Open Letter: the safety net is tearing—funders must act now

To our funders (governments, foundations, philanthropists, labour unions, and businesses),

We are nonprofit leaders from across British Columbia, writing with growing concern for the future of our sector and the communities we serve.

Nonprofits are the social infrastructure that holds communities together. We provide food, shelter, care, and connection. We support those facing poverty, violence, isolation, and injustice. We protect the environment, create cultural spaces, and advocate for equity.

Your past support has helped us do this work, and we are very grateful. But today, we’re facing challenges that existing funding systems can no longer meet. Demand is growing and funding is shrinking. 

Many organizations are operating month to month, scaling back programs, and watching staff burn out or lose their jobs. Some are closing entirely.

We are not just struggling, we are at risk. The sector is burning out. Staff turnover is high. Leadership is fatigued. One in three nonprofit workers is food insecure. 

The average salary in the community nonprofit sector is 31% lower than the national average. For women (most nonprofit workers) the gap is even worse. According to Imagine Canada, women in the sector earn 17% less than men.

The consequences are clear. When people leave, organizations lose institutional knowledge and service quality declines. Waitlists grow. Programs disappear. And the people who rely on the vital services nonprofits provide are the ones who suffer.

The core issue is systemic. Most funding is short-term, project-specific, and highly restricted. It rarely covers basic operating costs like salaries, rent, or administration. Meanwhile, application and reporting requirements are becoming more time-consuming and complex, especially for smaller, community-led groups.

We need your help to stabilize and sustain our sector:

1. Provide core, multi-year, unrestricted funding.
   Invest in organizational stability, not just one-off pilot projects and guarantee that funding keeps up with the cost of living.
   
2. Reduce administrative burdens while providing transparency to applicants.
   Simplify applications and reporting, and ensure grantmaking is transparent, fair, and ethical, so we can focus on delivering programs rather than paperwork.
   
3. Invest in the nonprofit workforce.
   Ensure funding enables a living wage, benefits, and professional development.

The nonprofit sector is essential. Help us protect it.

Coordinated by:
Rowan Burdge, Provincial Director, BC Poverty Reduction Coalition
Zahra Esmail, CEO, Vantage Point
Anastasia French, Managing Director, Living Wage BC
Iglika Ivanova, Senior Economist, BC Society for Policy Solutions
Halena Seiferling, Executive Director, Living in Community

