Link Charity Canada Inc.

What Link Charity Canada Inc. does

Link Charity Canada Inc. is a Toronto-based registered Canadian charity founded in 1998 by Harry Houtman that operates as a planned-giving intermediary between individual donors and a network of Canadian charities. The organization serves Canadian donors — typically retirees and pre-retirees holding appreciated assets (stocks, RRSPs/RRIFs, real estate, life insurance) seeking tax-efficient charitable gifts — by routing their contributions to a network of 30+ member charities (predominantly faith-based organizations such as the Salvation Army, Samaritan's Purse Canada, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada, Open Doors Canada, and World Renew) and more than 1,100 additional charities across Canada. With only 5 employees led by Executive Director Ken Park, the firm self-describes as the #1 provider of charitable gift annuities in Canada.

The company's product portfolio comprises seven core planned-giving instruments: Charitable Gift Annuities (the flagship offering with age-based rates of 5-10% and a minimum purchase of $10,000), Gifts of Securities, Donor Advised Funds, Bequests, Life Insurance gifts, RRSP/RRIF Gifts, and Charitable Loan Agreements. Operationally, Link Charity maintains 10 open brokerage accounts (including Investors Group) to accept and sell donated Canadian and US securities, and is a member in good standing of the Canadian Charitable Annuity Association (CCAA), which requires triennial actuarial reviews. Internal systems rely on Microsoft Dynamics 365 for mailing list processing; no proprietary technology platform is described.

Link Charity's revenue is generated through multiple fee streams: (1) a 0.5% per-year administration fee on investment income generated by pooled annuity assets; (2) member charity fees consisting of a $1,000 one-time initiation fee plus $1,000-$2,000 annual dues scaled by charity receipts; (3) a 0.5%/year referral reimbursement to member charities for up to 5 years that effectively subsidizes membership dues; and (4) management economics from a Donor Advised Fund investment pool that has averaged approximately 8% annual returns over 15 years. Capital flows through the platform grew from $16.9 million (June 2024-June 2025) to in excess of $25 million (June 2025-June 2026), distributed across more than 1,200 Canadian charities, with an average of 85% of original annuity capital retained and passed to charities at maturity — roughly 2-3x the national average for reinsured annuity programs.

Name

Link Charity Canada Inc.

Legal name

Link Charity Canada Inc.

Website

https://linkcharity.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Toronto-based registered Canadian charity founded in 1998 that operates as a planned giving intermediary, connecting Canadian donors with 30+ member charities and 1,100+ additional charities through charitable gift annuities, donor advised funds, and other planned giving instruments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Planned Giving & Charitable Financial Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Charitable Giving & Philanthropic Trust Advisory (FSAEAKAH), Philanthropic & Charitable Trust Services (FSAAANAI)

Keywords

• Planned giving services
• Charitable gift annuities
• Donor advised funds
• Estate gift planning
• Charitable giving intermediary

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Gift Annuity Administration Fees: Link Charity charges 0.5% per year in administration fees on investment income generated by its pooled annuity investments. This is the primary revenue stream from its core charitable gift annuity program, which has been operating for 15+ years.
2. Member Charity Fees: Member charities pay an initiation fee (currently $1,000 one-time for new approved charities) and annual dues scaled to charity size based on annual charitable receipts: $1,000/year for charities under $1 million in receipts, $2,000/year for charities with $1 million or more in receipts.
3. Referral Reimbursement Revenue Share: Member charities that refer donors who use Link Charity's annuity services receive a reimbursement of 0.5% per year of the annuity amount for up to 5 years. This effectively subsidizes member charity dues and creates a referral network incentive structure.
4. Donor Advised Fund Management: Link Charity manages Donor Advised Funds, investing donations in a permanent investment pool (historically achieving ~8% average annual returns over 15 years) and disbursing funds to charities per donor recommendations. Revenue is derived from the investment income generated on pooled assets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Link Charity Canada Inc. is a Canadian nonprofit planned giving intermediary that helps individual donors make tax-efficient charitable gifts through a unified platform. Its flagship offering is charitable gift annuities (5–10% lifetime income depending on age), complemented by Donor Advised Funds, gifts of securities, bequests, RRSP/RRIF gifts, life insurance gifts, and charitable loan agreements, all administered through a network of 30+ member charities and more than 1,100 partner charities across Canada.

