Penny Appeal Canada is a 3-star, financially transparent charity. It has a B+ Results Reporting grade, which is above average. For every dollar donated to the charity, 60 cents are available to go to the cause, which is outside of Ci's reasonable range. Its reserve funds can cover under one month of annual program costs. 

Founded in 2005, Penny Appeal Canada (Penny) is an international development Muslim charity that works to break the cycle of poverty through sustainable food, water, and education solutions. The charity is the Canadian arm of Penny Appeal UK. Penny operates emergency support, short-term relief, and longer-term sustainable interventions in Canada, Africa, and the Middle East. With its affiliate teams, the charity operates programs in over 30 countries. Penny runs both international and domestic programs. Its international program has four pillars: Feed Our World, Thirst Relief, Global Disaster and Orphan Kind. Its domestic program has three pillars: Food Insecurity, Winter Relief, and Education First. In F2024, Penny Appeal Canada spent $13.7m on its programs. 

International programs accounted for 53% ($8.0m) of program spending (excluding donated goods used in programs) in F2024. The charity reports that 785 million people do not have access to safe water, and that 1.5 million people die from dirty water each year. Penny’s Thirst Relief program built 359 deep tube wells in Pakistan, Kashmir, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Ethiopia. Penny reports these wells serve 77,493 people. Penny’s Ramadan program distributed 2,811 food packs and reached 46,647 people across nine countries. In F2024, Penny’s Global Disaster program provided aid to countries in crisis, including, Gaza, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Yemen and Afghanistan. In Gaza, Penny distributed 12,450 hot meals, and its medical team helped 190,103 people. In Lebanon, Penny distributed 101,101 hygiene kits. In response to floods in Bangladesh, Penny distributed 300 food packs and 400 hygiene kits and provided cash grants to support the repair of 20 homes. Penny’s Orphan Kind program sponsored 1,650 children, of which 800 were in Pakistan and 800 were in Palestine. 

Domestic programs accounted for 47% ($7.2m) of program spending (excluding donated goods used in programs) in F2024. Penny Appeal Canada’s local Ramadan program provided 709 families with $150 grocery gift cards, in Alberta, Ontario and British Columbia. Penny also provided 130 Iftar meals to parents with children undergoing hospital treatment.  The charity’s Education First program provided backpacks to 1,600 children in the East Greater Toronto Area and gave 140 free haircuts to students in Toronto. Penny’s mental health initiative provided over 150 counselling sessions.

Penny Appeal Canada received $8.9m in Canadian donations in F2024, a 52% decrease from $18.5m in Canadian donations in F2023. It also received $3.8m in international donations, almost three times the amount of $964k received in F2023. It had $2.0m in donated goods in kind. The charity spent $13.7m on its programs, which is 85% of revenue. In F2024, the charity recorded an operating deficit of $3.4m, meaning it drew on its reserves. 

Administrative costs are 4% of revenue (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 36% of Canadian donations. For every dollar donated to the charity, 60 cents are available to go to the cause, which is outside of Ci’s reasonable range. 

Penny has $965k in reserve funds (cash and investments), which can cover 7%, or under one months of its annual program costs, showing a need for funding to sustain its operations. 

In F2024, Penny received $1.5m total from related parties Penny Appeal UK, USA and UAE. This is recorded as other revenue. It sent $1.8m to Penny Appeal Australia, Pakistan, South Africa, UK and USA. 

Penny uses external fundraisers. The charity paid fundraisers $316k to collect $1.9m. It costs Penny 16 cents to raise a dollar using external fundraisers. 

Charity Intelligence has sent this charity profile update to Penny Appeal Canada for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming. 

Updated on November 21, 2025 by Victoria Allder.