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Centre for Voluntary Sector Studies

Centre for Voluntary Sector Studies

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Welcome  
To The Centre for Voluntary Sector Studies (CVSS) Website!

 
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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In April 2012, CVSS hosted a workshop on findings from its study of the complex partnerships involved in the settlement and integration of Canadian newcomers.

To see the presentations, Click here.

 

New working papers are added to CVSS Working Paper Series. (Site Under Construction)

 

9% of Canadian employers are nonprofit organizations, employing 20% of the Canadian labour force. This translates to 2 million jobs.
The nonprofit sector accounts for 6.8% of Canada's GDP while the agriculture sector accounts for 1.5%, mining, oil and gas for 4.0%, retail for 5.0%, food and accommodation for 2.3% of the nation's GDP.
63% of nonprofit organizations are small and operate with an annual budget of less than $100,000. Only 30% of these small organizations have paid staff. Generally their paid staff numbers less than 2 full-time employees.
Six and a half million Canadians volunteer in nonprofit organizations, but because many volunteer at several organizations, Nonprofit and voluntary organizations report a combined volunteer complement of over 19 million. This translates into 1.1 to 2 billion hours of volunteer labour representing about 7.5 full-time jobs per voluntary organization.
Most nonprofit sector managers are women, ranging from 50% in hospitals and universities to 66% in other nonprofits. This compares favourably with the for-profit sector, where only 36% of managers are women.
54% of nonprofit organizations rely exclusively on volunteers to carry out their missions.
More than two thirds of the employees in the nonprofit sector are women, compared with less than half in the for-profit sector.
 

    • Spring 2006. The Centre for Voluntary Sector Studies: A Decade of Growth and Achievement. This publication provides an overview of the achievements of the first decade of research and education at CVSS. Hard copies are available.

    • 2005:

      Spring | Fall