World Vision Canada

1 World Drive
Mississauga, ON L5T 2Y4
President & CEO: Michael Messenger
Board Chair: Deborah Holbrook

Charitable Reg. #:11930 4855 RR0001

STAR RATING

Ci's Star Rating is calculated based on the following independent metrics:

[Charity Rating: 5/5]

✔+

FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY

Audited financial statements for current and previous years available on the charity’s website.

A+

RESULTS REPORTING

Grade based on the charity's public reporting of the work it does and the results it achieves.

High

DEMONSTRATED IMPACT

The demonstrated impact per dollar Ci calculates from available program information.

NEED FOR FUNDING

Charity's cash and investments (funding reserves) relative to how much it spends on programs in most recent year.

70%

CENTS TO THE CAUSE

For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 70 cents are available for programs.



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OVERVIEW

About World Vision Canada:

World Vision Canada is a 5-star charity with High Demonstrated Impact. The charity has an A+ Results Reporting grade, which is above average. Its overhead spending and reserve funds are within Ci's reasonable range.

Founded in 1957, World Vision Canada (WVC) is a Christian international aid charity. Its primary goal is improving the lives of impoverished children worldwide. In order to accomplish this, it works to reduce poverty, and improve nutrition, education, healthcare, and water access in poor regions of the world. WVC also directly runs programs to protect children. In F2024, World Vision Canada spent $208.7m cash (or $395.1m including donated goods) on its programs, of which $152.2m went to World Vision International. The charity reports it reached over 7.6 million people in F2024.

A Charity Intelligence 2024 Top 100 Rated Charity.

WVC is shifting its work to focus away from medium-developed countries to highly vulnerable communities where the need is greatest. Specifically, it works in communities with unstable governments and high rates of poverty. Children who live in fragile communities are more likely to face hunger, violence, and exploitation. In F2024, 61% of WVC’s program spending was in the most fragile communities (45% in F2023).

Livelihoods represented 61% of program costs in F2024. WVC states that 281.6 million people across 59 countries face extreme food insecurity. WVC provides food, cash vouchers, and runs economic empowerment programs. The Livelihood program primarily ran in Ethiopia, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In F2024, World Vision Canada reached 4,527,483 people, of which 1,254,717 were girls, 1,185,648 were boys, 1,129,808 were women, and 957,310 were men. The charity distributed 65,949 metric tons of food and distributed $74 million in cash vouchers for food assistance. WVC distributed 24,595 large and small livestock to families to increase household income.  

Child Protection represented 17% of program costs in F2024. WVC states that 10,000 children die every day due to hunger. The Child Protection program primarily ran in Honduras, Iraq, and Mozambique. In F2024, WVC reached 2,256,297 people, of which 533,256 were girls, 520,447 were boys, 610,860 were women, and 591,734 were men. The charity trained 486,328 people on child protection and was involved in 22,712 child protection cases.

Health represented 11% of program costs in F2024. WVC states that in 2022, 4.9 million youth died before their fifth birthday. The Health program primarily ran in Thailand, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen. In F2024, WVC reached 1,812,571 people, of which 451,013 were girls, 420,131 were boys, 548,102 were women, and 393,325 were men. WVC’s community health workers provided 963,800 patient consultations in F2024. The charity shipped 2,565,000 packets of “ready-to-use therapeutic food”.

Education represented 6% of program costs in F2024. WVC states that there were 250 million out-of-school children in 2023. WVC runs programs to educate youth and improve people’s access to education. The Education program primarily ran in Zambia, Ethiopia, and Zimbabwe in F2024. In F2024, WVC reached 1,353,868 people, of which, 412,811 were girls, 403,881 were boys, 271,404 were women, and 265,772 were men. In F2024, WVC trained 12,831 caregivers to support children’s early development. The charity also created 425 early childhood development centres.  

WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) represented 5% of program costs in F2024. WVC reports that over half of the world doesn’t have access to safe sanitation and 1.7 billion people use a contaminated water source. WVC works to improve access to clean water, sanitized washrooms, and hygiene kits. The WASH program primarily ran in South Sudan, Chad, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, and Uganda. In F2024, WVC reached 1,317,852 people, of which, 277,708 were girls, 264,325 were boys, 399,706 were women, and 376,325 were men. The charity constructed 7,161 water sources and trained 281,513 people in WASH initiatives.

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Results and Impact

World Vision Canada spent $282.9m cash ($469.2m including donated goods), and reached 7.6 million people in F2024. It cost WVC $37 cash per person reached (or $62 per person reached including donated goods).

Livelihoods: World Vision Canada states that every dollar spent on its Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration approach, used in 40 projects, generated $2.06 in economic and environmental benefits. WVC reports that every dollar spent on its Ultra-Poor Graduation model, used in 26 projects, generated $3.1 in economic and health benefits, including 242 children’s lives saved over three years. Its 2024 analysis into its 14 livestock transfer projects showed that for every dollar spent generated $2 in economic and health benefits, including 353 lives saved over five years.

Child Protection: World Vision Canada reports that every dollar spent on its Citizen Voice and Action approach, used in 148 projects, generated $6.24 in health and education benefits. This approach also saved the lives of 1,355 children over five years through improved health services. In F2024, WVC provided 7,527 children with birth certificates. Birth certificates provide a record of existence and allow children to access essential rights and services, such as education or healthcare.

Health: World Vision Canada reports that its Positive Deviance/Hearth model, used in 70 projects, saved 281 children’s lives over five years. It reports that every dollar spent in its Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition program, used in 39 projects, generated $16.8 in health benefits, including 6,274 lives saved over three years. WVC reports it recovered 5,861 malnourished children in F2024.  

Education: World Vision Canada reports that every dollar spent on its Learning Roots model, run in 53 projects, generated $5.06 in social benefits. 3,190 children or adolescents that dropped out of school re-enrolled or are attending non-formal education in F2024.

WASH: World Vision Canada reports that every dollar spent on its Integrated WASH approach, used in 67 projects, generated $14.37 in benefits for children. This approach also prevented over 2.5 million cases of disease and 4,901 deaths over three years. In F2024, 444,868 people gained access to safe drinking water, and 19,116 women and girls gained improved access to menstrual hygiene management.

Charity Intelligence has rated World Vision Canada as High based on demonstrated impact per dollar spent.

While Ci highlights these key results, they may not be a complete representation of its results and impact.

Impact Rating: High

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Finances

World Vision Canada’s audited financial statements use activity-based costing, which is a best practice.

World Vision Canada received $198.6m in Canadian donations and $42.4m in international donations in F2024. The charity also received $186.3m in donated goods and $32.3m in government funding. It spent $208.7m on its programs, which is 76% of revenue (excluding donated goods). The charity recorded a deficit of $6.5m in F2024.

WVC spent $47.8m on fundraising, which is 24% of donations, and $26.4m on administration, which is 6% of revenue (excluding investment income). Total overhead spending is 30%. For every dollar donated to World Vision Canada, 70 cents are available to go to the cause, which is within Ci’s reasonable range.

WVC has $30.1m in reserve funds (cash and investments). These reserves can cover 14%, or under two months of its annual program costs. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

World Vision Canada uses external fundraisers. In F2024, WVC paid fundraisers $506k to collect $55.2m. It costs less than one cent to raise a dollar through external fundraisers.

World Vision Canada has committed $3.8m of Global Affairs funding over the next five years.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to World Vision Canada.

Updated on June 17, 2025 by Liam Chapleau.

