Plan International Canada is a 4-star charity. It is financially transparent and has above-average reporting on its programs with an A grade. However, Charity Intelligence has rated it Average for demonstrated impact and the charity has high overhead costs.

Founded in 1968, Plan International Canada, commonly known as Plan Canada, is the Canadian branch and fundraising arm of Plan International. Plan International works to advance children's rights and equality for girls worldwide. The charity reports that 129 million girls are not attending primary or secondary school. Plan Canada also reports that globally, 243 million women and girls have been subjected to physical or sexual violence in the past 12 months. Additionally, nearly every two seconds, a girl under 18 is married.

In F2023, Plan Canada helped 9.3 million people, including 6.2 million children. It worked on 132 projects in 53 countries. 

Health – 47% of program spending ($111.9m). Plan Canada works with local partners to strengthen health systems. During the year, the charity ran 39 projects that reached 7,195,720 people. 354,790 children, adolescents and adults accessed improved health services during F2023.

Humanitarian Response – 21% of program spending ($50.5m). Plan Canada responds to emergencies and supports long-term recovery from disasters. In F2023, Plan Canada ran 60 projects that reached 951,490 people. Of these projects, 28 were in West and Central Africa. These projects helped 320,730 people access services during humanitarian crises. 

Education – 16% of program spending ($39.5m). Plan Canada helps ensure that children, especially girls, have access to quality education. The charity reached 1,059,090 people through 21 projects in F2023. It also helped 343,590 people receive improved education or vocational training. 

Youth Leadership and Economic Empowerment – 9% of program spending ($22.6m). This program helps youth in Canada become better advocates for global issues. In Canada, Plan Canada ran eight projects that reached 529,060 youths. Internationally, the charity runs financial literacy and savings programs. Outside of Canada, the charity ran eight projects that reached 7,050 people. 

Protection from Violence – 7% of total program spending ($16.1m). Plan Canada tries to keep children, especially girls, safe by preventing early and forced marriage and gender-based violence. During F2023, the charity ran four projects that reached 272,360 people. 

Some donors support Plan Canada through its child sponsorship model. When you sponsor a child, Plan Canada pools your money with that of other sponsors. It uses this money to improve the child’s whole community. This is an indirect sponsorship model. In F2023, Canadians sponsored 147,110 children.

Plan Canada is a Major 100 charity, one of Canada's largest charities in terms of donations. In F2023, the charity received $100.5m in Canadian donations and $98.0m in international donations. It also received $56.1m in government funding, representing 21% of total revenues. In F2023, the charity received $22.5m in donated goods such as bed nets and food.

Fundraising costs are 30% of donations and administrative costs are 7% of revenues (less investment income). Total overhead costs are 37%. For each dollar donated, 63 cents go to the cause. This is outside Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. 

Plan Canada uses external fundraisers. In F2023, the charity paid fundraisers $11.5m to raise $43.4m for a total cost of 26 cents per dollar raised. 

Plan Canada has $73.7m in reserve funds. Excluding $3.8m in donor-endowed funds, the charity can cover its program costs for 3 months at the F2023 level. 

Charity Intelligence has sent this update to Plan Canada for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on March 11, 2024 by Emily Downing