UNICEF Canada is a 4-star charity with Average Demonstrated Impact. It has an A- Results Reporting grade, which is above average. For every dollar donated, 74 cents are available to go to the cause, which is within Ci's reasonable range. 

Founded in 1955, UNICEF Canada raises money for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). UNICEF is a UN agency that aims to protect children’s rights across the globe. UNICEF Canada’s mission is to empower Canadians to invest in the improvement of every child’s future. The charity provides life-saving humanitarian aid including water, vaccines, and medical equipment to people in vulnerable communities. In 2024, UNICEF Canada spent $62.7m to fund UNICEF’s international programs and spent $4.4m on advocacy and research programs in Canada. The charity reports that the number of people affected by conflict have doubled since 1990, affecting over 1 in 6 children globally. UNICEF Canada mostly reports the results of UNICEF, the international charity.

Highest Priority Needs represented 35% of program costs in 2024. UNICEF provides basic needs to children in the most danger around the world. This program area acts as a flexible fund that allows UNICEF Canada to respond quickly wherever children are the most at risk. In F2024, 34 million babies were delivered in UNICEF supported health facilities across 86 countries. The charity reports it delivered over 2 billion doses of vaccines, reaching nearly half of the world’s children and saving 4.4 million lives. UNICEF provided safe and readily available water to over 35 million people in 2024.

Emergency Response represented 28% of program costs in 2024. UNICEF provides humanitarian aid to people in emergency situations. In 2024, UNICEF provided aid in Afghanistan, Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, and Yemen. In 2024, 26.4 million children and women accessed primary healthcare and 17.4 million people accessed safe drinking water. The charity provided 9.7 million children with education and 12.2 million children benefitted from early detection services of severe malnutrition. UNICEF also provided mental health and psychological support to 12.6 million children and caregivers.

Education represented 21% of program costs in 2024. UNICEF works to enroll children in schools, train teachers, improve infrastructure, and increase access to education materials in poor countries. The charity reports that over 600 million children and adolescents don’t have adequate math and literacy skills. In 2024, UNICEF reached 25,500 youths through education and parenting programs. It also helped 10,230 out-of-school and at-risk children access educational support and developed standards to ensure equitable education for disabled children that reached 22,700 children and teachers.

Canadian Advocacy and Research represented 8% of program costs in 2024. UNICEF Canada advocates for Canadian child rights to ensure Canada is a great place to grow up. The charity also produces research reports that compare Canada’s living situations with other wealthy countries. The charity reports that Canada ranks 30^th out of 38 wealthy countries for child and youth wellbeing, with 20% of Canadian children living in poverty and 1 in 5 reporting a mental health challenge. In 2024, UNICEF Canada collaborated with 109 schools and engaged 2,500 Canadian youths to discuss issues that mattered to them.

The remaining 8% of spending was spent on Health, Nutrition, HIV, WASH, and Child Protection programs.  

UNICEF Canada’s audited financial statements use activity-based costing, which is a best practice. Ci used the charity’s T3010 filing with the CRA to report provincial government funding and investment income, which are ideally reported on the charity’s statements.

In 2024, UNICEF Canada received $79.6m in Canadian donations, representing 95% of revenue. The charity spent $67.1m on its programs and grants, which is 79% of revenue. UNICEF Canada recorded a deficit of $4.0m in 2024.

UNICEF Canada spent $17.9m on fundraising, which is 22% of donations, and $3.1m on administration, which is 4% of revenue (excluding investment income). Total overhead spending is 26%. For every dollar donated, 74 cents are available to go to the cause, which is within Ci’s reasonable range.

UNICEF Canada has $17.6m in reserve funds (cash and investments), which can cover 3 months of its annual program and grant costs. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

UNICEF Canada uses external fundraisers. In 2024, UNICEF Canada paid fundraisers $7.2m to collect $16.3m. It cost 44 cents to raise a dollar through external fundraisers. It is likely more efficient to donate directly to the charity.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to UNICEF Canada for review.

Updated on July 23, 2025 by Liam Chapleau.