State of the SectorGiving Voice to the Challenges and Opportunities of BC’s Non-Profit Sector

British Columbia’s non-profit sector is large and diverse.   Since 2020, VCF has been part of an initiative to survey and report annually on the state of the non-profit sector in the province. These State of the Sector surveys are vital in being able to gauge the trends, issues and needs of BC’s non-profits, and to provide vital data for advocacy and action. Reports developed from the surveys provide an overview of trends and delve into the challenges faced by non-profit organizations, offering a snapshot of the non-profit community.  

This initiative is a partnership between Vantage Point, Vancouver Foundation, Victoria Foundation, City of Vancouver, United Way British Columbia and Vancity Community Foundation

The most recent report is Under Pressure (2024) which highlights two primary themes:

  • Decreasing Resilience: All revenue sources were reported to be declining, except government funding. At the same time, costs for salaries, programs, services, and administration rose due to inflation and climate change, straining operating budgets.
  •  Overburdened: The sector experienced a dramatic increase in demand for services from clients and communities, yet its capacity to deliver programs remained unchanged.

The 2024 report recommends enhancing workforce sustainability through the creation of a collaborative working group, implementing funding reforms, and fostering a cooperative ecosystem within BC’s non-profit sector.

Previous reports Unravelling (2021), No Immunity (2022) and Safety Net (2023) picked up on these themes as others that include: 

  • Signs of stabilization in the sector as well as feelings of hope and motivation for some non-profits. This was couched in feeling of uncertainty about future sustainability 
  • Challenges around human resources and in particular staffing-related funding and staff recruitment and retention.  Conditions are leading to high turnover and organizational instability from absences. 
  • The need to improve funding practices to reflect trust-based principles, decent work, and multi-year, core, and unrestricted commitments.
  • Concerns about declining volunteer engagement.
     

More information about this initiative and access to the reports can be found on the Vantage Point website.