Rainbow Railroad is a 4-star charity. It is financially transparent, has a high results reporting grade, and reasonable overhead spending. Reserve funds (cash and investments) can cover one month of annual program costs, indicating a need for funding. 

Founded in 2006, Rainbow Railroad helps at-risk LGBTQI+ people across the world get to safety. The charity aims to relocate these people to safer countries. Since its founding, the charity has helped over 1,900 people find safety. In 2023 the charity received 15,352 requests for help, the highest number since the charity’s founding, and a 60% increase from 2022. Rainbow Railroad's office is in Toronto. The charity also has an affiliate in the US, Rainbow Railroad USA. The two charities work together and act under the same management. While the Canadian and US charities report separate financial statements, they share an annual report.

Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQI+ individuals by responding to requests for help made on the charity's website. Emergency Travel Support is Rainbow Railroad's core program. The charity helps relocate people that face immediate danger to a safer country through transportation and short-term support. Rainbow Railroad also offers financial aid, government sponsorship help, crisis response, and referrals to other organizations. The charity does not provide a breakdown of spending on its programs.  

In 2023, Rainbow Railroad supported 7,265 people by delivering 7,690 direct services. Of these services, 434 were emergency travel support, 219 were cash assistance, 4,174 were help from Rainbow Railroad's partner organizations, 2,645 were help with a crisis, 188 were information services and referrals, and 30 were help with private sponsorship applications. Rainbow Railroad reports that of the total requests it received in 2023, 35% came from South-Central Asia, 24% from Sub-Saharan Africa, 18% from the Middle East and North Africa, 13% from North America, 3% from Eastern Europe, 2% from the Caribbean, 2% from Latin America, 1% from Western Europe, and less than 1% from Oceania. The location of less than 1% of requests was not disclosed.