Product overview

Link Charity Canada Inc. operates as a planned giving platform and intermediary, connecting donors with over 30 member charities and more than 1,100 other charities across Canada. The company was founded in 1998 by Harry Houtman and functions as a single unified platform offering multiple charitable gifting instruments. The core product portfolio includes Charitable Gift Annuities (the flagship #1 provider in Canada offering 5-10% ROI), Gifts of Securities, Donor Advised Funds, Bequests, Life Insurance donations, RRSP/RRIF Gifts, and Charitable Loan Agreements. These products are designed to help donors maximize tax efficiency, reduce estate taxes, and create lasting charitable legacies while supporting multiple causes through a single administrative relationship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Charitable Gift Annuities Link Charity's flagship offering and self-described #1 provider of charitable gift annuities in Canada. Donors contribute capital (minimum $10,000) and receive guaranteed lifetime payments (5–10% depending on age and gender) while supporting multiple charities through a single annuity structure. On maturity, approximately 85% of original capital is returned to the donor's chosen charities.
• Gifts of Securities Allows donors to donate publicly traded securities (Canadian and US stocks, mutual funds, bonds) directly to charities without paying capital gains tax. Link Charity accepts securities through approximately 10 open brokerage accounts, sells them, and distributes proceeds to the donor's chosen charities.
• Donor Advised Funds Enables donors to establish a personal charitable giving account with immediate tax receipting. Donors contribute assets, receive an upfront tax deduction, funds grow tax-free in a permanent investment pool (historically 8% average annual returns over 15 years), and grants are recommended to charities over time. Functions as a 'Family Foundation' without legal complexity.
• Bequests Charitable bequests specified in wills or estate plans directing a portion of an estate to one or more charities managed through Link Charity. Supports specific bequests, percentage bequests, residual bequests, contingent bequests, and gifts of securities or assets.
• Life Insurance Gifts Facilitates donating life insurance policies as charitable gifts. Donors can name a charity as beneficiary, transfer ownership of existing paid-up policies, or purchase new policies with a charity as owner and beneficiary.
• RRSP/RRIF Gifts Strategies for donating Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP) or Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIF) to charity through beneficiary designation, alleviating the tax burden at estate time and bypassing probate.
• Charitable Loan Agreements Permits donors to lend money to Link Charity for investments. Link Charity pays an attractive rate of return while profits are donated to the donor's chosen charities. Functions as a charitable GIC with variable or fixed-term options.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% of original annuity capital returned to charities on maturity vs. ~28–34% national average for reinsured programs
• +5 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ABWE CanadacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA missionary sending organization based in London, Ontario. As a member charity of Link Charity, ABWE Canada benefits from Link Charity's donor development infrastructure, gift annuity program, and planned giving tools to support its donors engaged in cross-border world evangelism missions.
• Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of CanadacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA globally recognized evangelistic organization headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. As a Link Charity member, benefits from Link Charity's gift planning services to support donors making planned gifts toward evangelism and Christian witness programs.
• The Salvation Army (Territorial Headquarters for Canada and Bermuda)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of the largest and most recognized charitable organizations in Canada. As a member charity of Link Charity, The Salvation Army leverages Link Charity's planned giving platform and annuity program to support estate giving by its donors.
• Samaritan's Purse CanadacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA international Christian humanitarian organization headquartered in Calgary. As a member charity, Samaritan's Purse Canada accesses Link Charity's gift planning infrastructure to facilitate donor planned giving toward its relief and development programs.
• The Yonge Street MissioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA Toronto-based Christian social services organization serving vulnerable communities. As a member charity, Yonge Street Mission connects its donors to Link Charity's planned giving services.
• World RenewcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA Christian relief and development organization based in Burlington, Ontario, focused on poverty alleviation and disaster response globally. Member charity accessing Link Charity's donor development and annuity programs.
• Operation Mobilization CanadacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA global missions organization operating in 90+ countries. As a member charity, Operation Mobilization Canada benefits from Link Charity's gift planning services and annuity programs to support its missionary and outreach work.
• GFA WorldcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA Christian mission organization focused on Asia, headquartered in Stoney Creek, Ontario. As a member charity of Link Charity, GFA World accesses planned giving tools and annuity programs to support its donors giving toward global missions.
• Open Doors CanadacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAn organization supporting Christians facing persecution worldwide. As a member charity, Open Doors Canada leverages Link Charity's planned giving infrastructure to facilitate donor gifts supporting persecuted Christian communities.
• Voice of the Martyrs CanadacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAn organization serving persecuted Christians globally, based in Streetsville, Ontario. As a member charity, Voice of the Martyrs Canada accesses Link Charity's gift annuity and estate planning services for its donor base.
• 30+ Additional Member Charities (Full network of 44+ organizations)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorComplete membership network includes: Asian Link Ministry Canada, Bridges for Peace Canada, Christian Counselling Services, Crossroads Christian Communications Inc., Christian Medical and Dental Society Canada, Chosen People Ministries Canada, Emmanuel International Canada, Fellowship of Christian Farmers Canada, Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Galcom International Inc., Global Aid Network, Global Scholars Canada, GracePoint Baptist Church, In Touch Ministries, Intercede International, International Student Ministries Canada, Lifewater Canada, Maranatha Evangelistic Association, MSC Canada, OMS International Canada, Partners International, Pentecostal Holiness Church of Canada, Peoples Christian Academy, Peoples Ministries Inc., Redeemer University, SonSet Solutions Canada, TeachBeyond, Turning Point Ministries, Village Missions of Canada, WEC International, and Word of Life. All member charities benefit from Link Charity's donor development tools, gift annuity programs, and planned giving infrastructure.
• Canadian Charitable Annuity Association (CCAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CCAA is the governing body in Canada that sets standards for charitable gift annuity agreements. Link Charity is a member in good standing of the CCAA. The Association sets recommended annuity rates based on professional actuarial firm calculations and requires members to file annual reports and undergo periodic agreement and portfolio reviews every three years by a professional actuarial firm.
• 10 Brokerage Accounts (including Investors Group)coreTechnology or IntegrationLink Charity maintains 10 open brokerage accounts to facilitate the acceptance and sale of donated securities (Canadian stocks, US stocks, and mutual funds) from donors. These accounts enable donors to transfer securities directly to Link Charity, which then sells them and distributes proceeds to the donor's chosen charities. The accounts also allow charities without their own brokerage arrangements to receive securities donations through Link Charity.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Schwab Charitable: Major US Donor Advised Fund sponsor operated by Schwab; similar DAF and planned giving model but US-focused and part of a large incumbent brokerage ecosystem.
• Fidelity Charitable: Largest US Donor Advised Fund sponsor with tens of billions in AUM; comparable business model of pooling charitable contributions and granting to charities, but US-only and part of a much broader financial services platform.
• National Philanthropic Trust: Large US Donor Advised Fund sponsor and philanthropic services provider; comparable DAF administration model but operates at much greater scale in the US market.

