IDRF

What IDRF does

IDRF (International Development and Relief Foundation) is a Canadian registered charitable organization founded in 1984 and headquartered at 23 Lesmill Road, Suite 300, North York, Ontario. It delivers humanitarian aid and sustainable development programs in 40 countries, with a stated cumulative reach of 4 million people supported since inception and 4.3 million+ lives touched in the most recent reporting year. Its program portfolio spans six core service lines — Food & Nutrition, Water/Sanitation/Hygiene (WASH) including Water Wells, Health, Education, and Economic Development — supplemented by Emergency Appeals for active crises (Palestine, Lebanon, Sudan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia), three Islamic religious giving programs (Zakat, Sadaqah, Fitrah/Zakat-ul-Fitr with a $15 per-person suggested rate) supported by an online Zakat Calculator, a domestic Canadian workforce-development track (Women In Tech, Get Job Ready, Licensed 2 Learn), and the Every Child Counts child-sponsorship program launched in December 2023 as IDRF's first such initiative.

The organization operates a non-profit donation-driven revenue model with no service fees. Revenue streams include one-time gifts at suggested tiers ($150/$250/$350/custom), monthly recurring giving, Zakat-ul-Fitr collection at $15/person, gifts of securities, and institutional grants — most notably a five-year Global Affairs Canada–funded mental health program in Guyana launched in 2022. Distribution to beneficiaries is executed via direct partnerships with trusted local field teams in 40 countries, enabling immediate fund transfer without intermediaries; in Canada, donation intake runs through a secure SSL-encrypted online portal, toll-free and local phone lines, mail, securities transfer, and mosque collection points during Ramadan.

The technology stack is conventional non-profit infrastructure: a WordPress-based public website, a separate SSL/reCAPTCHA-protected donation portal, email newsletters (CASL- and PIPEDA-compliant), and standard social media channels (Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube). Governance is provided by a Board of Directors with Co-Chairs, Vice Chairs, and a General Secretary drawn from senior professionals at Dentons, Deloitte, Autodesk, the Ontario Government, and University of Toronto; Shariah compliance for Zakat and religious giving is overseen by a voluntary Shariah Advisory Council of recognized Islamic scholars. Day-to-day operations are led by CEO Mahmood Qasim and COO Nabil Ali, with functional Directors covering Finance, Fund Development (East and West), Global Programs & Social Impact, Giving & Impact, and Marketing & Communications.

Name

IDRF

Legal name

International Development and Relief Foundation

Website

https://idrf.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IDRF (International Development and Relief Foundation) is a Canadian registered charity founded in 1984 that delivers humanitarian aid and sustainable development programs across 40 countries. It serves crisis-affected and vulnerable populations through emergency relief, water/sanitation, health, education, and Islamic religious giving (Zakat, Sadaqah, Fitrah).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid & International Development

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Individual and Family Services (6241), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK), Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG), Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Safeguarding) (BPADAHAF)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid
• International development
• Emergency relief programs
• Zakat charitable giving
• Child sponsorship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

North York

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: IDRF generates revenue primarily through charitable donations from individuals, including one-time gifts, monthly recurring donations, and special appeals for emergency relief. Additional revenue streams include Zakat (Islamic almsgiving), Sadaqah (voluntary charity), Fitrah/Zakat al-Fitr, and gifts of securities.
2. Religious Giving Programs: Specialized Islamic charitable giving including Zakat donations for food, water, and general purposes; Zakat al-Fitr (Fitrah) at $15 per person; Fidya/Kafaara; and Sadaqah contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

IDRF is a non-profit charitable organization that delivers emergency humanitarian relief and sustainable development programs to vulnerable populations in over 40 countries, with core offerings spanning Food & Nutrition, Water/Sanitation/Hygiene (including Water Wells), Health, Education, and Economic Development. It also operates Shariah-compliant religious giving programs (Zakat, Sadaqah, Fitrah), a child sponsorship program called Every Child Counts, and Canadian-focused initiatives including Women In Tech, Get Job Ready, and Licensed 2 Learn.

