To our funders (governments, foundations, philanthropists, labour unions, and businesses),

We are nonprofit leaders from across British Columbia, writing with growing concern for the future of our sector and the communities we serve.

Nonprofits are the social infrastructure that holds communities together. We provide food, shelter, care, and connection. We support those facing poverty, violence, isolation, and injustice. We protect the environment, create cultural spaces, and advocate for equity.

Your past support has helped us do this work, and we are very grateful. But today, we’re facing challenges that existing funding systems can no longer meet. Demand is growing and funding is shrinking. 

Many organizations are operating month to month, scaling back programs, and watching staff burn out or lose their jobs. Some are closing entirely.

We are not just struggling, we are at risk. The sector is burning out. Staff turnover is high. Leadership is fatigued. One in three nonprofit workers is food insecure. 

The average salary in the community nonprofit sector is 31% lower than the national average. For women (most nonprofit workers) the gap is even worse. According to Imagine Canada, women in the sector earn 17% less than men.

The consequences are clear. When people leave, organizations lose institutional knowledge and service quality declines. Waitlists grow. Programs disappear. And the people who rely on the vital services nonprofits provide are the ones who suffer.

The core issue is systemic. Most funding is short-term, project-specific, and highly restricted. It rarely covers basic operating costs like salaries, rent, or administration. Meanwhile, application and reporting requirements are becoming more time-consuming and complex, especially for smaller, community-led groups.

We need your help to stabilize and sustain our sector:

  1. Provide core, multi-year, unrestricted funding.
    Invest in organizational stability, not just one-off pilot projects and guarantee that funding keeps up with the cost of living.
  2. Reduce administrative burdens while providing transparency to applicants.
    Simplify applications and reporting, and ensure grantmaking is transparent, fair, and ethical, so we can focus on delivering programs rather than paperwork.
  3. Invest in the nonprofit workforce.
    Ensure funding enables a living wage, benefits, and professional development.

The nonprofit sector is essential. Help us protect it.

Signed,

  • Rowan Burdge, Provincial Director, BC Poverty Reduction Coalition

  • Anastasia French, Managing Director, Living Wage BC

  • Iglika Ivanova, Senior Economist, BC Society for Policy Solutions

  • Halena Seiferling, Executive Director, Living in Community

  • Tessa Abetkoff, Director of Operations, Kiwassa Neighbourhood House

  • Afuwa, Associate Director, 221A

  • Denis Agar, Executive Director, Movement: Metro Vancouver Transit Riders

  • Tim Agg, Executive Director, Board Voice

  • Brenda Alexander, Acting Executive Director, Inclusion Chilliwack Society

  • Brie Altrogge, Executive Director, Hecate Strait Employment Development Society

  • Association of Neighbourhood Houses of BC

  • Gail Attara, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Gastrointestinal Society

  • Cenen Bagon, Vancouver Committee for Domestic Workers and Caregivers Rights (CDWCR)

  • Joy Barrett, Executive Director, Castlegar Sculpturewalk

  • Brenda Barrit, Executive Director, Storytellers’ Society

  • Christopher Bate, Executive Director, Senior Support North Vancouver Island

  • Sheri Bishop, Executive Director, Nicola Valley Community Human Services Association

  • Djaka Blais, Executive Director, Hogans Alley Society

  • Alex Bodin, Operations Manager, CleanStart Property Services

  • Lance Boer, Chair, Literacy Alberni Society

  • Dr. Teale Phelps Bondaroff, Chair, AccessBC Campaign for Free Prescription Contraception in BC

  • Nilda Borrino, Executive Director, Marpole Neighbourhood House

  • Greta Borick-Cunningham, Executive Director, Alouette River Management Society

  • Jenine Bortolon, Senior Housing Navigator, PG Council of Seniors

  • Allison Bota, Transitional Housing Programs Coordinator, Dixon Transition Society

  • Mariam Bouchoutrouch, Executive Director, Pacific Immigrant Resources Society

  • Helaine Boyd, Executive Director, Disability Alliance BC

  • Alison Brewin, Alison Brewin Consulting

  • Ruth Elizabeth Briggs, Food Security Coordinator, Grandview Woodland Food Connection

