Centre for Voluntary Sector Studies (CVSS)

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Welcome

 

CVSS was established in 1995 in order to enhance understanding of the voluntary sector through research and education. Our mandate is threefold:

  • Research: To conduct and disseminate research relevant to academics, policymakers and nonprofit managers;
  • Education: To provide educational opportunities for managers, workers and volunteers in the nonprofit sector through formal undergraduate and continuing education programs such as the Certificate Program in Interdisciplinary Studies in Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Management, and also through specialized workshops and seminars;
  • Outreach: To extend consulting and research services to nonprofit organizations.

Over the years, CVSS has completed several major research projects, partnered with government ministries, other educational institutions and nonprofit organizations in projects benefitting the voluntary sector and participated in local and national initiatives concerning the voluntary sector.

As a university research centre, we are proud to say we have trained dozens of graduate and undergraduate research assistants, introducing them to the unique issues and challenges facing the voluntary sector and have familiarized them with the many and varied contributions of the sector to society.

We invite you to learn more about our work and the voluntary sector by browsing through this website. Our working papers are available for free downloading.
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Symposium on New Ideas for the NonProfit Sector
CVSS hosted a symposium on New Ideas for the Nonprofit Sector: Insights from North America and Europe March 18. Click here for a video of the symposium. For the individual presentations:
- Dr. Jon Van Til
- Dr. Gabor Hegyesi
- Dr. Ferenc Farkas
On January 9, Ontario policy officials attended a seminar to discuss findings from CVSS’s recent pan-Canadian research study on immigrant integration and inclusion. Click here to see an expanded version of the Ontario presentation.
 

  • More than 2 million Canadians worked in Canada’s 161,227 nonprofit and voluntary organizations in 2003 --  11% of Canada’s workers.
  • The sector posted $106.4 billion revenues in 2008 -- 7.1% of Canada’s total GDP.
  • Nearly 24 million Canadians donated an average $446 each to nonprofits and charities in 2010, or a total  $10.6 billion.
  • Some 13.3 million individuals -- 47% of Canadians -- volunteered 2.1 billion hours in 2010,  the equivalent of almost 1.1 million full-time jobs.
  • 1% of nonprofits accounted for 58% of revenues, 49% of paid staff, and 20% of volunteer placements in the sector in 2003. These were primarily hospitals, universities and colleges.
  • 54% of sector organizations had no paid staff in 2003.
  • 63% of sector organizations had revenues less than $100,000 in 2003.
  • Just over half of the sector’s organizations were registered charities in 2003.
  • Core non-profits – excluding hospitals, universities, and colleges – posted $35.4 billion in 2008 – 2.4% of Canada’s total GDP.

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