Rick Hansen Foundation is a 4-star charity that is financially transparent. The charity has an A- results reporting score, which is above average, and its overhead spending is within Ci’s reasonable range. The charity’s reserve funds could cover its annual program costs for just over one year and one month.

In 1985, Rick Hansen started the Man in Motion World Tour to create awareness of the potential of people with disabilities and to raise money to remove barriers.  As a Paralympic athlete, Rick wheeled 40,000 kilometres over two years and raised $26m. In 1988, after the tour, the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) was created. The charity works to create a world without barriers for people with disabilities through accessibility ratings, certification, training, grants, nature access, youth programs, and spinal cord injury research. RHF reports that 1 in 4 Canadian adults currently live with a disability. In the fiscal year ending March 2025 (F2025), it spent $12.6m on its programs.

Accessibility represented 54% of program spending in F2025. This program uses the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) rating system. RHFAC determines the accessibility of commercial, institutional, and multi-family residential buildings. In F2025, the charity rated 329 sites and had its system adopted as a requirement by the City of Richmond, BC. It also updated and launched three training courses and provided training through six post-secondary institutions and four industry associations.

Research represented 19% of program spending in F2025. RHF works to find a cure for paralysis and improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. In F2025, the charity provided five seed grants, 20 trainee travel awards, and published nine scientific publications. The Yuel Family Physical Activity Research Centre received up to 45 visits per day, providing an accessible space for physical activity and connection. The centre also provided practical training to 10 UBC kinesiology students.

Awareness represented 17% of program spending in F2025. The charity attended the UN’s 17th Conference of States Parties on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in F2025. Additionally, its “Just Because We Can” public service campaign received more than 33 million impressions, and the charity’s Power of Inclusion webinar had 640 attendees.

Education and Outreach represented 8% of program spending in F2025. RHF educates people about the importance of accessibility and the issues facing those with disabilities. In F2025, the RHF School Program’s online resource library was accessed 4,142 times, and its educational resources and Ambassador presentations reached 19,591 youths. The charity also reported that 2,184 people registered for its RHF Inclusion & Accessibility E-Learning course, with 1,758 completing the program.

Other programs represented 1% of program spending in F2025.

Rich Hansen Foundation’s audited financial statements use activity-based costing, which is a financial reporting best practice.

In F2025, RHF received $5.2m in donations, representing 40% of total revenue. It also received $5.0m in government funding, which was 39% of total revenue, and $1.1 in investment income.

The charity spent $12.6m on programs and grants, representing 97% of total revenue. It reported a $2.0m deficit, using some of its reserve funds to support operations.

Fundraising costs were $742k, which was 14% of donations, and administrative costs were $1.6m, which was 13% of revenue (excluding investment income). Total overhead was 28%, meaning that for every dollar donated, 72 cents are available to go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

At the end of F2025, RHF had $14.3m in reserve funds (cash and investments). These reserves could cover its annual program costs for just over one year and one month. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Rick Hansen Foundation for review.

Updated on July 17, 2026 by Ava Anderson.