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
Kamala Harris endorsement excites Democrats, but what could it mean for Canada?
U.S. President Joe Biden's endorsement of Vice-President Kamala Harris as his possible replacement stirred excitement among Democrats, but one analyst has concerns about what a potential Harris presidency would mean for Canada.
Four suicides in New Zealand linked to Ontario's Kenneth Law
New Zealand's coroner has ruled that four of its citizens died after ordering products from an Ontario man who is facing murder charges for selling poisonous substances.
Who's number two? Four leading Democrats emerge as a possible running mate for Kamala Harris
No one knows the importance of selecting the right running mate better than Vice President Kamala Harris.
'We failed,' says Secret Service director grilled on Trump assassination attempt
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle said Monday that her agency failed in its mission to protect former President Donald Trump during a highly contentious congressional hearing with lawmakers of both major political parties demanding she resign over security failures that allowed a gunman to scale a roof and open fire at a campaign rally.
Harris praises Biden's 'unmatched' legacy, claims many of the delegates she needs for the nomination
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris moved swiftly Monday to lock up Democratic delegates behind her campaign for the White House after President Joe Biden stepped aside amid concerns from within their party that he would be unable to defeat Republican Donald Trump.
Do you want to be happier? Here are 5 habits to adopt
If you look around at your friends and family — and even at yourself — it is apparent that some people perceive the glass to be half full, while others view it as half empty. Which habits can you adopt to increase your level of happiness? A social psychologist has these five tips.
Caught in 4K: Sask. men charged after poaching revealed in YouTube video
Two men in northern Saskatchewan were recently found guilty of multiple hunting violations after authorities discovered a YouTube video showing the crimes.
Prince George is 11 -- see his birthday photo
Prince George has turned 11, and as per tradition his proud parents have released an official portrait to mark the occasion.
Two-thirds of Canadians polled say they 'desperately' need interest rates to go down
A new survey says the Bank of Canada's recent interest rate cut did little to change Canadians' negative perceptions about their personal finances.