Risk, Resilience, and Recovery: A Path Forward for Canadian Charities in a Post-COVID-19 World [Funder: Carleton University COVID-19 Rapid Research Response Grants]

The charitable sector is as important to Canada's economy as the extractive or manufacturing industries, and Canadians rely on charities to provide essential services during the COVID-19 crisis. The loss of events, fundraising revenues, and volunteers has already put many charities near collapse, although a lack of data has prevented us from knowing what makes some charities vulnerable and others resilient. This project analyzes vulnerability and resilience across the charitable sector in two stages. First, it forms a base by studying recovery from previous crises using financial data. Second, through online discussions with charity and foundation leaders, it provides a deeper understanding of the emerging challenges they are facing, how they are adapting, and how philanthropic foundations can provide more effective supports. By widely communicating the findings promptly, the project will assist charities and foundations to be optimally adaptive in managing through and recovering from the crisis.