Calgary’s nonprofit sector is navigating increasingly complex and intersecting challenges while trying to meet rising demand for services. The rapid rise of COVID-19 not only created new challenges within the nonprofit sector, but served to highlight and exacerbate pre-existing issues that have challenged the sector for decades.  

The fiscal challenges of decreasing donations, declining corporate sponsorships, and restricted use of funds make it difficult for organizations to maintain adequate staffing and deliver on programs while meeting increasing needs in the community.  The charitable model itself limits the ability of organizations to generate or diversify revenue at a time when diverse revenue streams are needed more than ever to ensure long term sustainability.  The pandemic revealed a technology deficit within the nonprofit sector as many organizations struggled to transition to online operations and program delivery.  Furthermore, there is a plethora of data, but a lack of meaningful analysis creating blind spots within the sector.  Many of these factors challenge the sector’s ability to innovate and respond creatively to changing contexts and circumstances.  

The nonprofit sector as a whole is grappling with issues of diversity, equity and inclusion as well as leadership and succession as the boomer generation retires and a new generation with different values, priorities, approaches and perspectives steps to the fore.