Business / Arts and the Canada Council for the Arts engaged the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s “Business Data Lab” to assess the economic footprint of Canada’s arts and culture sector. Their Artworks: The Economic and Social Dividends from Canada’s Arts and Culture Sector report (2025) is based on data from Statistics Canada’s “Culture Satellite Account” and supply-use tables. The report is full of insights. For example, it states that, on average, the arts and culture sector supports 13 jobs for every million dollars in output (much more than the oil & gas, agriculture and construction sectors). Also, 75% of Canadians believe that attending arts and culture events positively impacts their sense of belonging. The 50-page report is easy to read, with mainly infographics.
The new 11 Trends in Philanthropy for 2026, from the US-based Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy, reflects on themes that have shaped our sector now and over the past ten years, including:
– Donors Face New Dangers Amid Increasing Political Violence and Attacks on Charitable Foundations
– Government and Philanthropy Navigate a Fractured Relationship
– Community-Led Movements are Driving Climate Action
– Nonprofits Must Show Good Work to Build Trust
The Center offers a free, downloadable pdf.
People First: A Portrait of Canada’s Nonprofit Workforce, from Imagine Canada (2025), is a comprehensive overview of who works in nonprofits and how they compare to the broader Canadian workforce. Based on data from Statistics Canada, People First reports that the nonprofit sector is the largest employer in Canada, employing 2.7 million people, equivalent to 12.7 % of the total labour force. Also, compared to all other Canadian workers, nonprofit employees are more likely to be women (70% of nonprofit employees vs. 48% of all other workers) and radicalized (33% vs. 29%) — and women in our sector make 18% less than the average Canadian salary.
The Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN) released Shining a Light On This Critical Moment: 2025 State of the Ontario Nonprofit Sector. The 41-page report includes “Megatrends shaping the sector’s responses in 2025,” including: (1) uncertain economy (i.e. tariffs and global trade war); (2) a weakening social safety net; (3) the evolution of AI is raising adoption questions for nonprofits and their care-centric jobs; (4) governments are shifting spending to austerity; (5) polarization, backlash to equity, and the global rise in fascism are threatening progressive social policy gains; and (6) shorter time between crises requires quick, organizational pivots.
A Charity Governance Code, authored in 2025 by a cross-sector voluntary steering group in the United Kingdom, could be a model for Canada. The Code sets out eight universal principles of governance for charities, including leadership and equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). Meeting the Code’s principles provides strong assurance to external stakeholders that a charity is well governed. The 47-page code is available for free download.
The Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy issued The 2025 Global Philanthropy Environment Index Canada and The 2025 Global Philanthropy Environment Index: Canada & United States Regional Report, part of its The Global Philanthropy Environment Index 2025. The seven-page report about Canada is by Adam Aptowitzer, of KPMG Law LLP, and grades Canada based on questions like “To what extent is there government discretion in shutting down philanthropic organizations?” and “To what extent are public policies and practices favorable for philanthropy?” He provides key recommendations for improving the environment for philanthropy, including a suggestion that federal and provincial governments cooperate to address tax regulations and incentives. The Global Philanthropy Environment Index 2025 Executive Summary is also available.
Through interviews, workshops and an online survey of 50 foundations, Building Foundations for Collaborative Transformation: A Philanthropy Sector Needs Analysis, from The Partnering Initiative, Wings and Philea, presents challenges in the sector and key findings for collaboration, including:
– There is a clear trajectory within foundations toward more transformational multi-sector collaboration.
– Community-led or -based organizations have the highest engagement and confidence among foundations.
The 43-page report also lists some of the systemic barriers to collaboration.
Impact Investing and Donor-Advised Funds in Canada (2025): This year, assets held in DAFs in Canada are estimated to hit $12.4 billion, with more than $1 billion being granted to charities each year. Will this grow? At a time when many philanthropists want to align their investing with their values, Dr. Sharilyn Hale, in collaboration with research partner Keith Sjogren, spoke with donors, DAF foundations and wealth advisors to identify the potential for wider adoption of impact investing with capital held in DAFs. Reports, from TwinRiver Capital, are available in summary and full formats.
Unlocking Generosity: Understanding and Engaging Multicultural Canadians in Charitable Giving (2025), from Imagine Canada, is the second report to present findings from the Multicultural Charitable Giving Study. The first report, Navigating New Horizons, focused on demographic trends and multicultural experiences in giving. The current report, which surveyed 3,074 South Asian, Chinese, Afro-Caribbean, Filipino, Arab and West Asian individuals in March-May 2024, examines donation methods, the role of multicultural media, intentionality in giving, and the potential for greater support.
Philanthropic Foundations Canada released a 25-page brief, Trump 2.0 and US Philanthropy: Reflections and Actions for Canadian Philanthropic Foundations (March 2025), explaining the effects of recent US policies on the US philanthropic sector, and suggesting actions for Canadian foundations, including: develop a continuum of support, and consider transferring capital to under-served communities, as demonstrated by Laidlaw Foundation, Inspirit Foundation, and McConnell Foundation in the Indigenous Peoples Resilience Fund. The final section of the brief outlines clear steps for leaders to define their role in civil society, use data to guide decisions, and openly share the impact of philanthropy. At its core, the brief calls for moral citizenship of care – a reminder that in moments like these, philanthropy must decide whether to retreat, adapt or rise to meet the moment.
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Banner photo is courtesy of Jeremy Bishop.