The National Survey of Nonprofit and Voluntary Organizations

The National Survey of Nonprofit and Voluntary Organizations David Lasby Senior Research Associate Imagine Canada April 26, 2007

Overview • • • Introduction Methodology Survey Content Major Ontario Findings Next Steps

Introduction • Objectives – Map size and scope of nonprofit and voluntary sector – Improve understanding of the capacity challenges organizations face • Funded by the Voluntary Sector Initiative • Conducted by a consortium of nine organizations led by Imagine Canada • CATI survey of approximately 20, 000 nonprofit and voluntary organizations administered by Statistics Canada during the fall of 2003 – 77% response rate – final n=12, 955

Methodology - Coverage • In order to be included, organizations had to be: – – – non-governmental, non-profit distributing, self-governing, voluntary, and formally incorporated or registered under legislation with provincial, territorial or federal governments • Excluded organizations include: – “grassroots” organizations not formally incorporated or registered – public and separate school boards, – public libraries, and – many co-operatives and social purpose businesses

Methodology - Sampling • Sample frame constructed from a number of sources – Canada Revenue Agency • T 3010 Registered Charity Information Returns • T 1044 Nonprofit Organization Information Return – Statistics Canada Business Registry – Nonprofit organizations registered with provincial and territorial business registrars • Sample stratified according to: – primary organization activity (ICNPO), – organization size, and – province

Survey Content ORGANIZATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS • Primary area of activity • Legal status (e. g. , registered charity status, incorporation status) • Relationship with any parent/daughter organizations • Organization’s relationship with / independence from government • Length of time organization has been in existence • Geographic area served PAID STAFF • Number of permanent / non-permanent, full-time / part-time • Hours worked • Changes in number over previous three years VOLUNTEERS • Number of board volunteers • Average hours contributed by board volunteers • Number of non-board volunteers • Average hours contributed by non-board volunteers • Frequency of volunteering for non-board volunteers • Changes in number over previous three years

Survey Content (cont. ) MEMBERSHIP • Number of individuals as members • Restriction of individual membership • Number of organizations as members • Restriction of organization membership • Privileges of membership • Primary beneficiary of organization’s activities PROVISION OF SERVICES • Whether services directly to people or organizations • Populations served (for people serving organizations REVENUES • Amounts from government (municipal, provincial, federa) • Amounts from earned income (sales of goods and services, membership fees) • Amounts from gifts and donations (individual, foundations, corporation) • Amounts from other sources • Change in revenues over the previous three years

Survey Content (cont. ) EXPENDITURES • Total expenditures • Expenditures on capital expenses and salary TRANSFER OR DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS • Amounts transferred to other nonprofits, government agencies, and/or to entities outside the country IN-KIND SUPPORT • Value of goods and services received CAPACITY CHALLENGES • General financial capacity issues • External-funding related financial capacity issues • Human resources related capacity challenge (Volunteers & Paid staff) • Structural capacity issues

How Many Organizations are There? • 45, 000 nonprofit and voluntary organizations in Ontario in 2003

What do Organizations Do?

Vehicles for Citizen Engagement • Organizations are governed by volunteer boards of directors • A volunteer complement of 8 million • 69 million individual members • Attract $4. 3 billion in individual donations

Serving People and Providing Public Benefit • 75% provide services or products to people – – 42% serve the general public 22% children or youth 8% elderly people 7% people with disabilities • 74% have people as their members • Only 27% report members receive special benefits

Public vs. Mutual Benefit Who benefits most from the services or products you provide?

A Significant Economic Presence • $47. 7 billion in revenues in 2003 – Hospitals, Colleges & Universities account for over a third of revenues • All other organizations report $29. 4 billion • 959, 000 people employed (14% of labour force) • 791 million volunteer hours or 412, 000 full-time jobs

The Resource Divide • A small percentage of large organizations account for most of the revenues, paid staff and volunteers • The larger number of small-revenue organizations tend to have few employees and rely on volunteers to deliver services • 53% of all organizations have no paid staff

Distribution of Revenues by Organization Size

Sources of Revenue by Size of Organization Government Earned Income Donations and Grants Other

Distribution of Organizations By Revenue Dependence* * dependency defined as 50% or greater reliance on a given source of revenue

Distribution of Volunteers by Size of Organization

Source of Labour by Organization Size

Problems Keeping Organizations from Fulfilling their Missions

Problems Related to External Funding * Based on 41% of respondents who were asked these questions. Government funding accounted for the bulk of their funding

Next Steps • Integration of survey results with supplemental surveys for organizations not covered by NSNVO – NSNVO not publicly accessible due to confidentiality concerns – Convert financials to current dollars