2025 sector-wide survey results
ONN’s annual survey is conducted to better understand how nonprofits in Ontario are fairing. It identifies and shares the state of the sector in a given moment of time, and provides stakeholders access to high quality sector-wide data, disaggregated by key demographic profiles.
This year, six megatrends shaped survey responses:
- Shorter time between crises is requiring quick organizational pivots without sufficient support, diminishing the sector’s capacity to respond.
- The uncertain economy (i.e. tariffs and global trade war) is driving up demand for nonprofit programs and services while further reducing resources and capacity.
- A weakening social safety net is creating a domino effect where under-resourcing in one or more parts is causing untenable pressure on other parts of the nonprofit and public sectors.
- The rapid evolution of AI is raising critical adoption questions for nonprofits, and their care-centric jobs, as they are pressured to keep up to make their work more efficient when resources are low.
- The new federal and provincial public policy landscape is shifting spending to austerity, impacting both nonprofit sustainability and progress on social issues nonprofits and their communities care about.
- Deepening polarization, backlash to equity, and the global rise in fascism are all threatening progressive social policy gains and protections of Canada’s democracy.
This year’s data reveals:
- Nonprofit organizations were largely affected by the economic downturn, which disrupted nearly every aspect of operations from revenue (69 per cent) and expenses (62 per cent) to staff (57 per cent) and programming (54 per cent).
- Demand for nonprofit programs and services continuously climbs while capacity to meet demand stays the same.
- Nonprofits’ financial state mirrors the broader economy.
- The nonprofit HR crisis continues to be of concern, even as it begins to trend downwards.
- Nonprofit programs and services are shrinking.
- A certain proportion of the sector remains at high risk of not existing in the next three years.
- The polarization seen in last year’s survey around how nonprofits feel in the current moment continues: 30 per cent are hopeful, 25 per cent are under-resourced, and 24 per cent are feeling stressed, tired, and/or fatigued.
For more data highlights, access our technical report in English and French.
Calls to action
It is possible to change the realities, and improve the future trajectory of our sector. The following are a summary of recommendations from ONN on how government, the nonprofit sector, and public can take action. Access our policy report for the full recommendations.
For government:
- Create a home in government for nonprofits and charities to protect Ontario.
- Ensure nonprofits are part and parcel of plans to Protect Ontario.
- Future-proof Ontarians’ social infrastructure.
For the nonprofit sector:
- Build diverse networks.
- Engage in collective advocacy.
- Socialize the Nonprofit Difference.
- Encourage local community engagement and support.
For the public:
- Get involved in your communities.
- Support nonprofit advocacy.
- Participate in democratic processes.
Report resources
- We will be hosting a free webinar to discuss how the sector can use this data in their provincial advocacy efforts.
- Survey report with policy recommendations. Also available in French.
- Technical report (English and French) with data highlights.
- Data sheets 2021-2025
- Data tables 2024
- Data tables for 2025.
- Amplification package
- Pandemic survey reports.
Survey partners
We are grateful to the following partners for supporting our survey work:
