United Way says Winnipeggers 'stepped up' as charity breaks record despite cost of living woes

Charities have been having a tough time finding donors, but United Way says Winnipeggers came through in a big way last year.

United Way Winnipeg says it's run its most successful annual campaign to date, raising $22.8 million in 2023 through individual donations and workplace-run fundraisers, passing the $22.7 million raised in 2022.

The figure comes as charities across Canada continue to face the double whammy of a decline in donations and a surge in demand post-pandemic amid the rising cost of living.

CanadaHelps, a registered charity whose website offers a place where Canadians can donate to more than 30,00 charities, found that in 2022, 31.5 per cent of charities raised fewer funds than in previous years. That's as more than half of almost 3,000 charities surveyed reported they couldn't meet current demand for their services, and that they had fewer volunteers than before the pandemic.

Michael Richardson, president and CEO of United Way Winnipeg, said breaking the record took "a lot of hard work" and generosity.

"Philanthropy is down across North America as a whole, and then you talk about the inflation that people are going through right now, it makes it challenging for people to give or donate their money," he said. 

"People are really digging deep in order to support their community … Winnipeg is one of the most generous cities in the country as far as giving. And for people in Winnipeg to answer the bell and to support their community in a tough time, it's really an amazing feeling."

More than 600 workplaces and 20,000 individual donors helped break the record.

United Way said the money will help support more than 125 local agencies, programs and services helping vulnerable people.

Richardson says the number of donations speaks to the need in the community.

"Folks recognized how tough it is out there right now for people to make ends meet," he said. "People stepped up and want to make sure that their neighbours, their friends and family are looked after."

The CEO said one in three Canadians will get help from a United Way agency at some point.