What Charity Intelligence Canada does

Charity Intelligence Canada (Ci) is an independent, donor-funded registered Canadian charity founded in 2006 that researches and rates Canadian charities to help donors make informed giving decisions. The organization produces a searchable database of 800+ charity profiles using a proprietary 5-star rating system that weights Results Reporting (35%), Social Impact Rating (20%), Financial Transparency (15%), Need for Funding (15%), and Cost Efficiency (15%). Its core analytical innovation is a Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology that quantifies demonstrated social value per dollar donated, including risk-adjusted estimates, supporting annual Top 10 Impact Charities and Top 100 Rated Charities rankings. The organization also publishes sector-specific reports (Cancer, Homelessness, Food Banks, Environment, Education) and impact research papers, and offers free one-on-one coaching to charities seeking to improve their results reporting grades.

The platform is built as a self-serve website (charityintelligence.ca) with no mobile app or public API, distributing research through content marketing, SEO, email newsletters, social media (Facebook, Twitter/X), and earned media in outlets such as the Globe and Mail, CBC, and Maclean's. Independence is a stated operational principle: Ci does not accept payment from charities it rates, a structural choice that differentiates it from accreditation bodies. A lean team led by Managing Director Kate Bahen and Research Director Greg Thomson operates from Toronto, supplemented by seasonal interns and a broader network of analysts.

The revenue model is a freemium hybrid dominated by donations. Approximately 94% of F2022 revenue (total $587,830 CAD) came from individual donors and foundations, 3% from a $20 annual subscription unlocking full star ratings, and 3% from federal Canada Summer Jobs grants. The organization also generates indirect value: in F2022 it estimated its research informed $112 million in Canadian giving, with the 829 charities it covers representing nearly 50% of all Canadian donations. Subscription and donation mechanics are processed in part through CanadaHelps.

Name

Charity Intelligence Canada

Legal name

Charity Intelligence Canada

Website

https://charityintelligence.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Research and Ratings

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Charitable Giving & Philanthropic Trust Advisory (FSAEAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

Keywords

• Charity research ratings
• Nonprofit evaluation services
• Donor advisory research
• Charity financial transparency
• Social impact measurement

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, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations from Individuals and Foundations: 94% of funding comes from donors and foundations. Individual donors, family foundations, and corporations contribute to fund operations.
2. Subscription Revenue: $20 annual subscription fee that opens the paywall to view all star ratings. Generates 3% of total revenue.
3. Canada Summer Jobs Grant: Federal government funding under Canada Summer Jobs grants to hire university students. Represents 3% of revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Charity Intelligence Canada researches and evaluates Canadian charities, producing detailed profiles and 0-5 star ratings based on Results Reporting, Financial Transparency, Need for Funding, Cost Efficiency, and Social Impact. It distributes this research through a free public website serving over 400,000 visitors annually, with full star ratings accessible via a $20 annual subscription. The organization also offers donor advisory services and free coaching to charities to improve their reporting.

