Canadians have a long-standing tradition of volunteering and charitable giving, and the numbers from recent years reflect this. In 2018, almost 24 million people in Canada volunteered, accounting for 79% of Canadians aged 15 and older. This demonstrates the importance of giving and volunteering in Canada and highlights the need for effective strategies to sustain this level of support. The Canadian Knowledge Hub for Giving and Volunteering aims to do just that, by raising awareness, enhancing understanding, facilitating access, and supporting the application of data to increase giving and volunteering amongst Canadians.
The General Social Survey on Giving, Volunteering, and Participating (GSS GVP) is a nationally representative survey that collects data on Canadians’ participation in charitable activities, volunteering, and civic engagement. This, alongside other relevant data sources can help nonprofit organizations gain insights into the motivations and behaviours of donors and volunteers. This knowledge can then be used to develop more effective engagement strategies that are tailored to the needs and preferences of these key stakeholders.
The Canadian Knowledge Hub for Giving and Volunteering was developed with the goal of facilitating nonprofit organizations in accessing insights from sources like the GSS GVP, and providing training and support resources to learn how to effectively use the information from that data. By using data to better understand the motivations and behaviours of donors and volunteers, organizations can develop more effective engagement strategies that are more likely to resonate with donors and volunteers. Trends in recent years highlight the significant role that volunteering and charitable giving play in Canadian society, and the Knowledge Hub offers a way to build on this tradition and sustain the vital work of nonprofit organizations in Canada for years to come.
