The Voluntary Sector in Alberta
The voluntary sector in Alberta - consisting of more than 19,000 charities and nonprofit organizations - is the cornerstone of our communities. The impact of the voluntary sector in Alberta is great, touching the lives of every Albertan. From sports and recreation, arts and culture, services for the elderly or disabled, programs that develop employment skills or help integrate new immigrants into new communities - in all these ways and more, voluntary sector organizations contribute to the quality of life in our communities. Most organizations (84%) work at the local level, meeting the needs of their neighborhood, town or city. Thirty percent provide services to children (the highest rate in the country) and 11% serve the elderly.
The vibrant voluntary sector is an important contributor to making Alberta the best place to live, work and visit. Community based organizations lead the way in responding to grass-roots community needs in innovative and affordable ways. They provide the cultural, recreational and social services that make communities good places to live and attractive to business in a global economy. Many organizations in some form of learning activity, contributing to a skilled, literate, and employable workforce.
Every year, communities across the province take part in a week-long series of events to honour and celebrate Alberta's volunteers. National Volunteer Week occurs every fourth week in April.
Alberta's voluntary sector:
- Engages 176,000 Albertans as employees and 2.5 million volunteers who contribute approximately 449 million hours to community services (many people volunteer for several organizations).
- Over 160,000 Albertans serve on boards of directors of organizations ranging from community associations and recreational sports groups to health regions and major cultural and social service organizations. Collectively, they manage more than $10 billion in annual revenues, making decisions that impact the lives of Albertans daily.
Over the course of their daily lives, many Albertans take the time to help others and better their communities by making charitable donations, volunteering for charitable or nonprofit organizations, helping others directly, or participating in various community groups or organizations. Collectively, these four actions are known as forms of 'social involvement' or 'pro-social activities'. Mandates range from sport, recreation, arts, culture, health care, social services, faith and education.
- Roughly 1.2 million Albertans (48%) of the population volunteered 214 million hours to charitable and nonprofit organizations in 2004, or the equivalent to more than 111,000 full time jobs.
- A small group of volunteers contributes the majority of the hours volunteered: 75% of all hours volunteered in Alberta came from just 25% of volunteers.
- Volunteers tend to be female, middle aged, married or in common-law unions, employed, and actively involved in their religion.
- Albertans are most likely to volunteer for organizations dedicated to sports and recreation, education and research, and social services.
- Nearly seven in ten Albertans (69%) participated in at least one group or organization in 2004.
- Women in Alberta are more likely to volunteer than men (51% vs. 44%, respectively) and volunteer more hours on average (189 vs. 159).
- Albertans aged 35 to 44 were the most likely to volunteer (59%), and the likelihood of volunteering declined thereafter until it reached a low of 34% for seniors (65 and older).
WHAT VOLUNTEERS DO?
Distribution of type of volunteer activity, volunteers aged 15 and older, Alberta, 2004.
CHARITABLE GIVING - 2004:
- 93% of Albertans made either a financial or an in-kind donation to a charity or nonprofit organization.
- 79% of Albertans made a financial donation of the total 8.3 million donations. Average donations were $122 / donation and a total of $500 / donor for a total of over $1 billion.
- 82% of all financial donations came from just 25% of donors.
- Donors tend to be middle-aged, female, married or in common-law unions and employed.
- The likelihood of donating and the amount donated tend to increase with higher levels of education and household income.
Percentage of total donation value and donor rate, by selected organization type, population aged 15 and older, Alberta, 2004.
VOLUNTARY SECTOR REVENUE SOURCES:
- 49% from sources other than government;
- 16% from gifts and donations;
- 33% from government
- 2% from other sources
