Two in five Canadians used services provided by a charity or nonprofit over the past year, according to a new poll commissioned by Royal Bank of Canada, highlighting the sector’s role in supporting households across the country.
The Ipsos survey also found that two in five Canadians were unaware that institutions they rely on most, including hospitals and universities, are part of Canada’s charitable and nonprofit sector.
The findings were released Tuesday as RBC promotes greater awareness of the sector’s contribution to communities and outlines its financial and operational support for charitable organizations.
Health care leads use of nonprofit services
Health care services were the most commonly used among the charitable and nonprofit services surveyed, with 68 per cent of respondents reporting reliance on them. Food services ranked second at 26 per cent, followed by education at 15 per cent.
Housing and social programming services were each used by 12 per cent of respondents, while nine per cent accessed employment services. Professional and skills development, along with cultural or recreational programming, each accounted for six per cent.
Although many Canadians reported accessing these services, most users did so occasionally. The poll found that 79 per cent of users engaged with charities or nonprofits on an occasional basis, while 21 per cent relied on them regularly to help meet their needs.
Usage also varied by age and household circumstances. Gen Z respondents reported the highest rate of use among the generations surveyed, at 44 per cent. Younger Canadians were more likely than older generations to access education and employment services, while older Canadians relied more heavily on health care supports.
Canadians with children were also more likely to have used a charity or nonprofit in the previous 12 months than those without children, at 49 per cent compared with 36 per cent.
RBC commits $2 billion to community investment
RBC said it, the RBC Foundation and RBC Foundation USA have committed to providing $2 billion in community investment by 2035. The bank also said it supports more than 2,000 individual charities and nonprofits annually in Canada.
Beyond funding, RBC is directing support toward helping organizations improve their operations and build their capacity to serve communities over the longer term.
The bank cited its RBC Stronger Nonprofits Program as one initiative intended to give charities and nonprofits greater access to skills, networks and tools as they navigate an increasingly complex operating environment.
Andrea Barrack, RBC’s senior vice-president of sustainability and impact, said the survey reflects the importance of nonprofit organizations to communities and the people who depend on their services.
"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 Barrack. "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."
Survey conducted in May
The poll was conducted online by Ipsos on behalf of RBC between May 27 and 29, 2026. A total of 1,001 adults aged 18 and older completed the survey through the Ipsos I-Say Panel.
RBC said the results are considered accurate to within plus or minus 3.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had all Canadians aged 18 and older been surveyed.
The findings form part of RBC’s campaign to raise awareness of the charitable and nonprofit sector and its role in supporting Canadians and building communities.
The bank operates in Canada, the United States and 27 other countries, serving more than 19 million clients. It employs more than 105,000 people, according to the company.
RBC’s community investment commitments and nonprofit support programs are part of its broader community initiatives, which also include donations and employee volunteer activities.