Toronto fares well when it comes to charity, according to a new survey.
Crowdfunding platform GoFundMe found Canada’s largest city to be the 19th most generous in the country, followed by Kamloops, BC.
They may not have topped the list, but Torontonians gave what they could. According to GoFundMe, there were over 133,000 donors in the city.
“This community has emerged as a beacon of generosity, demonstrating the incredible power of Canadians helping one another,” the organization said in a press release.
Clay Charters, president and CEO of Toronto’s Santa Claus Parade, set up a GoFundMe to save the ailing event; he has raised over $141,000 CAD to date to go towards next year’s event.
Similarly, Toronto resident Warren Chang, created a GoFundMe after he was paralyzed during a routine weightlifting session. The public raised over $103,000, which has gone towards his nursing care, medical supplies and rehab.
Overall, one in 13 Canadian adults made donations through the platform in 2024. Even in the face of a cost of living crisis, communities have continued to give.
Despite offering plenty, Torontonians still gave less than others.
This year, GoFundMe’s top 20 most generous communities in Canada are:
1. Victoria, British Columbia
2. North Vancouver, British Columbia
3. St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
4. Vancouver, British Columbia
5. Milton, Ontario
6. Brampton, Ontario
7. Kelowna, British Columbia
8. Thunder Bay, Ontario
9. Moncton, New Brunswick
10. New Westminster, British Columbia
11. Guelph, Ontario
12. Whitby, Ontario
13. Prince George, British Columbia
14. Kitchener, Ontario
15. Regina, Saskatchewan
16. Calgary, Alberta
17. Pickering, Ontario
18. Waterloo, Ontario
19. Toronto, Ontario
20. Kamloops, British Columbia
GoFundMe recorded $280 million raised in Canada for people, causes, and organizations around the world. This compares to almost $259 million raised over the same period in 2023, reflecting an eight per cent increase, according to the survey.
“People across Canada have exhibited unprecedented kindness and compassion, exemplified by the generosity shown—from supporting a young girl in North Vancouver hoping to train her service dog or donating dollars to keep the beloved Toronto Santa Claus Parade alive, an unbreakable spirit of solidarity defines Canadians,” Tim Cadogan, Chief Executive Officer, GoFundMe said.
The Top 20 most generous communities were selected by measuring the number of donors per capita made through the GoFundMe platform.
