 86 cents are available to go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

ADRA Canada has $8.4m in reserve funds (cash and investments), which could cover annual program costs for a little over four months.  

ADRA Canada is affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada because of shared board membership. In F2025, ADRA Canada received $1.7m in donations from the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada. Ci recorded this amount as other revenue.

­­This charity report is an update that was sent to ADRA Canada for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated June 8, 2026 by Ava Anderson