FAQ

Centraide’s mission is to bring people together and take action for an inclusive and poverty-free Greater Montreal.

For over 50 years, Centraide has united philanthropic, institutional, social and community partners to improve the living conditions of people in situations of poverty or vulnerability, all while investing in social innovation.

In 2024-2025, Centraide made investments in over 375 community agencies to support their operations or involvement in collective projects and to strengthen their skills and leadership.

These Centraide-supported agencies help over 800,000 people every year in Laval, in Montreal, and on the South Shore, a territory that is home to over half of all Quebeckers in a situation of poverty.

Centraide is a key player in the fight against poverty and social exclusion in Greater Montreal. It supports a network of over 375 community agencies and projects in Laval, in Montreal and on the South Shore that help people in a situation of poverty and vulnerability.

Centraide’s expertise comes from its in-depth knowledge of communities and their needs and has been established through strong ties with neighbourhood roundtables, community agencies, and institutions, such as municipalities, public health bodies, and schools.

This approach has let Centraide establish its action priorities and identify the agencies that are best positioned to implement them to have the biggest possible impact on vulnerable people.

Centraide of Greater Montreal supports hundreds of agencies that work directly with people in a situation of poverty or social exclusion. This support translates into concrete actions in Montreal, in Laval and on the South Shore.

Thanks to these agencies, children from disadvantaged backgrounds can get academic and social support to succeed and thrive. Families who are food-insecure can access food banks and collective kitchens to get healthy meals at a lower cost. People who live in substandard housing or who are being threatened with eviction can receive help to stay in their homes, while people experiencing homelessness can get a spot at an emergency shelter and support to find stable and affordable housing. Newcomers receive assistance in their immigration and integration process, while marginalized people, such as seniors or people with disabilities, get support to ease their isolation and access the services they need. And much more!

Every year, these services help over 800,000 people improve their living conditions and build a better future.

With 315,000 people living below the low-income cut-off, Greater Montreal is home to the majority of Quebeckers in a situation of poverty (60%). Another 200,000 people earn only slightly more than this amount ($25,000, $26,000 or $27,000) and are just as vulnerable to life’s uncertainties.

Based on the Market Basket Measure (MBM), Canada’s official measure of poverty. Statistics Canada, 2021 Census.

Nearly 87% of the funds raised by Centraide of Greater Montreal go back to the community, thanks to administrative costs that are among the lowest in Canada for a philanthropic organization.

To learn about how much we raise and where it is invested, consult the latest Report to Our Community at https://www.centraide-mtl.org/en/report-to-our-community/

Yes, Centraide of Greater Montreal is registered as a charitable organization with the Canada Revenue Agency under the registration number 118842517RR0001.

Centraide of Greater Montreal’s territory covers Laval, Montreal and the South Shore.

This area comprises 111 neighbourhoods and municipalities: 14 in Laval, 48 in Montreal and 49 on the South Shore.

For more details, visit our interactive map: https://www.centraide-mtl.org/en/territories-served/

If your neighbourhood is not served by Centraide of Greater Montreal, you can find the Centraide in your region by searching with your postal code at the United Way Centraide Canada website: https://www.unitedway.ca/find-a-local-united-way-centraide/

Yes! Centraide is the name used in Quebec for organizations that belong to the United Way network, which is found in Canada and a number of other countries.

In Quebec:
Many regional Centraides each serve a specific geographic area: Centraide du Grand Montréal, Centraide Duplessis, Centraide Estrie, Centraide Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Centraide Haute-Côte-Nord Manicouagan, Centraide Laurentides, Centraide Outaouais, Centraide Québec et Chaudière-Appalaches, Centraide Bas-Saint-Laurent, Centraide Régions Centre-Ouest du Québec, Centraide Richelieu-Yamaska and Centraide Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean.

While each entity is independent, they all share the same mission to fight poverty and social exclusion by supporting local community agencies.

Elsewhere in Canada:
Outside Quebec, the organization is called the United Way. The list of United Ways is available here:
https://www.unitedway.ca/find-a-local-united-way-centraide/

Each entity acts independently but is part of United Way Centraide Canada, which serves as a national federation to help everyone in the network to share, exchange best practices, and carry out joint initiatives.

Centraide of Greater Montreal complies with the Donor Bill of Rights of the Quebec Section of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (for more information: https://afpquebec.ca/en/about/donor-bill-of-rights/). Centraide of Greater Montreal will not send personal information to third parties or exchange or share it with them unless:

- The person authorizes us to do so.

- The information must be shared to process a donation (e.g. a credit card transaction).

- We are required to do so by law.

For more information or to contact us about our Privacy Policy, visit: https://www.centraide-mtl.org/en/privacy-policy/

Please fill out the form available at https://www.centraide-mtl.org/en/get-involved/launch-a-workplace-campaign/

Our team will contact you to provide you with the support and resources to make your campaign a success.