A 2018 report from Imagine Canada that takes ain in-depth look at the givign behaviour of Canadians including the who, how, and why. This report also provides insights into how these trends are reshaping the future of philanthropy in Canada.

A 2018 discussion paper from Imagine Canada in which chief economist, Brian Emmett, identifies a looming social deficit through a series of scenarios that project the state of the charitable and nonprofit sector in 2026.

This insights report explores the motivations, benefits, challenges, and supports that shape volunteer participation. Based on responses from over 800 volunteers, this report centers how highly engaged individuals and volunteers define, experience, and reflect on volunteering—in their own words. Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, policymaker, or volunteer yourself, we hope this report deepens your understanding of what makes volunteer experiences meaningful.

During 2022, the Volunteer Screening Program (VSP) conducted various evaluations and research activities to deepen our understanding of Alberta’s volunteer screening and engagement practices and the shifting landscape that has occurred since 2017. This included identifying shared understanding, gaps in knowledge, and drawing connections between the lived experiences of the volunteers and the organizations that engage them. From these evaluative conversations, we have identified evolving good practices and issues to consider further.

During 2022, the Volunteer Screening Program conducted various evaluations and research activities to deepen our understanding of Alberta’s volunteer screening and engagement practices. This included identifying shared understanding, gaps in knowledge, and drawing connections between the lived experiences of the volunteers and the organizations that engage them. From these evaluative conversations, we have identified evolving good practices and issues to consider further.

This report details our approach, methods, analysis, and dives into what was asked and what was heard from our various evaluations and research activities, including focus groups and large benchmark surveys.

This report, a collaborative effort between InWithForward and Volunteer Alberta, comes from our (Re)Engaged: Volunteerism From the Ground Up research initiative. We dug into the current, evolving nature of contribution using qualitative research methods, especially ethnographic interviews with individuals across Edmonton, Lethbridge, and Fairview. This report offers some paradigmatic shifts in how we frame and understand the value of volunteering, and identifies five actionable insights.

A 2024 report produced by the Rural Municipalities of Alberta and the University of Alberta’s Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities (ACSRC) to on the state of volunteerism in rural Alberta. The research used 27 in-depth 1:1 interviews with various individuals with knowledge of volunteerism in rural Alberta as the data source, such as reeves, CAOs and a few nonprofit representatives. The report discusses the declining rates of volunteerism, the associated threat to rural communities, and recommendations for addressing these trends.

This is a summary of early findings from Learning from the Field: Insights & Recommendations for Volunteer Centres in Alberta. The full report is coming Spring 2026.

Over two years, Volunteer Alberta studied how volunteer centres support local volunteering, community connection, and civic participation across the province. This research highlights how volunteer centres and volunteer-engaging organizations have adapted in recent years amid increased demand for services and shifts in volunteer participation. Findings indicate a renewed focus on volunteer engagement and strengthening local volunteer infrastructure, alongside ongoing sustainability considerations related to chronic underfunding.

A 2023 report by Volunteer Canada advocating for the development of a National Volunteer Action Strategy. This report identifies a national strategy as essential to unify all of Canada to work towards a shared vision for inclusive participation and systems that recognizes, amplifies, and supports the ways in which volunteerism builds a stronger Canada.

Our new report unpacks the financial realities facing non-profits and offers actionable strategies for sustainable retirement planning.

This 2018 paper provides a high-level summary of the Nonprofit/Voluntary Sector (NPVS) in Alberta, how it does its work, and the impact its work has on the cultural, economic, social and political fabric of the province. This paper is meant to be a starting point for conversations about the role of the NPVS in Alberta, and examines the relationship between government and sector, now and in the future.

This 2020 research document from the Government of Alberta explores what volunteerism means, and how Alberta’s volunteers serve their communities. The paper also explores both the tangible and intangible benefits of volunteering, discusses trends, and maps roles for the nonprofit/voluntary sector in maintaining the health of the volunteer ecosystem.