Signed by:
Tessa Abetkoff, Director of Operations, Kiwassa Neighbourhood House
Afuwa, Associate Director, 221A
Denis Agar, Executive Director, Movement: Metro Vancouver Transit Riders
Tim Agg, Executive Director, Board Voice
Brenda Alexander, Acting Executive Director, Inclusion Chilliwack Society
Brie Altrogge, Executive Director, Hecate Strait Employment Development Society
Association of Neighbourhood Houses of BC
Gail Attara, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Gastrointestinal Society
Cenen Bagon, Vancouver Committee for Domestic Workers and Caregivers Rights (CDWCR)
Loren Balisky, Acting Executive Director, Kinbrace Community Society
Joy Barrett, Executive Director, Castlegar Sculpturewalk
Brenda Barrit, Executive Director, Storytellers’ Society
Christopher Bate, Executive Director, Senior Support North Vancouver Island
Cindy Bergen, Support Lead, Cowichan Family Caregiver Support Society
Sheri Bishop, Executive Director, Nicola Valley Community Human Services Association
Djaka Blais, Executive Director, Hogans Alley Society
Alex Bodin, Operations Manager, CleanStart Property Services
Lance Boer, Chair, Literacy Alberni Society
Brenda Bolton, Board Co-Chair, Victoria Community Food Hubs Society
Dr. Teale Phelps Bondaroff Chair, AccessBC Campaign for free prescription contraception in BC
Nilda Borrino, Executive Director Marpole Neighbourhood House
Greta Borick-Cunningham, Executive Director, Alouette River Management Society
Jenine Bortolon, Senior Housing Navigator, PG Council of Seniors
Allison Bota, Transitional Housing Programs Coordinator (Dixon Transition Society)
Mariam Bouchoutrouch, Executive Director, Pacific Immigrant Resources Society
Helaine Boyd, Executive Director, Disability Alliance BC
Patricia Boyne, Board Member, Cowichan Family Caregivers Support Society
Simone Brandl, Executive Director, The Long Table Society
Alison Brewin Alison Brewin Consulting
Ruth Elizabeth Briggs Food Security Coordinator, Grandview Woodland Food Connection
Enda Brophy, Professor, School of Communication, Simon Fraser University
Diane Brown, Artistic and Producing Director, Ruby Slippers Theatre
Rowan Burdge, Provincial Director, BC Poverty Reduction Coalition
Charlene Burmeister, Operations Manager, Harm Reduction Sector BCCDC
Amanda Burrows, Executive Director, First United
Melissa Cailleaux, Director of Community Programs, YMCA BC
Lori Campbell, Executive Director, Bella Coola Valley Learning Society
Lea Caragata, Director, UBC Vancouver, School of Social Work
Francine Z. Carlin, President and Chair, Rural Islands Economic Partnership
Paula Carlson, Editorial Director, Megaphone
Kellie Carroll, Executive Director, Network of Inner-City Community Services Society
Morag Carter, Executive Director, Skills Centre
Jonathan Cauri, Executive Director, UMOJA OPERATION COMPASSION SOCIETY
Andrzej Celinski, Board Member, WESUP/Consultant RECLAIM Collective
Lorne Chan, Community Outreach Ambassador, Latin Dance Association
Pamela Charron, Executive Director, Worker Solidarity Network
Sarah Chown, Executive Director, Ribbon Community
Kix Citton, Executive Director, Nanaimo Brain Injury Society
Alison Clancey, National Director, Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women Canada
Angela Clancy , Executive Director, Family Support Institute of BC
Jessica Clement, Executive Director, The Ashcroft HUB Society
Randall Cohn, Executive Director, Pivot Legal Society
Tamara Connell, CEO Academy for Sustainable Innovation (ASI)
Shelley Cook, Executive Director, Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria
Meryn Corkery, Director at Large, Mountain Mentors
Kristina Corpin-Moser, Executive Director, Filipino BC
Cheney Creamer, Executive Director, Urban Bounty
Alison Cretney, Managing Director Energy Futures Lab
Mary Crocker, Executive Director, James Bay Community Project
Lisa Curry, Executive Director, Megaphone
Stephen D’Souza, Executive Director, Homelessness Services Association of BC
Mitte Benon Daniel, Cultural and Housing Support Worker, Hogan’s Alley Society
Shannon Daub, Board member, BC Society for Policy Solutions
Guy Dauncey, Co-Chair, West Coast Climate Action Network
Kelly Davison, Pacific Representative, HRNA
Joanne de Vries Founder & CEO Fresh Outlook Foundation
Meghan Derkach, Executive Director, Cherryville Community Food & Resource Society
Lia Dicicco, Director of Finance & Administration, Blind Beginnings
Julie Diesta, Vancouver Committee for Domestic Workers and Caregivers Rights (CDWCR)
Linda Dirksen Gale, Executive Director, Cowichan Family Caregivers Support Society
Jill Doctoroff, Interim Executive Director, FarmFolk CityFolk
Sharon Dong, Board Member, Cedar Cottage Food Network
Anali Duarte, Communications Coordinator, Frog Hollow
