Charity Land is Not Okay
By Claire Toplis, Chair of iSisters Technology Mentoring
With contributions from Bruce MacDonald, President & CEO, Imagine Canada, the national umbrella organization for the charitable and nonprofit sector.
I first came across the term “Charity Land” when colleague Adrienne Vienneau used it in a recent meeting with Ontario’s Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. Adrienne, who is the Executive Director at Christie Lake Kids, used this collective term to refer to organizations in the nonprofit space and her message was grim: Charity Land is not okay.
The news that two autism-focussed charities have recently closed shop in Ottawa cast a pall across our sector a few weeks ago. These are not isolated cases; Imagine Canada is hearing similar stories playing out anecdotally in communities across the country. Additionally, a December 2023 Imagine Canada poll supported by BMO showed that the proportion of Canadians indicating they had used the services of a charity or nonprofit to help with the impact of inflation and the higher cost of living had nearly doubled in a year, jumping from 9 per cent to 17 per cent.
These days, charities need to expand services to address this demand, just as individual donors are less able to support them. It’s a vicious cycle that is going to lead to more shuttering of Canadian charities if nothing changes.
Throughout iSister’s more than two-decade history, our organization has been incredibly lucky to have been supported by generous funders who’ve seen the value in our work and have contributed on a repeat basis to our impact. The positive impact last year on Laetitia, an iSisters learner and newcomer to Canada is typical: “When I was referred to the iMentor program by a social worker from Ontario Works, I had already gone through countless workshops and job fairs. Before iSisters, I had lost hope and didn’t even think I was capable of convincing any employer to give me a chance…Now, I am a social support worker.”
This year, however, we’ve been told more than once that funders aren’t able to support us or can only offer a portion of our grant requests. The funding climate is the worst I’ve seen in 10 years of volunteering with iSisters.
According to Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN): “The crisis that the sector is currently facing can’t be overcome through just resiliency and creativity.” The ONN surveyed Ontario charities and nonprofits in 2023 and found that 90% of respondents reported an increase in costs, with half reporting difficulty obtaining government, foundation, or corporate funds and more than a third reporting significant challenges in achieving long-term financial stability.
The impact of reduced funding at iSisters is dramatic and means this year we’ll support fewer than the 400 women normally served. Unfortunately, the program which supported Laetitia in her job search has been paused due to lack of funding.
Without continued funding to offer services like these, hundreds of individuals won’t be able to get the skills needed to help them support their families, and the cycle of poverty and isolation will continue. Ultimately without nonprofits like iSisters and others providing a vital safety net, government costs will increase in other areas, including in healthcare and policing.
Supporting charities and nonprofits is crucial, not just for economic upliftment but also for enhancing overall community well-being. Increased funding is essential to empower communities through education, skill-building and supporting a healthy lifestyle. With more financial resources, organizations like iSisters can expand their reach to serve the growing numbers requesting services. By investing in nonprofits, we can ensure that marginalized groups have access to the essential supports that they need.
So while it is true that Charity Land is not okay, all is not lost – with the right support from governments and corporate Canada, we can continue to be part of the solution.
