ALBERTA – TheNewswire – January 22nd, 2021 A report released by the Alberta Nonprofit Network (ABNN) shows Alberta nonprofits are increasingly struggling to manage the mounting challenges of COVID-19. Not only are organizations dealing with increasing demand, increasing complexity and fewer financial resources and staff, but survey data also shows an emerging concern – staff mental health. More than half of nonprofit respondents indicated staff mental health was their greatest operational challenge.

“Alberta nonprofits are somewhat used to dealing with financial ebbs and flows, but COVID-19 is different from anything we’ve experienced before,” says Mike Grogan, CEO and President of IntegralOrg and part of the team leading the ABNN survey. “From health and safety concerns, to vanishing funding streams, to ever growing need and complexity, nonprofit staff have been dealing with a lot – all while working remotely and managing their own personal stresses. Concerns about staff mental health are pervasive across the sector.”

The survey data also showed that almost three-quarters of nonprofit respondents saw revenues decrease this year, with many indicating they are struggling to fund core organizational activities. Respondents reiterated their need for additional funding and flexibility to be able to sustain their work and achieve their missions in our communities.

As Alberta works to recover and rebuild, nonprofits play a critical role in helping Alberta’s most vulnerable, supporting the wellbeing of Albertans and aiding our economic recovery. ABNN’s December survey data creates concern about possible cracks in Alberta’s social support system.

“The sector is typically very resilient, always finding ways to do more with less, but this year has been a real struggle,“ says Gemma Dunn, Executive Director of the Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (ECVO) and also involved in the survey team. “We need to rethink how we respond to demand and take care of our staff at the same time. Nonprofits need to put the oxygen mask on first, and make sure we’re healthy and resilient enough to get through this.”

The full report, The Impact of COVID-19 on Alberta’s Nonprofit and Voluntary Organizations, is available on ABNN’s website. The December report is based on responses from ~500 nonprofits and charitable organizations across the province, and while not intended to be statistically representative of the sector, the findings are suggestive of sector trends. This is the third survey ABNN has conducted since the pandemic started in March.

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Calgary Contact:

Marisa Barber

Manager, Marketing & Communications
Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (CCVO)
Phone: 403-910-5879

Email: [email protected]

Edmonton Contact:

Ryan Stephens

Director, Strategic Communications
Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations
Phone: 780-982-4530

Email: [email protected]

 

About ABNN:

The Alberta Nonprofit Network (ABNN) is an independent network of organizations seeking to advance the cohesive, proactive and resilient nonprofit sector in Alberta. ABNN brings together organizations of all sizes and scopes to collectively define and respond to systemic issues impacting the nonprofit sector in Alberta. More information can be found at www.albertanonprofits.ca.

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