Seeing the Big Picture of SUMMARY REPORT 2024 Your Impact!
Introduction
Who We Are
Islamic Relief works in over 40 countries worldwide, providing life-saving humanitarian aid to those in need, and fighting poverty through sustainable development projects. Inspired by faith, we serve everyone in need regardless of gender, race or religion.
Our Impact This Year
Because of you, we are reaching 4.3 million people in 2024 and implementing more than 154 projects to help bring relief and break the cycle of poverty. Every donation you made this year helped fill someone’s heart with happiness. Thank you for your continued generosity and care!
4.3 Million People 154 Projects
Our Mission
To mobilize Canadians to transform more lives around the world in the most trusted manner.
Our Vision
A more compassionate and just world where no
Follow Your Donation
Follow Your $1 Donation
For every $1 we raise:
$0.86 goes directly into helping people in need
$0.11 to raise more funds
$0.03 towards administrative costs
Understanding Our Overhead Costs Admin Costs
Our admin cost helps us increase the quality and efficacy of our work and avoid duplication of efforts or any waste. It also allows us to adhere to the highest standards of oversight, compliance and accountability. Ultimately, it means increased accountability and transparency for you.
That is why information on admin costs and our annual audited financial statements are readily available on our website.
For every 1 cent that we spend on fundraising, we raise an additional 9 cents.
That’s an extra 90 cents on top of your $1.
Your donation is nearly DOUBLED.
Charitable Expenditures
2024 Audited Financial Statements are scheduled to be completed in June 2025.
2023 Charitable Expenditure
Your donations are spread across various charitable funds, each one fulfilling a particular humanitarian and development need. In 2023, our largest charitable expenditures were for emergency relief, development work, as well as our orphan sponsorship program.
Charitable Expenditure by Program
* Emergency Response includes disaster as well as humanitarian responses
Charitable Expenditure by Donation Type
This graph shows our charitable expenditure of donations split by religious intent
Discussion & Analysis
Over the last three years, Islamic Relief donors have demonstrated tremendous generosity, resulting in donation revenues growing over 50% ($38M) since 2021. Year-over-year, our Canadian donors have been ready to answer the call.
Our overhead costs ($15M) declined slightly in proportion to revenue, falling from 15.4% in 2021, to 13.8% in 2023. As our organization matures, we continue to assess our overhead and ensure every dollar is spent in the most impactful manner. The fluctuation in these costs is associated with the organization's growth as we aim to fulfill our mission, as well as the trends in the economy in which we operate.
Emergency Response
Our emergency responses assess the urgent needs of the community and implement tailored life-saving humanitarian aid. We work efficiently to ensure the most vulnerable have access to food, clean water, shelter, and basic services such as education, sanitation, and healthcare.
“When we received heating material from the team, I felt indescribable joy and relief. My children stopped shivering from the cold and went to sleep with a smile on their face for the first time in months. Life in this camp has become more bearable and we can now sleep comfortably.”
Umm Mustafa, 48 years old, Syria
2024 Impact of Emergency Responses
2,011,745 Rights-Holders 18
2024 EMERGENCY APPEALS OVERVIEW
Afghanistan
Earthquake Response
8,050 rights-holders
Cash grants
Shelter repair
Hygiene kits
Lebanon Emergency Appeal
75,800 rights-holders
Medical supplies
Hygiene kits
Food packs & meat
Blankets & mattresses
Gaza Emergency Appeal
600,000 rights-holders
Hot meals
Psychosocial support
Clean water
Medical aid
Food packs & nutritional supplements
Bangladesh Floods Appeal
3,818 rights-holders
Cash grants Hygiene kits
Sudan Emergency Appeal
182,080 rights-holders
Cash grants
Psychosocial support
Hygiene kits
Medical aid
Islamic Relief Canada is a member of the Humanitarian Coalition, an association of the top 12 leading aid organizations to provide Canadians with a simple and effective way to help during international humanitarian disasters. This past year, the Canadian Government matched funds to the Gaza and Lebanon emergencies, allowing Islamic Relief through the Humanitarian Coalition to double our reach and impact
EMERGENCY HIGHLIGHT
GAZA CRISIS
Islamic Relief is on the ground, working alongside local partners, and providing medical supplies and equipment to local hospitals, clean water, psychosocial support for children, fresh produce, and bedding items.
Your Zakat helped here!
2.2 million medical supply items
51 million hot meals
263,019 packs of fresh produce
Clean water to 115,692 people daily
63,919 hygiene kits + items to 85 shelters
97,778 children received psychosocial support
From October 7, 2023 to December 5, 2024, through the collective support of all Islamic Relief offices globally, you helped provide: Read
600,000 Rights-holders
Reached through funds from Islamic Relief Canada
Our Integrated Approach
Our development projects address a number of cross-cutting issues at the same time: food security, education, health, livelihood, protection, shelter and water, sanitation, and hygiene. This provides long-term community-oriented solutions, ensuring an amplified impact and sustainable change.
2024 Impact of Development Projects
1,691,225
Orphan Sponsorship Your kindness transforms lives
28,470 Orphans Sponsored Because Of You
100 Families Sponsored Because Of You
With your support, our Orphan Sponsorship Program has helped transform countless lives, families, and communities around the world. Today, we are sponsoring over 28,000 orphans worldwide!