Cathy Elford President Board of Directors Cowichan Family Caregivers Support Society
Viveca Ellis, Executive Director, Centre for Family Equity
Diane Elliott-Buckley, Executive Director, West Side Family Place
Evelyn Encalada Grez, Assistant Professor, Simon Fraser University
Zahra Esmail, CEO, Vantage Point
Tanya Fader, Director of Housing, PHS Community Services Society
Kristi Fairholm Mader, Managing Director, Scale Institute Society
Stephanie Fischer, Executive Director, Capitol Theatre Nelson
Angela Fletcher, Executive Director, Dawn to Dawn Action on Homelessness Society
Lynda Fletcher-Gordon, Acting Executive Director, The Purpose Society
Anna Forst, Managing Director, The Writers’ Exchange
Anastasia French, Managing Director, Living Wage BC
Karyn French Executive Director, Greater Victoria Police Victim Services Society
Martin Friedrich, Executive Director, Vernon and District Immigrant and Community Services Society
Melody Frisk, Executive Director, Kamloops Society for Community Inclusion
Nathania Fung, CEO, First Nations Health Foundation
Laura Gair, Director, Programs and Resource Development, Victoria Community Food Hub Society
Danna Garcia, Executive Director, South Granville Seniors Centre
Mike Gawliuk, CEO, CMHA Kelowna & District
Jeff Gilbank, Director, Inclusion Chilliwack Society
Melissa Giles, Managing Director, BC Rent Bank, Vancity Community Foundation
Anoop Gill, Executive Director, Qmunity
Kara Gillies, Executive Director, WISH Drop-In Centre Society
Chris Girodat, Executive Director, Capilano Students’ Union
Heather Glenn-Dergousoff, ED Kootenay Boundary Community Co-op and Family Action Network
Trudi Goels, Chair, Women Transforming Cities
Candida Gorse, Workers for Ethical Substance Use Policy Board Member
Jacquelin Green, Executive Director- Saanich Neighbourhood Place
Genesa Greening, CEO, Vancity Community Foundation
Sharon Gregson, Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC
Tony Gregson, Chairman, Denman Works Economic Enhancement Society
Parm Grewal, Executive Director, Richmond Multicultural Community Services
Adishi Gupta, Project and Engagement Specialist, Roots & Rivers Consulting
Richard Han, Senior Director of Public and Planetary Health, Public Health Association BC Harm Reduction Nurses Association
Jason Harrison, Executive Director, Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Mid-Island Branch
David Harvey, President, Board of Directors, West End Seniors’ Network
Sahra Hashi, Executive Director, ALBERTA IMMIGRANT WOMEN & CHILDREN CENTRE
Sharon Hazelwood, Citizen
Dawn Hemingway, Leadership Team, Northern Feminist Institute for Research & Evaluation
Candice Henriques, CEO, arc programs
Amanda Hill, Executive Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Victoria Capital Region
Asia Hollingsworth, Executive Director, Mid-Main Community Health Centre
Nina Horvath Executive Director, Coastal Jazz & Blues Society
Winnie Hsu, CEO, Vision2Reality Foundation
Alexandra Huang, Development & Communications Manager, Kiwassa Neighbourhood House
kevin huang 黃儀軒 Executive Director, hua foundation
Dan Huang-Taylor, Executive Director, Food Banks BC
Maria Hudspith, Executive Director, Pain BC
Liza Hughes, Executive Director, BCCLA
Azra Hussain, CEO, The Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver
Hajira Hussain, Executive Director, Richmond Food Bank Society
Kristen Hyodo, Executive Director, Sasamat Outdoor Centre
Dalya Israel, Executive Director, Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre
Iglika Ivanova, Senior Economist, BC Society for Policy Solutions
Solomon Iwegim, Executive Director, Thrive-4-Blacks-Community-Services Society
Thelma Jack, Treasurer, Carnegie Community Centre Association
Maxence Jaillet, General Manager, Kootenay Carshare Coop
Talayeh Jamshidi, Executive Director, Canadian Mental Health Association North and West Vancouver Branch
Mohsen Javdani, Associate Professor, SFU
Marnie Jensen, Executive Director, Canadian Mental Health Association South Cariboo
Isabella Johnson, Senior Program Officer, Centre for Civic Governance
Shay Johnson, Community Support Worker, Inclusion Chilliwack Society
Amy Juschka VP, Communications and Advocacy, YWCA Metro Vancouver
Ninu Kang, Executive Director, Ending Violence BC
Erin Kapela, Executive Director, Canadian Mental Health Association – Cowichan Valley Branch
Jean Kavanagh, Board member, REACH Community Healthcare Centre
Maureen Kehler, Decoda Literacy Solutions
Jennifer Kemp, Executive Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters Central Vancouver Island
Alice Kendall, Executive Director, Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre
Rhiannon King , YMCA-YWCA
dauna kennedy Executive Director Vernon Public Art Gallery
