World Renew is a 5-star charity with Good demonstrated impact on its international development programs. The charity is financially transparent and has reasonable overhead costs. Its results reporting grade is above average.

Founded in 1969, World Renew Canada (WRNW) is a Christian charity that helps those affected by natural disasters and conflict. The charity also runs development programs to reduce global poverty. WRNW states that over 120 million people around the world were displaced from their homes in 2024.

World Renew Canada works closely with World Renew USA and Canadian Foodgrains Bank to run its global projects. World Renew Canada shares a website with World Renew USA and posts shared annual reports.

A Charity Intelligence 2024 Top 100 Rated Charity.

World Renew Canada runs two main programs: Disaster Response and Overseas Development. Charity Intelligence estimates WRNW spent $20.3m on its programs in its fiscal year ending June 2024 (F2024). The charity provides a breakdown of its program spending in both its audited financial statements and its annual report; however, the breakdowns do not reconcile. Ci has used the values from the financial statements.

The Disaster Response program received 70% ($14.2m) of program spending in F2024. Of the Disaster Response spending, 84% was through Canadian Foodgrains Bank. WRNW assists people affected by conflict and natural disasters. The charity provides short-term aid after disasters. It also works to reduce the potential damage from future disasters. The charity reports it helped 305,218 people across 21 countries in F2024.

The Overseas Development program received 24% ($4.8m) of program spending in F2024. WRNW provides resources and training to reduce global poverty. This includes food support, economic training, and healthcare services. WRNW reports it helped 254,769 people across 19 countries in F2024.

The charity also runs Education and Justice (4% of program spending in F2024) and Domestic Development (2% of program spending in F2024) programs. Ci did not find any mention of what these programs are or their results on WRNW’s website.

World Renew Canada’s audited financial statements follow activity-based costing, a best practice. This means its expenses are clearly defined between program, administrative, and fundraising categories.

In F2024 WRNW received $16.8m in Canadian donations and $982k in international donations. It also received $7.6m in government funding. Government funding is 29% of total revenue. According to its financial notes, World Renew receives funding from two related parties: World Renew USA and the Christian Reformed Church in North America – Canada Corporation. The charity does not disclose the amounts of related party transfers included within donations.

Administrative costs are 7% of revenues (excluding investment income). Fundraising costs are 13% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 19%. For every dollar donated, 81 cents are available to go to the cause. This falls within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

In F2024 WRNW spent $20.3m on its programs, which is 79% of its revenue. In F2024 it had a surplus of $1.7m.

World Renew Canada has $18.2m in reserve funds (cash and investments). The reserves can cover 89%, or eleven months of program costs.

This charity report is an update that has been sent for review to World Renew Canada. Changes and edits may be forthcoming. 

Updated on May 30, 2025, by Grady Simpson.