Canada’s Charity Leaders Cautiously Optimistic about the Future while Major Sector Challenges Remain

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TORONTO, ON, August 24, 2011 – Imagine Canada released today its fourth report from the Sector Monitor survey program that was launched at the end of 2009. The program is designed to regularly monitor the state of charities across the country and their ability to deliver their missions. This release is significant as responses to this iteration of the survey indicate positive changes within Canada’s charitable environment as the sector continues its fragile recovery from the recent economic downturn.

While demand for the products and services of sector organizations remains high, there are signs that sector leaders are beginning to see a slackening of the ever-increasing demand. The immediacy of financial challenges for some organizations has receded and organizational stress had declined significantly from the high seen just one year ago. However, this positive shift is not uniform across the sector. While foundations report increased revenues, operating charities continue to report stagnant revenues and ever-increasing expenditures.

“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.”

It is also worth noting that the human resources situation has improved slightly for operating charities as the average reported increase in the number of paid staff in the sector (3.8%) is more than twice the increase in total employment across the country (1.4%). The sector employs more than 2 million people representing 11.1% of the economically active population. The sector also represents $106.4 billion or 7.1% of our country’s GDP (larger than the automotive or manufacturing industries).

For more information about the Sector Monitor program and to download the most recent full report visit www.imaginecanada.ca/sector_monitor.

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Imagine Canada is a national charitable organization whose cause is Canada’s charities and nonprofits. It strengthens the sector’s collective voice, acts as a forum and meeting place and creates an environment in which organizations contribute to building stronger communities.

For further information:
Lindsey Vodarek
Manager, Communications & Public Policy
lvodarek@imaginecanada.ca
1.800.263.1178 x351 or 416.597.2293 x351