Financial Review


Financial Ratios

Fiscal year ending September
202420232022
Administrative costs as % of revenues 5.7%4.7%4.5%
Fundraising costs as % of donations 24.1%22.7%17.9%
Total overhead spending 29.8%27.4%22.3%
Program cost coverage (%) 14.4%18.8%25.5%

Summary Financial Statements

All figures in $000s
202420232022
Donations 198,639221,212237,252
International donations 42,43823,72620,583
Goods in kind 186,338204,920144,857
Government funding 32,34541,40739,194
Investment income 2,6393,046818
Other income 328812216
Total revenues 462,727495,123442,920
Program costs - International 49,79429,63023,427
Program costs - Canada 2,1251,7551,901
Grants 156,809190,103202,088
Donated goods exp 186,338204,920144,398
Administrative costs 26,35523,02719,881
Fundraising costs 47,79850,30942,347
Total spending 469,220499,744434,041
Cash flow from operations (6,493)(4,621)8,879
Capital spending 6,3386,0965,366
Funding reserves 30,10241,57057,991

Note: 1. Deferred Revenue: Ci adjusted for deferred revenue within government funding and Canadian donations. This affected revenue by ($5.5m) in F2024, ($8.0m) in F2023, and $4.2m in F2022. 2. Program Costs: Ci removed grants and donated goods from international program costs. 3. Grants: Grants include the amount sent to World Vision International and the sum of qualified donnees reported on its T3010. 4. Due to Affiliates: Ci reported the change in amount due to affiliates within grants. This affected expenses by $849k in F2024, $223k in F2023, and ($nil) in F2022. 5. Amortization: Ci removed amortization from program, fundraising, and administrative costs on a pro-rata basis. Amortization was $3.6m in F2024, $2.5m in F2023, and $1.9m in F2022. 

Salary Information

Full-time staff: 407

Avg. compensation: $108,141

Top 10 staff salary range:

$350k +
0
$300k - $350k
1
$250k - $300k
0
$200k - $250k
2
$160k - $200k
3
$120k - $160k
4
$80k - $120k
0
$40k - $80k
0
< $40k
0

Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2024

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Comments & Contact

Comments added by the Charity:

The following comment is related to a previous Charity Intelligence report.

World Vision is a global relief, development and advocacy organization, serving children and families in some of the world’s toughest places. From refugee camps to rural villages to sprawling urban slums, we care for girls and boys in more than 90 countries. Our network of global staff works to create lasting change in the lives of children, families and communities in need.

World Vision’s emergency relief work repairs lives and livelihoods. For more than 70 years, we’ve protected and cared for girls and boys who’ve survived the unthinkable in situations like natural disasters, food crises, economic turmoil or civil conflict. After a disaster, our teams continue to partner with communities, rebuilding stronger than before.

Through our work, World Vision has impacted the lives of over 200 million vulnerable children by tackling the root causes of poverty. Our child sponsorship program actively builds healthier communities through programming, education and empowerment. With our community focused solutions, for every child helped, another four benefit. World Vision nurtures and partners with people of different faiths, genders, races and ages – raising up local leaders to help support, protect and transform their communities.

Whether on the ground or in the halls of power, World Vision’s advocacy work is central to all we do. We press governments for programs and policies to secure children’s futures, even as their own countries face threats like civil conflict, food crisis and economic disaster. In regions around world, we teach children to speak up for their God-given human rights – and families and communities to respect and uphold them.

World Vision voluntarily adheres to the highest standards of financial accountability, following best practices for transparency by providing access to our annual impact report, financial statements and donation breakdowns.

Always, World Vision seeks to deliver the greatest-possible impact. Compelled by love, we go boldly into dangerous places to help children who need it the most. In partnership with Canadian donors, we’re making lasting and sustainable change.

Visit World Vision’s website to see how it all fits together and learn how you might get involved!

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Added by Charity Intelligence:

In previous years, donors asked why Charity Intelligence's numbers were different from World Vision Canada's. We wrote this article on charity ratios to explain. Funnily enough, it has received over 12,000 views. While it's an old article, it may be of interest.

World Vision Canada - A Case Study on Charity Ratios, August 2017 

 

 

Charity Contact

Website: www.worldvision.ca
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Toll-Free: 1-866-595-5550

Tel: 905-565-6100

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Charitable Registration Number: 80340 7956 RR0001