  • Enda Brophy, Professor, School of Communication, Simon Fraser University

  • Diane Brown, Artistic and Producing Director, Ruby Slippers Theatre

  • Charlene Burmeister, Operations Manager, Harm Reduction Sector BCCDC

  • Amanda Burrows, Executive Director, First United

  • Melissa Cailleaux, Director of Community Programs, YMCA BC

  • Lea Caragata, Director, UBC Vancouver, School of Social Work

  • Paula Carlson, Editorial Director, Megaphone

  • Morag Carter, Executive Director, Skills Centre

  • Andrzej Celinski, Board Member, WESUP / Consultant, RECLAIM Collective

  • Lorne Chan, Community Outreach Ambassador, Latin Dance Association

  • Sarah Chown, Executive Director, Ribbon Community

  • Alison Clancey, National Director, Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women Canada

  • Angela Clancy, Executive Director, Family Support Institute of BC

  • Jessica Clement, Executive Director, The Ashcroft HUB Society

  • Shelley Cook, Executive Director, Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria

  • Kristina Corpin-Moser, Executive Director, Filipino BC

  • Cheney Creamer, Executive Director, Urban Bounty

  • Lisa Curry, Executive Director, Megaphone

  • Stephen D’Souza, Executive Director, Homelessness Services Association of BC

  • Mitte Benon Daniel, Cultural and Housing Support Worker, Hogan’s Alley Society

  • Shannon Daub, Director, BC Society for Policy Solutions

  • Guy Dauncey, Co-Chair, West Coast Climate Action Network

  • Kelly Davison, Pacific Representative, HRNA

  • Lia Dicicco, Director of Finance & Administration, Blind Beginnings

  • Julie Diesta, Vancouver Committee for Domestic Workers and Caregivers Rights (CDWCR)

  • Jill Doctoroff, Interim Executive Director, FarmFolk CityFolk

  • Viveca Ellis, Executive Director, Centre for Family Equity

  • Zahra Esmail, CEO, Vantage Point

  • Tanya Fader, Director of Housing, PHS Community Services Society

  • Stephanie Fischer, Executive Director, Capitol Theatre Nelson

  • Angela Fletcher, Executive Director, Dawn to Dawn Action on Homelessness Society

  • Lynda Fletcher-Gordon, Acting Executive Director, The Purpose Society

  • Anna Forst, Managing Director, The Writers’ Exchange

  • Karyn French, Executive Director, Greater Victoria Police Victim Services Society

  • Danna Garcia, Executive Director, South Granville Seniors Centre

  • Anoop Gill, Executive Director, Qmunity

  • Kara Gillies, Executive Director, WISH Drop-In Centre Society

  • Chris Girodat, Executive Director, Capilano Students’ Union

  • Heather Glenn-Dergousoff, Executive Director, Kootenay Boundary Community Co-op and Family Action Network

  • Candida Gorse, Board Member, Workers for Ethical Substance Use Policy

  • Jacquelin Green, Executive Director, Saanich Neighbourhood Place

  • Sharon Gregson, Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC

  • Parm Grewal, Executive Director, Richmond Multicultural Community Services

  • Evelyn Encalada Grez, Assistant Professor, Simon Fraser University

  • Richard Han, Senior Director of Public and Planetary Health, Public Health Association BC

  • Harm Reduction Nurses Association

  • David Harvey, President, Board of Directors, West End Seniors’ Network

  • Dawn Hemingway, Leadership Team, Northern Feminist Institute for Research & Evaluation

  • Candice Henriques, CEO, arc programs

  • Asia Hollingsworth, Executive Director, Mid-Main Community Health Centre

  • Nina Horvath, Executive Director, Coastal Jazz & Blues Society

  • Winnie Hsu, CEO, Vision2Reality Foundation

  • Alexandra Huang, Development & Communications Manager, Kiwassa Neighbourhood House

  • Kevin Huang 黃儀軒, Executive Director, hua foundation

  • Dan Huang-Taylor, Executive Director, Food Banks BC

  • Liza Hughes, Executive Director, BCCLA

  • Hajira Hussain, Executive Director, Richmond Food Bank Society

  • Kristen Hyodo, Executive Director, Sasamat Outdoor Centre

  • Dalya Israel, Executive Director, Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre

