Disappearing Volunteers: The Looming Crisis for Nonprofits

A perfect storm is threatening the very foundation of Canada’s nonprofit sector. A severe shortage of volunteers has led to the cancellation and suspension of critical programming and services across Canada and, in some cases, the closure of entire organizations. In this episode of CharityVillage Connects, we explore why so many volunteers simply didn’t return post-pandemic, how current trends are impacting volunteerism in Canada, and what organizations can do to recruit new volunteers and retain those they already have. Can this looming crisis be averted? Hear sector experts weigh in on this critical issue in our latest episode.

Meet Our Guests in Order of Appearance 

·         Megan Conway, President and CEO, Volunteer Canada

·         Heather Johnson, President, Professional Association of Volunteer Leaders – Ontario (PAVRO)

·         Lisa Mort-Putland, Executive Director, Volunteer Victoria

·         Raaj Chatterjee, Co-Founder and CEO, Meaningful Work

·         Lori Gotlieb, Volunteer Management Consultant, Lori Gotlieb Consulting

About your Host

Mary Barroll, president of CharityVillage, is an online business executive and lawyer with a background in media, technology and IP law. A former CBC journalist and independent TV producer, in 2013 she was appointed General Counsel & VP Media Affairs at CharityVillage.com, Canada’s largest job portal for charities and not for profits in Canada, and then President in 2021. Mary is also President of sister company, TalentEgg.ca, Canada’s No.1, award-winning job board and online career resource that connects top employers with top students and grads.

CharityVillage Resources from this Episode

·         CharityVillage eLearning: Virtual Volunteering

·         CharityVillage eLearning: Volunteer Engagement

·         Checklist for Writing Effective Volunteer Postings

·         Post a free volunteer listing on CharityVillage

·         Search for volunteer opportunities on CharityVillage

Additional Resources from this Episode

We've gathered the resources from this episode into one helpful list:

·         Critical lack of volunteers putting Canadian non-profit services at risk: Volunteer Canada (CBC)

·         B.C. outreach organizations are struggling to meet demand (CBC)

·         2022 State of the Sector During Uncertain Times (ONN) [Volunteers Are Not Returning, page 9] 

·         National Action Strategy for Volunteerism (Volunteer Canada)

·         Canadian Survey of Business Conditions, Fourth Quarter 2022 (Statistics Canada)

·         Senior Volunteering Project: The Impact of COVID and Pandemic Precautions on Senior Volunteers (Volunteer Victoria)

·         What Trends Will Impact Nonprofits and Charities in the First Quarter of 2023? (Imagine Canada)

·         Let’s talk about the problems with volunteering (The Philanthropist)

·         Virtual Volunteering (Volunteer Canada)

·         Survey on Volunteer Recruitment (Carleton University) (June 2023)

Learn more and listen to the full interviews with the guests here.

What is CharityVillage Connects?

Welcome to CharityVillage Connects – a series that highlights topics vital to the nonprofit sector in Canada. CharityVillage is a resource to over 170,000 charitable and nonprofit organizations in Canada. This series, hosted by President Mary Barroll, will provide in-depth conversations with experts in the nonprofit sector. We’ll examine diversity, equity and inclusion, innovations in fundraising, the gap in female representation in leadership and many other subjects crucial to the growth and development of charities throughout Canada.