According to Statistics Canada's 1987 Volunteer Activity Survey, more than five million people, or 27 percent of Canadians, volunteered in organized activities that year. At this time, researchers have only a partial picture of the nonprofit sector. To assess the overall importance of nonprofits, information is needed in basic areas such as finances, employment and activities of charities. More qualitative information on the characteristics of nonprofits is also needed. Details on the following topics would help researchers build a more accurate profile of the sector, and more accurately define its role in our economy.
Many questions remain about the role of the charitable sector in the Canadian economy.
Before these can be addressed, more and better information must be made available. Already, Revenue Canada is planning to step up its review process of the information returns submitted by registered charities. A similar review process needs to be established for the information returns filed by other nonprofit organizations. In addition, the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy, and Volunteer Canada, will initiate a pilot survey of giving and volunteering. Nonprofits can help in the information gathering by keeping better records of volunteer activities and employment, and improving the quality of reported data on revenues and expenses.