Reports are listed from the most recent.

Sector Monitor Vol. 3, No. 1

Date Released: October 23, 2012
Survey conducted: June 19 to August 10, 2012
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Findings indicate sector may face greater challenges in the coming year.

Responses to the most recent edition of the Sector Monitor indicate a decrease in confidence among charity leaders over the past year. More leaders are predicting their charity will be weaker, in terms of its ability to carry out its mission in the near- and medium-term and that the financial and human resources of their organization will decrease over the near-term. In terms of recent experiences, more leaders are reporting their organizations currently face increased demand but stagnant revenues, compared to a year ago and they are less likely to report increased expenditures.

Sector Monitor Vol. 2, No. 2

Date Released: February 7, 2012
Survey conducted: November 3 to December 2, 2011
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Welcome to Imagine Canada’s fifth Sector Monitor report since the program began late 2009. In this report we present results from our newly expanded survey sample which almost doubles the number of charities surveyed previously. Survey findings from mid-2011 suggested increased optimism; this does not appear to have continued.

Sector Monitor Vol. 2, No. 1

Date Released: August 24, 2011
Survey conducted: May 25 to June 30, 2011
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This Sector Monitor edition presents mid-2011 results. A total of 1,447 leaders of registered charities responded to our fourth Sector Monitor survey, which was open between May 25 and June 30, 2011. Throughout this report, we compare the results of the most recent survey with those of the three previous surveys.

“Although these findings are heartening, results are far from universally positive. A significant number of organizations continue to report challenges in a number of areas. Similarly, many operating charities continue to report flat revenues and increased expenditures,” shares Marcel Lauzière, Imagine Canada President & CEO. “Although a new optimism is in the air, major challenges remain, particularly with regards to adequate financial resources for organizations. We must also keep in mind that the survey responses were collected prior to recent economic turmoil in the United States and Europe.”

Sector Monitor Vol. 1, No. 3

Date Released: February 8, 2011
Survey conducted: October 28 to November 24, 2010
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This issue of the Sector Monitor looks at conditions in late 2010. The report presents results for the Monitor’s core set of tracking questions and summarizes the responses of 1,625 leaders of registered charities who participated in this edition of the survey.

“This version of the Monitor is particularly significant because it marks the completion of our first year of regular surveys,” says Marcel Lauzière, Imagine Canada President and CEO. From this Sector Monitor “...the results are mixed. On one hand, the level of organizational stress appears to have receded; on the other hand, revenues still appear to be stagnating and are increasingly outpaced by expenditures. Perhaps more alarmingly, small organizations appear to be losing a steady trickle of paid staff. ”

Sector Monitor Vol. 1, No. 2

Date Released: August 26, 2010
Survey conducted: June 16 to July 18, 2010
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This issue of the Sector Monitor report compares conditions from the first half of 2010 to the baseline established by the first survey. The primary focus is on exploring the effects of the economic downturn that have continued to unfold since 2009. The report summarizes the responses of 1,523 leaders of registered charities who participated in our survey.

“A key question currently facing our sector is whether the worst effects of the downturn have passed or if worse is yet to come,” shares Marcel Lauzière, Imagine Canada President and CEO in the Sector Monitor’s foreword. “Overall, this Sector Monitor indicates that we continue to face considerable challenges. Although a few of the most acute challenges related to the economy have slackened for many organizations, many other challenges remain or have increased. Although the broader economy is showing signs of slow recovery, this does not appear to be the case for the sector as a whole and we collectively need to watch this closely in coming months and even years.”

Sector Monitor Vol. 1, No. 1

Date Released: April 28, 2010
Survey conducted: November 24, 2009 to January 11, 2010

The first version of the Sector Monitor focused on the effects of the recent economic downturn on registered charities. The report summarizes the responses of 1,508 leaders of registered charities who answered our online survey.

"I am personally most impressed with the two of the trends that have emerged," shares Marcel Lauzière, Imagine Canada President and CEO in the Sector Monitor’s foreword. "The first is the determination of organization to carry out their mission despite economic circumstances and to meet increased demand without cutting service levels. The second is the level of optimism that leaders feel for the future. This does not mean we can sit back and wait for things to get better, but it is encouraging that we have such a strong foundation on which to build."

In addition to providing current information on the state of the sector, these results provide a valuable baseline for assessing the ongoing impact of the economy on Canadian charities and the communities they serve.