Article – I’ve spent the past four weeks visiting food banks across Ontario. The scenes are strikingly similar: dedicated staff sorting donations, volunteers preparing hampers, and increasingly – whispered conversations in break rooms about skipping meals to make rent.
“I help people access food every day, but last month I had to use a food bank myself,” confessed Mariana, a program coordinator at a Toronto community center who asked I use only her first name. “The irony isn’t lost on me.”
A troubling new survey from the Ontario Nonprofit Network and the Assemblée de la Francophonie de l’Ontario reveals that nearly one-third of non-profit workers in Canada are experiencing both burnout and food insecurity. The findings paint a concerning picture of a sector where those helping our most vulnerable are increasingly becoming vulnerable themselves.
The survey gathered responses from over 900 non-profit workers across the country. Among the most alarming statistics: 31% reported being food insecure, meaning they struggle to afford adequate nutrition. This figure far exceeds the national average of about 16% reported in Statistics Canada’s most recent food security assessment.
Carolyn Ferns, policy coordinator with the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care, wasn’t surprised by the findings. “We’ve been hearing from early childhood educators for years about the mismatch between their crucial work and their compensation. Some are leaving the field entirely because they simply can’t survive on their wages.”
The burnout crisis reaches well beyond food security. Nearly 70% of respondents reported experiencing some level of burnout, with 42% characterizing it as severe. These workers cited chronic underfunding, increased community needs, and administrative burdens as primary stressors.
“We’re expected to do more with less every year,” explained Jordan Williams, who manages a rural youth outreach program in eastern Ontario. “Government grants haven’t kept pace with inflation, but the needs in our community keep growing. My team is exhausted.”
The financial picture for these workers is equally concerning. The survey found that 43% of respondents earn less than $50,000 annually, despite most holding post-secondary credentials. This places many just above qualification thresholds for supports they help others access.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland acknowledged the sector’s challenges during a recent press conference in Halifax. “Non-profits are essential partners in delivering services to Canadians. We’re exploring ways to strengthen this sector through our upcoming budget consultations,” she stated, though specific commitments remain unclear.
Provincial responses have been similarly vague. Ontario Minister of Children, Community and Social Services Michael Parsa pointed to the province’s $3.1 billion social services relief fund when questioned about the survey, but critics note this funding is broadly targeted and not specifically addressing workforce conditions.
The survey’s findings are particularly troubling given the sector’s demographics. Women make up approximately 77% of the non-profit workforce, according to Statistics Canada. Indigenous workers, newcomers, and racialized Canadians are also overrepresented compared to other industries – meaning the burden of inadequate compensation falls disproportionately on these groups.
Dr. Naomi Lightman, associate professor of sociology at the University of Calgary who studies care work economics, sees a systemic issue. “We consistently undervalue work traditionally performed by women, especially care work. The non-profit sector suffers from what economists call a ‘care penalty’ – essential work that’s chronically underpaid.”
The consequences extend beyond individual workers. Tanya Rumble, a fundraising consultant who works with dozens of Ontario charities, sees worrying trends. “Organizations are losing institutional knowledge as experienced staff leave for better-paying sectors. This turnover costs nonprofits thousands in recruiting and training, money that should go toward their missions.”
Some organizations are attempting innovative solutions. The Hamilton Community Foundation recently launched a sector wage enhancement program, providing supplemental funding specifically for staff compensation at local charities. Similar initiatives are emerging in Vancouver and Montreal.
“We need to recognize that healthy non-profits require healthy workers,” said Cathy Taylor, executive director of the Ontario Nonprofit Network. “When staff are burned out or worrying about their own food security, it diminishes the quality of services our communities receive.”
As federal budget season approaches, advocacy groups are calling for structural changes. Proposals include dedicated workforce stabilization funding, streamlined reporting requirements to reduce administrative burden, and multi-year funding commitments to provide planning stability.
But for workers like Mariana, these potential solutions feel distant. “I believe in this work with all my heart,” she told me, sorting through donated groceries. “But some days I wonder how much longer I can afford to keep doing it.”
Her sentiment echoes across the sector – a workforce caught between devotion to their communities and the growing impossibility of sustaining themselves. As Canada continues to rely heavily on non-profits to deliver essential services, the question remains whether we’re willing to properly invest in those who care for our most vulnerable.
In the meantime, the hidden irony persists – those who feed Canada’s hungry increasingly wonder where their next meal will come from.
