Alberta Volunteer Centre Research
Volunteer centres play a critical role in sustaining volunteerism and strengthening community life across Alberta. This province‑wide research project examines how volunteer centres function as trusted social infrastructure by linking people to opportunities for participation and belonging while supporting nonprofits, municipalities, and community groups through coordination, training, and shared resources.
This project is part of our broader Research portfolio.
Learning from the Field: Insights & Recommendations for Volunteer Centres in Alberta
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.
Read a summary of early findings from our research on Volunteer Centres. Stay tuned for the full report coming in Spring 2026.
Key Insights: Volunteer Centres and Community Wellbeing
Recent years placed significant strain on communities across Alberta, as the COVID-19 pandemic and other intersecting crises increased demand for essential services while contributing to declines in formal volunteer participation and community engagement.
While conditions have begun to improve, volunteer centres, nonprofit organizations and other service providers have recovered in different ways, adapting their work to reflect local needs, capacities, and available resources.
As part of this recovery, various communities, local governments, and organizations in Alberta have returned to the “fundamentals” of community-building and have looked to refresh their approaches to engaging volunteers, which make up the backbone of local community events and the provision of essential social services.
For many volunteer centres, recent years have emphasized strengthening community connections and cultivating the social infrastructure needed for local volunteerism to continue and thrive.
Volunteer Centres as Community Connectors
Across interviews, the concept of volunteer centres as community connectors strongly resonated. Volunteer centres, similar organizations, or even individuals, were frequently described as entities that connect people to community resources, networks, services, and third spaces (e.g., public places including community spaces) where participation and belonging are cultivated.In many communities, valuable resources and capacities already exist. What is often needed are trusted connectors who can mobilize those resources, bridge relationships, and help people navigate pathways into community life.
Common Challenges and Emerging Needs
Resource Constraints and Underfunding: Chronic underfunding and reliance on short-term or project-based funding limit stability, long-term planning, and staff capacity. More urgently, loss of funding can lead to organizational closures, which have occurred with longstanding nonprofit volunteer centres in recent years.
Shifts in Volunteering Trends: Recent shifts in volunteering and volunteerism trends (e.g., higher interest in short-term flexible roles, demographic shifts, etc.) have forced volunteer-engaging organizations to revisit their processes, policies, and engagement practices. These trends have shaped the core operations of various volunteer centres with various initiatives (e.g., learning workshops, coaching, consultation services, etc.) being implemented to support other nonprofits with their volunteer management practices.
Capacity Gaps: Several interviewees described limits in their ability to support their core work given limited resources, staff capacity, and overlapping organizational priorities.
Adapting to change: Some interviewees observed that long-standing systems and ways of working can be difficult to change, which can make it harder for organizations to respond to shifting volunteer needs and expectations. In some cases, these practices can unintentionally create barriers for volunteers
Recognition and Public Awareness: Several participants identified continued recognition of the importance of volunteerism and civic engagement as a priority. Beyond celebrating individual volunteers, participants emphasized the need for sustained public education that highlights the systems, relationships, and labour required to make volunteering possible.