Each donor is paired on a direct 1-1 basis with an orphan in need. Your monthly cash sponsorship is transferred to our field offices quarterly for immediate distribution to the same orphan to uplift their lives and help change their futures. 80% of your sponsorship goes directly to the orphan in the form of a cash transfer, while 20% supports operating costs for this program, which are essential to its success and ensure sustainable support for each orphan. of your sponsorship goes directly to the orphan of your sponsorship supports operating costs
11,187 Female orphans
381 Orphans with disabilities 25 Countries
13,302 Male orphans
Our Help at Home
Islamic Relief Canada works with local grassroots organizations to build healthy communities from coast to coast. From funding mental health counseling to resettling evacuees from Gaza, providing warm meals, and so much more — we do it all through your support.
27 Projects
8,233 Rights-Holders
Our Work with Gazan Evacuees
Over this past year, Islamic Relief has worked tirelessly to provide vital support to survivors from Gaza, here in Canada. Islamic Relief Canada helped:
Facilitate the arrival of over 1,154 people to Canada
Provide winter jackets, airport pickups, gift cards, and hotel accommodations to 29 families
Host 9 events for Gazan evacuees, including multiple camps for 40 children and a community iftar during Ramadan
One aspect of our life-saving work is supporting families in resettling and thriving in Canada through a self-sufficient and community-centred approach.
Our Hardship Grant offers financial assistance to Gazan evacuees who arrived in Canada under the special measures program. In its first phase, the grant provides $250 per family member once a month for up to six months, reaching 200 families in total.
Your support has truly changed the lives of countless people, offering hope to those desperately waiting to be reunited with their families, find safety, and be given the chance to start over.
“I just told my mom that her flight had been booked, and she started crying out of happiness. Thank you so much.”
- Evacuee Supported by Islamic Relief Canada
Ramadan Food Packs: Your Donations in Action
132,436 People Were Sustained This Ramadan Because of You Across 15 Countries
Qurbani/Udhiya
Over 35 years, we’ve developed a very efficient, costeffective, and reliable process for our Qurbani programming. In the countries we work, the entire Qurbani process from start to finish is regulated to the highest Islamic, ethical, and humanitarian standards.
Our offices organize everything in advance to fulfill your sacrifice, including buying high-quality animals from local farms and on Eid, ensuring your sacrifice is done humanely, hygienically, and without waste. Afghanistan
Qurbani Meat Packs: Your Donations in Action
329,371 People
Received Meat on Eid Across 23 Countries
Aqiqah
A total of 2,290 meat packs were distributed this year to celebrate the births of our donors’ newborn children, with quality fresh meat distributed to vulnerable families in Ethiopia and Kenya.
We utilized a community-led approach in the process of sacrifice and distribution to involve community organizations and volunteers along with staff and provide dignified paid labour opportunities for those in need.
Eid Gift Distribution
Sharing the Joy of Eid with Children in Need
Your kindness gifted smiles to orphans and vulnerable children on Eid day through new clothes, shoes, school bags and educational material, toys, and sweets. These gifts full of joy were distributed across Canada, India, Iraq, Nepal, Niger, Philippines, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Turkiye, and Yemen.
8,451 Children
Received Your Eid al-Fitr Gifts!
14,949 Rights-holders
Reached through Aqiqah!
9,593 Children
Received Your Eid al-Adha Gifts!
Thank You for Your Support!
As we reflect on the challenges that marked a difficult 2024, I am filled with profound gratitude for the unwavering support and kindness that emanated from our grassroots community across Canada this year!
In the face of adversity, your collective strength and compassion illuminated the darkest corners of despair.
We saw natural disasters in Afghanistan and Bangladesh, where Islamic Relief was able to mobilize teams from the region to reach impacted areas and put your donations to work. With your steadfast support, we expanded our programs to provide not just immediate relief, but also a path towards lasting recovery.
In Gaza, Lebanon and Sudan, unprecedented humanitarian catastrophes unfolded right before our eyes. Yet, you remained steadfast in solidarity. You continued to support our ongoing humanitarian efforts on the ground.
O Allah, we ask You to pour upon them Your mercy. O Allah where they have been cut off, provide for them. Grant our beloved brothers and sisters in Palestine, Lebanon, and Sudan the perseverance to continue and O Allah, grant them victory.
O Allah we ask You to use us for them. Guide us to the best ways to support them and O Allah, as they have been a sign of perseverance, give us the strength to persevere as well.
As we stand on the cusp of an unknown future in 2025, one thing remains constant—the power of community and the immense hearts of our donors. Thank you for being the pillars that uphold our mission. We are profoundly grateful, and none of this would be possible without you.
Your brother,
Usama Khan CEO, Islamic Relief Canada
How to Get Involved
Volunteer
From events to going abroad to local initiatives, the possibilities are endless, and it all starts with you! Sign up at islamicrelief.ca/volunteer
Challenges
Be part of our life-changing trips here in Canada and around the world while visiting our offices on the ground, all for a good cause! Sign up at islamicrelief.ca/challenges
Follow & Share
Be part of our exciting online journey and follow us on social media!
@islamicreliefcanada
Fundraise For Us
Advocate for a cause and get your friends involved! Whether in lieu of birthday gifts or in memory of a loved one. Start today at islamicrelief.ca/crowdfunding
Inspire
Gain hands-on learning of our relief work through field study trips, while raising awareness and funds for projects across the world! Sign up at islamicrelief.ca/inspire
Continue Your Impact
Help us reach even more people in need by making a donation online. From our humanitarian work in Gaza to funding local community programming, Islamic Relief Canada has various programs you can support.
islamicrelief.ca/donate
3501 Mainway
Burlington, ON L7M 1A9 www.islamicrelief.ca 1-855-377-4673 (HOPE)
Registered Charity No. 821896875RR0001