Two in five Canadians needed the help of a charity or nonprofit last year: RBC poll

• RBC and RBC Foundation support more than 2,000 charities and nonprofits annually to help strengthen our communities.
• Two in five Canadians are unaware that the institutions they rely on most – from hospitals to universities – are part of Canada's charitable and nonprofit sector.

TORONTO, Oct. 13, 2026 /CNW/ -- While close to 40% of Canadians reported using charity or nonprofit services over the past 12 months, an equal number (two in five) were unaware that the institutions they relied on most were part of the sector.

The findings come from a recent Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of RBC, as part of a national campaign to raise awareness for the importance of the sector and the critical role it plays in helping to support Canadians and build stronger communities.

Which charities and nonprofits are Canadians relying on most?

• Healthcare services are the most utilized (68%), far exceeding food (26%) and education (15%).
• Canadians also recorded significant reliance on services related to housing (12%), social programming (12%), employment (9%), professional/skill development (6%) and cultural or recreational programming (6%).

Who uses charitable and nonprofit services?

• While many Canadians access these services, most (79%) engagement is occasional; however, one in five (21%) users rely on them regularly, leveraging these services to help them get by.
• Younger Canadians are more likely than older generations to access services for education and employment, while older Canadians rely more heavily on healthcare supports. Gen Z (44%) reported the highest usage among all generations.
• Canadians with children are significantly more likely than those without children to have used a charity or nonprofit in the last 12 months (49% vs. 36%).

RBC has responded with commitments in support of charities and nonprofits:

• Investing for impact at scale: RBC, RBC Foundation and RBC Foundation USA have committed to providing C$2 billion in community investment by 2035. RBC supports more than 2,000 unique charities and nonprofits annually in Canada.
• Supporting the sector: Funding is important, but charities and nonprofits need more access to skills, networks and tools to help them navigate an increasingly complex environment. The RBC Stronger Nonprofits Program is one example of how RBC is helping charities and nonprofits strengthen their operations so they can help serve more Canadians for the long term.

"This survey reinforces what we are hearing in our communities – that nonprofits are the backbone of strong, resilient communities and that Canadians rely on them heavily," said Andrea Barrack, Senior Vice President, Sustainability and Impact, RBC. "These organizations provide essential services, create jobs and tackle some of our most pressing challenges. As one of Canada's largest corporate funders, we see it as our responsibility to fund the important work nonprofits do, help raise awareness among Canadians and strengthen the sector itself."

To learn more about how RBC is working with thousands of charities and nonprofits, visit RBC.com/strongercommunities.

About the Survey
These are some of the findings from an Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of RBC. The survey was fielded online between May 27-29, 2026. A total of n=1001 surveys were completed by adults aged 18 and older via the Ipsos I-Say Panel. The results are considered accurate to within ±3.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what the results would be had all Canadians over 18 been polled.

About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 105,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our more than 19 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.‎

We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/peopleandplanet.

For more information, please contact:
Lisa Seepersad, Corporate Communications, RBC

SOURCE RBC