As Manitoba charities struggle for donations, some are adapting to changing landscape
Challenges for charities are amplified this year with the postal workers' strike
Non-profits are vying for donations across Manitoba this Giving Tuesday, but many are struggling, says a vice-president with Canada's oldest, and first, community foundation.
"People are giving, but there's less and less Canadians that are giving," Winnipeg Foundation vice-president of community generosity Mary Beth Taylor told CBC.
However, those Canadians tend to be giving more, she said, and Manitoba is still the most generous province in Canada.
But the challenges charities face are amplified this year with an ongoing strike by postal workers, now in its third week, as many charities rely on donations at the end of the year sent via cheques through the mail.
"We've heard statistics from charities that it's anywhere from 25 to over 50 per cent of the revenue comes in through the holiday year-end giving," she said.
Many charities have shifted their focus to online donations this year, but "not every charity has that online platform, and there's a cost to online giving," said Taylor.
One thing charities can do to engage their donors is to thank them, she said.
One charity that works to engage with its donors is the Misericordia Health Centre Foundation's "Angel Squad," which raises funds for the health centre through a high-profile event each year.
Volunteers like Lisa Stiver take to the Misericordia Loop at the Maryland Bridge, dressed up as angels during the morning rush hour every December to encourage donations from the many motorists who drive by, offering hot chocolate and coffee as a thank you.
"It's wonderful," said Stiver. "It's just turning into daylight when people are heading over the bridge. It's very cheerful. It marks the start of the holiday season … [and] there's just a lot of great energy."
The Angel Squad aims to raise $50,000 during this year's fundraising event, which started on Giving Tuesday and will continue until Dec. 17.
This year, the signs the volunteers hold will also include a link where people can donate online.
Stiver says Giving Tuesday — the annual fundraising day falling after Black Friday and Cyber Monday — is a great time for people to think about what they give.
Stiver says the angels are a vital part of the health-care funding system in Manitoba, especially as needs increase.
"The government provides health care at the level that it can, but … can't do everything. It's important for everybody in the community to give what they can," she said.
Consider donations carefully: Charity Intelligence
But not all donations to charities make an equal impact, says the managing director of Charity Intelligence, an organization that analyzes charities and how they spend the donations they get.
Kate Bahen says Canadians are generous and usually give without hesitating, but should take control of their giving.
"Have a plan. Think about what charities and what causes matter most to you. And when you say no to one charity, that means you're going to have more money to give to another charity that's going to mean more to you," Bahen said.
Common problems to look out for are charities that have a name similar to the one you want to support, and donations that may not stay with a local charity.
"One of the things in Winnipeg was how many of the national big charities were fundraising across Canada. When you give to them, your donations go to head office and in Toronto, and especially when you have local issues, I think we need to be much more aware of the smaller local charities," she said.
How you give can also make a difference, she said. When donating to food banks, for example, cash donations are always a better use of money than donating food.
"If you give cash, your cash does four times more good, because when you donate goods, that has to be sorted and it has to be shelved and it has to be distributed," said Bahen.
Food banks can usually buy exactly what they most need, and at lower, wholesale prices, she said.
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With files from Information Radio and Chidi Ekuma