Katrina Kiefer, Executive Director, CMHA-Port Alberni
Brad Kinnie, Executive Director, Journey Home Community Association
C.michael kinsella, Executive director, new ppe
Leah Kleisinger, Board member, HRNA
Stephanie Kok, Director of Therapeutic Programs, Providence Farm
Shelley Kuecks, Executive Director, Cowichan Brain Injury Society
Matea Kulic, Executive Director, Books BC
Dr. Elaine Laberge, Executive Director, CMHA of Northern BC
Kimberley Laing, Board Director, REACH Community Health Centre
Olivia Lake de Meza, Executive Director, UFV STUDENT UNION SOCIETY
Nhan Lam, Director of Family Programs, Kiwassa Neighbourhood House
Thanh Lam, Executive Director, Gordon Neighbourhood House
Theodora Lamb, Executive Director, Quest Non-Profit Grocery Markets
Alicia Larocque, President Board of Directors, Victoria Latin Dance Association
Zoe Lauckner, Executive Director, Cowichan Valley Youth Services
David Lee, Board Member, BC Poverty Reduction Coalition
Sandra Lee, Executive Director, Decoda Literacy Solutions
Wayne Lewchuk, Professor Emeritus, McMaster University
Nansi Long, Executive Director, BC Schizophrenia Society Prince George Branch
Samantha Loppie, Executive Director, Victoria Sexual Assault Centre
Brenda Lohrenz, Executive Director, Eastside Family Place
Maggie Lord, President, Carnegie Community Centre Association
Sarah Lovegrove, Registered Nurse & Vice President, Harm Reduction Nurses Association
Vi Ly, Executive Director, RainbowVI Educational Association
Jaymee Maaghop, Health Policy & Outreach Manager, Canadian Society of Intestinal Research
Bobby MacDonald, Director, Public Engagement, Union Gospel Mission
Jay Manuel, PhD, Curriculum Developer MOSAIC & Associate Director, Vancouver Institute of Philosophy for Children
Brittany Maple, Executive Director, Matsqui Abbotsford Impact Society
Ian Marcuse, Vancouver Food Justice Coalition and Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Networks
Melinda Markey, Executive Director, REACH Community Health Centre
Darius Maze, Executive Director, Kiwassa Neighbourhood House
Alex McArdle, Executive Director, LifeCycles Project Society
Heather McCain, Founder-Executive Director, Live Educate Transform Society
Sarah McCrea , Executive Director, Prince George Brain Injured Group
Stephanie McGowan, Executive Director, Comox Valley Head Injury Society
Carol Meise President and board Chair Starbright Children’s Development Assoc.
Tiffany Melius, Executive Director, Options for Sexual Health
Shelley D’Mello, CEO, Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria
Cailey Meuse, Executive Director, Elements Society
Jennifer Milley, Managing Director, Vancouver Writers Fest
Sean Miles, Director, MakeWay Charitable Society – Binners’ Project
Karen Mills, Founder CEO, Peer2Peer Indigenous Society
Kevin Millsip, Executive Director, BC Policy Solutions
Kevin Millsip, Executive Director, BC Libraries Cooperative
Christopher Miroslaw, Development Director/ Co-Founder, Food Bank On Wheels
Barbara Mitchell-Pollock, BC Health Coalition In Victoria, Council of Canadians
Sue Moen, Coordinator, Campbell River Community Action Team
Stephanie Andrea Moothu, Operations & Strategy Lead, Welcome Squamish
Jonny Morris, CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division
Janet Morris-Reade, CEO, Association of Service Providers for Employability & Career Training
Amy Mullis, Executive Director, Federation of Community Social Services of BC
Paola Murillo, Executive Director, Latincouver
Alistair Nagle, Interim Executive Director, ONE TO ONE Literacy Society
Linda Nagle President, Greenways Land Trust
Kombii Nanjalah, CEO/Founder, Great Lakes Networking Society of BC
Joanne Neilson, Executive Director, Fraser Valley Conservancy
Sylvia Nickel, CFO, More Than a Roof Housing Society
Kaitlyn Nohr, Executive Director, WILD collaborative harm reduction association
Erin O’Brien, Ecology and Development Director, Pender Islands Conservancy
Heather O’Hara Executive Director BC Association of Farmers’ Markets
Kirsten Odermatt, Finance Manager, Saanich Neighbourhood Place
Anthonia ogundele, Executive Director, Ethọ́s Lab
Sandy Oldenburg, Community Connector
Tanis Oldenburger, Founder-Executive DIrector, Mountainside Harm Reduction Society
Roger J. Parenteau, Executive Director, NORTH OKANAGAN SOCIAL PLANNING SOCIETY
Rebecca Pauls, Executive Director, Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN)
Paula Parker, Executive Director, Vancouver Friends for Life Society
Louise Pedersen, Executive Director, Outdoor Recreation Council of British Columbia
Ash Peplow Ball, Executive Director, Women Transforming Cities
Suzanne Perreault, Executive Director, AutismBC
