Social Sector Surprises?

With over 150 social non-profits serving our region, it’s no surprise that RDI’s recent survey shows a diversity in the characteristics, capacity, and approach to providing social services. With most groups in operation for 10 years or more, a wide range of services are provided – from counselling to food security, parenting programs to palliative care. There is a broad range in capacity too, from community-based groups relying completely on volunteers, to larger regional organizations with an annual payroll of over $1 million.

The total number of people employed by the 78 organizations surveyed who have staff is 1,776 people, including 528 full-time, 783 part-time and 465 casual staff. Survey results highlight just how committed these social agencies are, but also their need for support to keep up with an increasingly complex demand for social services in our communities. Along with a necessity for on-going core funding, recruiting new and younger volunteers was among the top organizational challenges.

While many challenges were highlighted, results indicate that 90% of social non-profits are working together. An important next stage in the research is to explore how these groups are collaborating and innovating to overcome challenges and strengthen the social sector. RDI is conducting follow-up interviews to understand regional social innovation, what makes initiatives successful, and what can be learned and applied across our region.

Non-profit leaders, local government representatives, funders, and others interested in the social sector are invited to participate in a free webinar on Thursday, February 11 from 10 to 11am PST, where RDI will share details on the survey results and facilitate discussion on innovation in the social sector.

RDI will be further investigating innovation in the social sector this spring with a series of community conversations, where people from across sectors are invited to discuss local and regional solutions to strengthening the social sector.

View the Social Sector research report.

As part of the research process, RDI developed an inventory of social non-profits across the Columbia Basin-Boundary region. The inventory is available here through the RDI’s Digital Basin.