  • Thelma Jack, Treasurer, Carnegie Centre

  • Maxence Jaillet, General Manager, Kootenay Carshare Coop

  • Mohsen Javdani, Associate Professor, Simon Fraser University

  • Isabella Johnson, Senior Program Officer, Centre for Civic Governance

  • Amy Juschka, VP, Communications and Advocacy, YWCA Metro Vancouver

  • Ninu Kang, Executive Director, Ending Violence BC

  • Jean Kavanagh, Board Member, REACH Community Healthcare Clinic

  • Maureen Kehler, Decoda Literacy Solutions

  • Alice Kendall, Executive Director, Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre

  • Rhiannon King, YMCA-YWCA

  • C. Michael Kinsella, Executive Director, NEW PPE

  • Leah Kleisinger, HRNA Board Member

  • Matea Kulic, Executive Director, Books BC

  • Dr. Elaine Laberge, Executive Director, CMHA of Northern BC

  • Kimberley Laing, Board Director, REACH Community Health Centre

  • Nhan Lam, Director of Family Programs, Kiwassa Neighbourhood House

  • Thanh Lam, Executive Director, Gordon Neighbourhood House

  • Theodora Lamb, Executive Director, Quest Non-Profit Grocery Markets

  • Alicia Larocque, President, Board of Directors, Victoria Latin Dance Association

  • David Lee, Board Member, BC Poverty Reduction Coalition

  • Sandra Lee, Executive Director, Decoda Literacy Solutions

  • Wayne Lewchuk, Professor Emeritus, McMaster University

  • Nansi Long, Executive Director, BC Schizophrenia Society Prince George Branch

  • Samantha Loppie, Executive Director, Victoria Sexual Assault Centre

  • Brenda Lohrenz, Executive Director, Eastside Family Place

  • Maggie Lord, President, Carnegie Community Centre Association

  • Sarah Lovegrove, Registered Nurse & Vice President, Harm Reduction Nurses Association

  • Vi Ly, Executive Director, RainbowVI Educational Association

  • Jaymee Maaghop, Health Policy & Outreach Manager, Canadian Society of Intestinal Research

  • Bobby MacDonald, Director, Public Engagement, Union Gospel Mission

  • Brittany Maple, Executive Director, Matsqui Abbotsford Impact Society

  • Ian Marcuse, Vancouver Food Justice Coalition and Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Networks

  • Melinda Markey, Executive Director, Reach Centre

  • Alex McArdle, Executive Director, LifeCycles Project Society

  • Heather McCain, Founder & Executive Director, Live Educate Transform Society

  • Sarah McCrea, Executive Director, Prince George Brain Injured Group

  • Stephanie McGowan, Executive Director, Comox Valley Head Injury Society

  • Tiffany Melius, Executive Director, Options for Sexual Health

  • Cailey Meuse, Executive Director, Elements Society

  • Jennifer Milley, Managing Director, Vancouver Writers Fest

  • Sean Miles, Director, Binners’ Project

  • Kevin Millsip, Executive Director, BC Policy Solutions

  • Barbara Mitchell-Pollock, BC Health Coalition in Victoria, Council of Canadians

  • Sue Moen, Coordinator, Campbell River Community Action Team

  • Stephanie Andrea Moothu, Operations & Strategy Lead, Welcome Squamish

  • Janet Morris-Reade, CEO, Association of Service Providers for Employability & Career Training

  • Amy Mullis, Executive Director, Federation of Community Social Services of BC

  • Paola Murillo, Executive Director, Latincouver

  • Alistair Nagle, Interim Executive Director, ONE TO ONE Literacy Society

  • Linda Nagle, President, Greenways Land Trust

  • Kombii Nanjalah, CEO & Founder, GREAT LAKES NETWORKING FOUNDATION OF BC

  • Joanne Neilson, Executive Director, Fraser Valley Conservancy

  • Kaitlyn Nohr, Executive Director, WILD Collaborative Harm Reduction Association

