With roughly 75% of the population growth coming from immigration, it is imperative to gain insights into the experiences of multicultural Canadians. This study was designed to help nonprofits and charities gain an understanding of the experiences, preferences and attitudes of multicultural Canadians as they relate to giving, so they can engage with these population groups meaningfully.

Conducted by CulturaliQ and Imagine Canada with the support of BMO and other partners—this comprehensive research project examines:

• the levels of giving among multicultural Canadians,
• the causes they support,
• motivations for donating, and
• the factors that may limit their contributions.

As a large proportion of multicultural Canadians were born abroad, the study also looks at how their experiences of coming to Canada shape their opinions and attitudes about giving. It focuses on the experiences of first and second-generation immigrants from some of the largest and fast-growing racialized communities in Canada, including South Asian, Chinese, Afro-Caribbean/African, Filipino, Arab and West Asian.

Key findings

Multicultural Canadians are caring and generous

• The majority of multicultural Canadians (66%) view charities and nonprofits positively, with nearly 80% having donated to charitable causes in the past year. Despite economic constraints, such as rising living costs, many continue to demonstrate strong philanthropic support.
• Immigrants, particularly those who have been in Canada for less than ten years, generally show higher levels of charitable engagement compared to Canadian-born respondents.
• The amounts donated by immigrants generally increase the longer they have been in Canada. Immigrants who have been in the country for ten years or more give more than multicultural Canadians who were born in Canada.\
• Nearly 80% of multicultural Canadians reported donating in the past year, an increase from 2020. However, the average donation amount has decreased slightly (from $874 in 2020 to $795 in 2023). 

Motivations to give and importance of generosity

• Multicultural Canadians are primarily motivated by a desire to help others and their personal belief in the causes they support. Key motivations include a sense of duty to help those in need, religious obligations, and the personal satisfaction of making a difference, rather than seeking external rewards like tax credits or public recognition.
• There is broad support (74%) for teaching children about philanthropy, with multicultural Canadians seeing value in instilling the importance of giving in the next generation.
  

Challenges and barriers

• Nearly a quarter of multicultural immigrant Canadians surveyed express regret about their decision to come, with many citing challenges such as increased racism, limited opportunities, and feelings of not belonging.
• Despite these difficulties, many immigrants continue to donate, although they tend to contribute less than those who have been in Canada longer.
• A large percentage of multicultural donors (44%) cite affordability as a limiting factor.

These findings suggest that to further engage multicultural Canadians in charitable giving, and to engage meaningfully, it is crucial to address the challenges and feelings of exclusion faced by immigrants, particularly those in their early years in Canada.

Read the Report