Dignified Retirement Research Project
The Dignified Retirement Research Project is a collaborative initiative co‑led by the Alberta Nonprofit Network (ABNN) and Volunteer Alberta to explore, design, and advance pathways toward dignified, sustainable retirement options for Alberta’s nonprofit workforce.
This project is part of our broader Research portfolio.
How We Got Here
In 2024, ABNN hosted community conversations to understand the challenges and opportunities facing the nonprofit workforce. One idea that emerged from these conversations was the interest in a pension plan for nonprofit sector employees. This insight launched the first phase of the Dignified Retirement Research Project in 2025, a timely provincial research initiative to understand the current pension landscape and identify potential pathways forward.
In this first phase, Volunteer Alberta surveyed more than 200 nonprofit employees and 90+ organizational leaders across Alberta. The findings, captured in the Pension Planning in the Non-profit Sector: Current Gaps and Future Dreams Report, pointed to a growing consensus: existing retirement options for the nonprofit workforce are insufficient. Leaders and employees alike expressed strong interest in flexible, sustainable pension models that support long-term stability and help attract and retain talent, though leaders also cited financial and administrative barriers to implementation, emphasizing the need for practical, sector-wide solutions.
What's Next?
Phase two launches in June 2026, shifting focus from problem definition to practical design. This stage will examine governance and delivery models for a potential sector-wide pension solution and assess what’s needed to move forward. A key focus will be ensuring that future approaches are meaningful for employees and feasible for organizations to adopt and sustain.
Video: Building a Dignified Retirement for Alberta's Nonprofit Sector
Andrés Alvarez, Volunteer Alberta's Research & Knowledge Mobilization Specialist, sits down with Volunteer Alberta's Executive Director, Miki Stricker-Talbot, to talk about the Dignified Retirement Research Project, a joint initiative with the Alberta Nonprofit Network (ABNN) exploring how a nonprofit pension plan could strengthen retirement security, improve employee retention and recruitment, and support long-term stability across the sector.
Building on sector conversations convened by ABNN in 2024, this project explores why pensions may represent a critical gap in the sector's total compensation offering. Andrés and Miki discuss the meaning of a "dignified retirement," share key findings from Phase One of the research, and look ahead to the goals of Phase Two.
Article: Retirement Security for Alberta's Nonprofit Workforce
Alberta's nonprofit workers dedicate their careers to building stronger communities, and they deserve a secure financial future in return. Nearly half work for organizations that do not offer a pension or retirement savings plan, but more than 80% of employees indicated they would be willing to contribute to a pension plan, demonstrating a desire for long-term financial security.
Through the Dignified Retirement Research Project, we've engaged hundreds of nonprofit employees and leaders across the province to understand the gaps and chart a path forward. Join us in shaping a sector-wide retirement solution that works for nonprofit workers and organizations across Alberta.
Report: Pension Planning in the Non-profit Sector: Current Gaps and Future Dreams
The people who power Alberta’s nonprofit sector deserve a secure retirement, yet most have no pension plan to count on.
This report shares key findings from two 2025 surveys of nonprofit employees and organizational leaders, examining the current state of retirement savings across the sector and the interest in new pension models. Inside, you’ll discover:
- The key gaps in current nonprofit pension strategies
- What a more resilient financial future for nonprofit staff could look like
- Pathways for meaningful change
Explore the findings to learn how nonprofits can strengthen retirement security for their teams and build a sector where every worker’s future is secure and sustainable.