Product overview

IDRF operates as a humanitarian aid organization offering a portfolio of emergency relief and sustainable development programs. The core programs include Food & Nutrition, Water/Sanitation/Hygiene (WASH), Health, Education, and Economic Development. Canadian-specific initiatives include Women In Tech, Get Job Ready, and Licensed 2 Learn. Religious giving products include Zakat, Sadaqah, and Fitrah (Zakat-ul-Fitr) with an associated Zakat Calculator tool. The Every Child Counts child-sponsorship program represents IDRF's first such initiative launched in December 2023 after 40 years of operation. Programs are delivered through partnerships with local organizations in over 40 countries including Palestine, Lebanon, Sudan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Every Child Counts: A revolutionary child-sponsorship program focused on providing comprehensive care including educational, healthcare, and developmental support for children

Products and services

• Every Child Counts IDRF's first child-sponsorship program providing comprehensive care including educational support, healthcare access, and developmental assistance to sponsored children and their communities. Sponsors actively participate in shaping children's futures beyond purely financial support.
• Emergency Appeals (Lebanon, Palestine, Sudan, Afghanistan)

Quantifiable outcome

• 4 million people supported since founding in 1984
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Rad-Aid InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Volunteer teacher and mentor program for Radiology Residency in Georgetown, Guyana, supporting medical education and training.
• Local Field Partners in 40 CountriescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIDRF works with trusted local field teams in 40 countries for program design, beneficiary selection, and project implementation. These partnerships enable direct fund transfers to local staff and volunteers without going through intermediary organizations or political groups.
• Shariah Advisory CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVoluntary advisory body of Islamic scholars (Sheikh Imran Ally, Sheikh Navaid Aziz, Dr. Mohammad Iqbal al-Nadvi, Dr. Sheikh Faisal Ali) who review Zakat policy, ensure Shariah compliance, advise on project eligibility, and conduct annual internal audits of Zakat fund usage.
• Mosques (Zakat-ul-Fitr Collection)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal mosques collect Zakat-ul-Fitr donations during Ramadan on behalf of IDRF. IDRF allocates and spends based on anticipated collection amounts.
• Doctors Without Borders (Telemedicine)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Muhammad Munshi serves as Telemedicine Radiology Specialist providing diagnostic imaging support to remote and underserved communities worldwide.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Zakat Foundation of America: US-based Zakat collection and distribution organization serving similar Muslim donor base with comparable faith-compliant giving products. Geographic non-overlap (US vs Canada) but direct product overlap in Zakat, Sadaqah, and Fitrah.
• Aga Khan Foundation Canada: Canadian arm of the Aga Khan Development Network with international development programs in similar Muslim-majority geographies. Comparable in faith-rooted development philosophy and Canadian Muslim donor overlap, including personnel crossover (e.g., Mukhtar Rahemtulla's history with Aga Khan-network entities).
• Canadian Red Cross: Canada's primary humanitarian organization with domestic programs (similar to IDRF's Canadian programs) and international emergency response. Comparable in donor base geography and Canadian fundraising channels, but broader secular mandate.

Direct peers

• Penny Appeal USA: Faith-inspired humanitarian NGO with emergency appeals, Zakat/Sadaqah programs, and orphan sponsorship. Comparable in offering breadth and recurring-donation positioning to IDRF's Every Child Counts program.
• Human Appeal International: UK-headquartered Islamic charity delivering emergency relief, Zakat programs, and development projects across multiple crisis geographies. Highly comparable to IDRF in faith-aligned giving products and country presence.
• Islamic Relief Canada: Canadian chapter of Islamic Relief Worldwide, raising funds domestically for the same crisis geographies (Palestine, Sudan, Afghanistan) that IDRF serves. Direct competitor for Canadian Muslim donors and Zakat contributions.
• Islamic Relief Worldwide: Global Islamic humanitarian organization operating in over 40 countries with emergency relief, Zakat collection, and sustainable development programs. Closest comparable to IDRF by mission, faith-based donor base, and geographic footprint.
• Muslim Aid: UK-based Islamic charity focused on emergency relief, Zakat distribution, and long-term development in conflict and disaster zones. Comparable donor model and beneficiary overlap in MENA and South Asia.

Broad incumbents

• Mercy Corps: Large secular humanitarian organization operating in 40+ countries with emergency response and development programs. Comparable by geographic scope and program categories, though not faith-aligned.
• Relief International: Global humanitarian NGO focused on emergency relief and resilience programming across fragile states. Comparable in operating model and beneficiary overlap in MENA, Africa, and Asia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IDRFcanada
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@IDRFcanada
• Facebookfacebook.com/official.idrf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/idrf
• Instagraminstagram.com/idrfcanada

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IDRF