Insights from the CICP on Unpaid Labour in Canadian Charities

A recent report (linked here) from the Charity Insights Canada Project at Carleton University reveals that 60% of charities with paid employees have staff who regularly work unpaid hours, with smaller organizations and those in the arts, health care, and education sectors being particularly affected.

The top reasons for this trend include a commitment to the mission (58%), insufficient staff or resources (54%), and budget constraints (50%). This persistent issue highlights a systemic problem where passion is expected to fill the gap left by funding shortfalls and capacity limitations. The sector will need to address this sustainability issue in order to build a more equitable workplace. 

If you're an arts or culture organization struggling with these challenges, Young Associates can help you navigate financial strategies to support your team. You can also purchase Finance for the Arts in Canada to learn more about creating a sustainable financial model.

Insights from the CICP on Charity Spending, Priorities, and Pressures

A report from Carleton University on charity spending, priorities, and pressures was recently brought to our attention by Imagine Canada. In it, the following points seem to have stood out:

• Respondents estimated that 47% of their budgets go to salaries and benefits on average

• 44% of respondents indicated that they anticipate needing to increase salaries and benefits more than any other spending in the coming year

• 59% say salaries and benefits are underfunded

• Given extra funds, 44% would boost staff pay

You can read the full report from the Charity Insights Canada Project (CICP) here.

Does the report provide any information that stands out to you? Drop us a line and we'd love to chat more about it!