Product overview

Charity Intelligence Canada operates a research and rating platform for Canadian charities, providing free access to over 800 charity profiles with star ratings (0-5 stars). The core platform combines five evaluation dimensions: Results Reporting (35%), Financial Transparency (15%), Need for Funding (15%), Cost Efficiency (15%), and Social Impact Rating (20%). Supporting products include the annual Top 100 Rated Charities list and Top 10 Impact Charities rankings, sector-specific research reports (Cancer, Homelessness, Food Banks, Environment, Education), and detailed Impact Research Papers. The platform also offers donor advisory services and free one-on-one coaching for charities to improve their reporting grades. Users access all ratings through the main website, with subscription options (currently $20) to view all star ratings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Charity Profiles Database A searchable database of over 800 Canadian charity profiles providing star ratings, financial transparency assessments, funding need analysis, cost efficiency metrics, and social impact ratings for individual donors, foundations, and corporate donors.
• Star Rating System A 0-5 star rating system evaluating charities across five weighted dimensions: Results Reporting (35%), Financial Transparency (15%), Need for Funding (15%), Cost Efficiency (15%), and Social Impact (20%).
• Social Impact Ratings Impact ratings using the proprietary Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology to measure demonstrated social value created per dollar donated, including risk-adjusted estimates across multiple program types.
• Top 10 Impact Charities Annual list of the highest-impact Canadian charities based on demonstrated impact per dollar donated, calculated using the SROI methodology. Top 10 charities deliver average returns of roughly $7 for every dollar donated.
• Top 100 Rated Charities List Annual comprehensive list of the highest-rated Canadian charities across all sectors, determined by star ratings combining results reporting, transparency, funding need, cost efficiency, and impact. The 2025 list includes 20 new charities.
• Sector Research Reports In-depth reports on specific charitable sectors including Cancer in Canada, Homelessness in Canada, Canadian Food Banks, Environmental Charities in Canada, and Education in Canada.
• Impact Research Papers Methodology papers detailing the process for valuing social impact across program types (Addiction Recovery, Adult Literacy, Crime Prevention, Education, Employment Programs, Food Provision) and outcomes (Crime, Education, Health Care Costs, Incarceration, Substance Use).
• Donor Advisory Services Customized, tailored advisory and analysis services for individual donors, foundations, and corporations seeking personalized giving guidance beyond website resources.
• Free One-on-One Coaching for Charities Complimentary coaching sessions for charities to improve their results reporting grades, including confidential breakdowns of scores on 26 Keystone questions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Donors give 32% more money with greater confidence after using Charity Intelligence
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CanadaHelpsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCanadaHelps serves as a donation processing partner, allowing donors to make tax-deductible donations to Charity Intelligence through the CanadaHelps platform.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Imagine Canada: A national Canadian nonprofit organization supporting charities and the charitable sector. Comparable to Ci as a Canadian sector intermediary, though broader in scope (sector advocacy, standards) rather than focused on individual charity ratings.
• CanadaHelps: Canada's largest online donation platform for charities. A GTM partner of Ci, comparable as a Canadian nonprofit giving intermediary but focused on donation processing rather than charity rating/research.

Emerging players

• ImpactMatters: A nonprofit that evaluates charities based on counterfactual impact and cost-effectiveness. Highly comparable to Ci's SROI methodology through its focus on rigorous impact evaluation, though smaller and US-focused.
• The Life You Can Save: A nonprofit that recommends highly cost-effective charities based on evidence and research. Comparable to Ci's Top Impact Charities approach through its evidence-based, impact-per-dollar focus.

Others

• Philanthropy Roundtable: A nonprofit membership organization that provides research and resources to philanthropists. Adjacent to Ci as a sector research and donor advisory organization, though focused on serving philanthropists rather than rating individual charities.

Direct peers

• GiveWell: A nonprofit that conducts in-depth research to identify the most cost-effective giving opportunities globally, with a strong methodology-led approach. Highly comparable to Ci in its focus on impact-per-dollar analysis and donor education.
• CharityWatch: Independent US charity watchdog that rates charities based on financial efficiency and uses an A+ to F grading system. Directly comparable to Ci in its rating methodology and donor-focused independent analysis.
• Charity Navigator: The largest US charity rating platform, providing 0-4 star ratings across financial health, accountability, and transparency. Comparable to Ci in product category (charity ratings for donors) but operates at significantly larger scale in the US.

Broad incumbents

• Candid (formerly GuideStar): The dominant nonprofit information provider in the US, formed through the GuideStar-Candid merger, providing charity data, research, and tools. Comparable to Ci as a comprehensive charity data/information platform, but far larger and broader in scope.
• BBB Wise Giving Alliance: A large US-based charity evaluation organization affiliated with the Better Business Bureau. Comparable to Ci as a charity evaluator, but heavier institutional backing and broader scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/CharityCanada
• Facebookfacebook.com/CharityIntel

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Charity Intelligence Canada