  • Erin O’Brien, Ecology and Development Director, Pender Islands Conservancy

  • Anthonia Ogundele, Executive Director, Ethọ́s Lab

  • Sandy Oldenburg, Community Connector

  • Tanis Oldenburger, Founder & Executive Director, Mountainside Harm Reduction Society

  • Paula Parker, Executive Director, Vancouver Friends for Life Society

  • Louise Pedersen, Executive Director, Outdoor Recreation Council of British Columbia

  • Ash Peplow Ball, Executive Director, Women Transforming Cities

  • Christine Petkau, Executive Director, The Centre for Epilepsy & Seizure Education in BC

  • Kathy Powelson, Executive Director, Paws for Hope Animal Foundation

  • Vincent Prince, Executive Director, Aboriginal Business Development Centre

  • Julia Prudhomme, Executive Director, Oxygen Art Centre (Nelson Fine Arts Centre Society)

  • Kenn Quayle, Co-Coordinator, i2i Peer Support

  • Corey Ranger RN BN, President, Harm Reduction Nurses Association

  • Michelle Reining, Executive Director, Vancouver Food Runners

  • Cole Reinbold, Secretary-Treasurer, BC Federation of Students

  • Claire Remington, Executive Director, Compost Education Centre

  • Alex Sangha, Founder, Sher Vancouver

  • Karen Sawatzky, Chief Administrative Officer, Hecate Strait Employment Development Society

  • Arianna Scott, Executive Director, BGC South Vancouver Island

  • Elizabeth Semowo, Founder, RebirtHer Women Foundation

  • Caitlin Shane, Lawyer

  • Tara Shushtarian, Director, WE-CAN West Coast Climate Action Network

  • Ben Simoni, Executive Director, Youth Climate Corps BC

  • Matthew Smedley, Executive Director & CEO, Mission Possible

  • Teyo Soler, Executive Director, Xwéwenaqw Xwexwilmexw (Whonnock People) Cultural Reclamation Society

  • Eloïse Speleers, Executive Director, West Kootenay Francophone Association (AFKO)

  • Marisa Stableford, Operations Coordinator, Vancouver Urban Food Forest Foundation

  • Olga Stachova, CEO, MOSAIC

  • Carla Stephenson, Executive Director, Renascence Arts and Sustainability Society

  • Katrina Stephenson, Founder & CEO, Nurse 2 Nurse Peer Support

  • Sherry Stevenson, Executive Director, Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society

  • Dr. Kendra Strauss, Labour Studies Program, Simon Fraser University

  • Tina Strehlke, CEO, Minerva Foundation for BC Women

  • Amber Streukens, Program Coordinator, Rural Empowered Drug Users Network

  • Sonam Swarup, Operations Manager, 312 Main

  • Alexa Tarrayo, Communications and Design Lead, PeerNet BC

  • Sarah Thomas, Executive Director, Our Community Bikes

  • Christine Thuring, Executive Director, Green Roof Infrastructure Network of BC

  • Candy Tladi, Interim Executive Director, Food Stash Foundation

  • Shannon Turner, Director, Public Health Association of BC

  • Dan Turvill, Executive Director, Strathcona Community Safety Association

  • Karla Verschoor, Executive Director, Inclusion BC

  • Kelly Walker, Executive Director, Sooke Family Resource Society

  • Duncan Watts-Grant, Executive Director, Vancouver Fringe Festival

  • Deirdre Whalen, Past President, Richmond Poverty Reduction Coalition

  • Kristina Wilcox, Co-Executive Director, Fairfield Gonzales Community Association

  • Andrea Wilkey, Executive Director, Community Futures Central Kootenay

  • Annette Williams, Literacy Outreach Coordinator, Chilliwack Learning Society

  • Leslie Williams, Executive Director, Sharing Farm Society

  • Jan Wilson, Executive Director, Prince George New Hope Society

  • Mark Willson, Director, SOLID Outreach

  • Byron Wood, Board Member, Workers for Ethical Substance Use Policy (WESUP)

  • Angela Wu, Executive Director, SWAN Vancouver

  • Rose Xueqing Zhang, PhD Candidate, Department of Sociology, UBC