Trends Archives

March 5, 2026

Reports about Donor-Advised Funds

In Canada, DAFs represent a fast-growing part of charitable assets -- some say the fastest growing. A 2025 report from Dr. Sharilyn Hale and Keith Sjogren notes that assets held... More

August 6, 2024

Neamat Sidani on “Family Business Philanthropy”

Neamat Sidani is a PhD Candidate and Teaching Assistant at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, in Belgium. She researches family business philanthropy and worked in corporate and retail banking for 15 years.... More

April 9, 2024

Private Foundations Expand as Public Foundations Close Down in Past 10 Years

By Don McRae. As I mentioned in "Four Trends in the Creation & Shutdown of Registered Charities in Canada in 2023," the number of private foundations in Canada continues to... More

April 7, 2024

Four Trends in the Creation & Shutdown of Registered Charities in Canada in 2023

By Don McRae. Last year, 1,471 new charities registered with the Canada Revenue Agency. During that time, the CRA revoked the registration status of 2,116 charities. That means there were... More

February 8, 2024

Trends in Early 2024

In the first edition of their blog for 2024, Imagine Canada's Cathy Barr and Emily Jensen review some of the main issues that have been impacting the sector over the... More

August 28, 2023

Recording of “International Perspectives on Trends in Philanthropy”

A video recording is available of "International Perspectives on Trends in Philanthropy," a webinar with philanthropic leaders and researchers from Brazil, Canada and Mexico in August 2023: Sameera Mehra,聽WINGS聽(Brazil) Susan... More

August 22, 2023

Volunteer-Supporting Charities Are Closing at Alarming Rates

By Don McRae. One of the many effects of the pandemic was a major shutdown of many forms of face-to-face volunteering. Meetings stopped, museums closed, theatres were dark, sports venues... More

June 23, 2023

Philanthropy in a Global Context: Trends to Watch

Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership, at 杏吧原创 University, hosted our 10th anniversary, in-person event, 鈥淧hilanthropy in a Global Context: Trends to Watch鈥� on June 29, 2023. Panellists: Diana Leat, Philanthropy Advisor... More

January 30, 2023

Five Trends in 2023

By Susan D. Phillips. While the effects of the COVID pandemic may be diminishing, several emergent forces will likely preclude sliding into a comfortable new normal in 2023. In particular,... More

January 29, 2023

Drivers of Philanthropy in 2023

By Keith Sj枚gren. Charitable giving is built on a foundation of accumulated wealth or surplus income and is dependent on a willingness and ability to give without sacrificing personal or... More

January 28, 2023

Donor-Advised Funds: 2023 Outlook

By Keith Sj枚gren. Over the past five years, assets held in donor-advised funds (DAFs) in Canada have increased approximately 20%, much of it achieved by DAF-holding foundations associated with financial... More

November 26, 2022

Philanthropy Trends: Is Canadian Philanthropy Distinct from That in the US?

By Susan D. Phillips. A recent report, "Philanthropy 1992鈥�2022: What difference can 30 years make?", looks at how things have changed in charitable giving and philanthropy in the US. Mega-donors... More