Christine Petkau, Executive Director, The Centre for Epilepsy & Seizure Education in BC
Kathy Powelson, Executive Director, Paws for Hope Animal Foundation
Vincent Prince, Executive Director, Aboriginal Business Development Centre
Julia Prudhomme, Executive Director, Oxygen Art Centre (Nelson Fine Arts Centre Society)
Lori Pyne, Executive Director, Squamish Helping Hands
Kenn Quayle, Co-Coordinator, i2i Peer Support
Kelly Rader, Executive Director, Inasmuch Community Society
Devika Ramkhelawan, Executive Director, Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House
Corey Ranger, RN BN President, Harm Reduction Nurses Association
Michelle Reining, Executive Director, Vancouver Food Runners
Cole Reinbold, Secretary-Treasurer, BC Federation of Students
Claire Remington, Executive Director, Compost Education Centre
Stacey Rexin, Operations Manager, Penticton and Area Cooperative Enterprises
Kristi Rivait, Director, Partnerships and Programs, Scale Collaborative and Thriving Non-Profits
Lindsey Rogerson, Founder, Bright Ocean
Dawn Roumieu, Executive Director, The People’s Pantry Food Recovery Society
Hayley Rutherford Senior Project Manager & Operations Director Roots & Rivers Consulting
Neelam Sahota, Chief Executive Officer, DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society
Alex Sangha, Founder, Sher Vancouver
Karen Sawatzky, Chief Administrative Officer Hecate Strait Employment Development Society
Arianna Scott Executive, Director, BGC South Vancouver Island
Stefania Seccia, Executive Director, Advocacy & Public Affairs, Women’s National Housing & Homelessness Network
Halena Seiferling, Executive Director, Living in Community
Elizabeth Semowo, Founder, RebirtHer Women Foundation
Caitlin Shane, Lawyer
Tara Shushtarian, Director, WE-CAN (West Coast Climate  Action  Network)
Ben Simoni, Executive Director, Youth Climate Corps BC
Laurel Sliskovic, Founder, LoVE VI (Local Vacations & Experiences Society Vancouver Island)
Matthew Smedley, Executive Director & CEO, Mission Possible
Teyo Soler, Executive Director, Xwéwenaqw Xwexwilmexw (Whonnock People) Cultural Reclamation Society
Yvonne Russell, Director of Inclusive Services, Inclusion Powell River
Cindy Southwick, Executive Director, Northern Rockies Child Development Association
Eloïse Speleers, Executive Director, West Kootenay Francophone Association AFKO
Caroline St-Pierre, Director of Health and Safety, Inclusion Powell River
Marisa Stableford, Operations Coordinator, Vancouver Urban Food Forest Foundation
Olga Stachova, CEO, MOSAIC
Orvis Starkweather, Board Member, LifeCycles Project Society
Carla Stephenson, Executive Director, Renascence Arts and Sustainability Society
Katrina Stephenson, Founder & CEO, Nurse 2 Nurse Peer Support
Sherry Stevenson, Executive Director, Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society
Brianna Stewart, Managing Director, FED Urban Agriculture Society
Eleanor Stewart, Chief Executive Officer, Down Syndrome Resource Foundation
Dr. Kendra Strauss, The Labour Studies Program, Simon Fraser University
Tina Strehlke, CEO, Minerva Foundation for BC Women
Amber Streukens , Program Coordinator, Rural Empowered Drug Users Network
Sonam Swarup, Operations Manager, 312 Main
Alexa Tarrayo Communications and Design Lead, PeerNet BC
Sarah Thomas, Executive Director, Our Community Bikes
Christine Thuring, Executive Director, Green Roof Infrastructure Network of BC
Annelies Tjebbes CEO Roots & Rivers Consulting
Candy Tladi, Interim Executive Director, Food Stash Foundation
Shannon Turner, Director, Public Health of Association of BC
Dan Turvill, Executive Director, Strathcona Community Safety Association
Ocean van Samang, CEO, Inclusion Powell River
Karla Verschoor, Executive Director, Inclusion BC
Kelly Walker, Executive Director, Sooke Family Resource Society
Elizabeth Watters, Assistant Professor, University of the Fraser Valley
Duncan Watts-Grant, Executive Director, Vancouver Fringe Festival
Deirdre Whalen, Past President, Richmond Poverty Reduction Coalition
Alec Wheeler, Owner & Social Impact Strategist, COMMELEON
Kristina Wilcox, Co-Executive Director, Fairfield Gonzales Community Association
Andrea Wilkey , Executive Director, Community Futures Central Kootenay
Annette Williams, Literacy Outreach Coordinator, Chilliwack Learning Society
Leslie  Williams, Executive Director, Sharing Farm Society
Jan Wilson, Executive Director, Prince George New Hope Society
Mark Willson, Director, SOLID Outreach
Byron Wood, Board Member, Workers for Ethical Substance Use Policy (WESUP)
Chris Wrightson, Executive Director, Sea to Sky Hospice Society
Angela Wu, Executive Director, SWAN Vancouver
Rose Xueqing Zhang, PhD Candidate, University of BC Department of Sociology
Yara Younis, Manager, Refugee Livelihood Lab, RADIUS