Rising demand has Alberta non-profits bracing for a tough 2024: Survey
Alberta's non-profit sector is bracing for a tough 2024 with rising demand for services along with community and environmental challenges.
The Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (CCVO) released its annual State of the Sector Survey on Wednesday, providing insights into how nearly 1,500 Alberta non-profits are faring.
“In the 30 years I've been working in this sector, I've never actually seen this kind of pressure before,” said Karen Ball, president and CEO of CCVO.
According to Ipsos Reid, 83 per cent of those are accessing the services for the first time, in some cases including non-profit staff members themselves.
“We’re four years in on what’s essentially a cost of living crisis, we’re starting to worry a little bit that we’re not going to be able to continue at this pace,” said Melissa From, the CEO of Calgary Food Bank.
She added that population increases are one factor, but demand growth is mostly due to affordability.
The high cost of groceries, housing and other expenses have many people stretched thin, including the organizations trying to meet the gaps.
“We’re not immune to that as an organization. Everything is costing us astronomically more and we’re trying to feed more and more people with the same resources essentially,” From said.
CCVO says it had a record-breaking response to the 2023 survey, which suggests some of the biggest concerns non-profits are facing, including an increase in the need for their services, increased hate and anger, and unprecedented effects of climate change.
According to the CCVO survey, nearly one in three Albertans are expected to access charitable services to meet their basic needs in the next six months.
The survey also found 74 per cent of respondents felt climate change had impacted their operations in 2023, as wildfire smoke led to cancelled programming and fundraising events.
The CCVO says the sector contributes $5.5 billion to Alberta’s economy annually and employees nearly 285,000 Albertans.
“We continue to see a very strained sector that is really facing what we think is a new normal for how non-profits and charities work in the province,” said Ball.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
LIVE UPDATES Multiple homes, businesses 'lost' to wildfire in Jasper National Park: Parks Canada
Officials from Parks Canada and Jasper say "multiple structures, including a number of businesses and homes, in and around the town of Jasper, have been lost" to wildfire in Jasper National Park.
'There's mom and dad's house': New video appears to show destruction of Jasper neighbourhood
Video posted to social media on Thursday morning appears to show the charred remains of a Jasper, Alta., neighbourhood.
Alberta premier says a third, perhaps half, of all Jasper buildings destroyed by fire
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says early reports indicate a third and perhaps up to half of all buildings in the historic Rocky Mountain resort town of Jasper have been destroyed in a wildfire.
Prince William's 2023 salary revealed in new report
Newly released financial reports show that William, the Prince of Wales, drew a salary of $42.1 million last fiscal year, his first since inheriting the vast and lucrative Duchy of Cornwall.
Former judge with disputed Cree heritage likely has Indigenous DNA: law society
The Law Society of British Columbia says a DNA test shows a former judge and Order of Canada recipient accused of falsely claiming to be Cree "most likely" has Indigenous heritage.
Tourist suffers 3rd-degree burns to feet after losing flip flops amid soaring temperatures in Death Valley
A tourist was hospitalized after suffering serious burns on his feet on Saturday when he lost his flip flops at a U.S. national park where temperatures soared past 48 Celsius.
Canada to bring home fewest Olympic medals since 2012, according to forecaster
Fewer Canadians are expected to reach the Paris podium than in the previous two Olympic Summer Games, a global data analytics company predicts.
Jennifer Aniston criticizes JD Vance for 'childless cat ladies' remarks: 'I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children'
Jennifer Aniston is criticizing JD Vance for comments he made in his past about women without children.
'Skibidi Toilet:' If you don't know what it is, you will
'Skibidi Toilet' is already an internet sensation and now its about to get even more exposure after the YouTube series is being developed for TV and film, according to a report by Variety.