Emerging players

• Willful: Canadian online estate planning platform enabling wills and bequests; intersects with Link Charity's bequest-planning use case from a digital-first angle that could attract younger Canadian donors.
• FreeWill: Digital estate planning platform that helps donors structure bequests and planned gifts online; an emerging, tech-enabled approach to the same planned giving use cases Link Charity serves through advisors.

Direct peers

• Canada Gives: Canadian charitable giving platform offering Donor Advised Funds and gift planning services; competes directly with Link Charity's DAF and intermediary offering for Canadian donors.
• Benefaction Foundation: Canadian registered charity that administers Donor Advised Funds and provides planned giving services for Canadian donors and charities; directly comparable business model and target market to Link Charity.
• Strategic Charitable Giving Foundation: Canadian planned giving foundation administering Donor Advised Funds and gift planning for individual donors and charities; operates the same intermediary model as Link Charity in the Canadian market.

Others

• Canadian Charitable Annuity Association (CCAA): Canadian governing body that sets standards for charitable gift annuities; Link Charity is a member and CCAA defines the regulatory environment for the company's core product.
• Canadian Association of Gift Planners: National Canadian industry body for planned giving professionals; not a competitor but the relevant ecosystem organization where Link Charity's member charities and gift planners congregate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/link-charity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Link Charity Canada Inc.