Teaching Collaboration

Non-profit Sector Survey

In spring 2021, the Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN) and l’Assemblée de la Francophonie de l’Ontario (l’AFO) engaged non-profit Community Researchers to conduct a bilingual survey of Ontario nonprofits. The focus was on the experiences of nonprofits during the pandemic and, in particular, the state of their operations in 2020-21, along with the adequacy of governmental relief measures to support nonprofits during the emergency. This followed a previous survey conducted by ONN and l’AFO in spring 2020.

Responses reveal much about the dedicated efforts non-profits have made to continue serving communities, the fragmented and inadequate government measures to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, and the work ahead as Ontario transitions into a recovery.

The survey was open to all nonprofits in Ontario, including charities, nonprofit cooperatives and grassroots groups, with a mission to serve a public benefit. It was conducted between May 17- June 4, 2021 and received 2,983 responses. The survey technical report includes all data cross tabulated by region, sector, size, and language of operation. De-identified data sets are publicly available on the ONN website.

2021 ONN State of the Ontario Non-profit Sector Survey (PDF)

COVID-19: State of the Ontario Non-profit Sector—One Year Later (PDF)

COVID-19: State of the Ontario Nonprofit Sector cover image

24 per cent of non-profits laid off staff at the peak of the pandemic 65 per cent of participants reported being able to financially sustain their organization for the next 12 months 77 per cent of non-profits within the social services and community development and housing secotre experienced increased demand