The Community Sector in Newfoundland and Labrador

Nonprofit, Community Groups

There more than 5,000 nonprofit, community groups in Newfoundland and Labrador. Around 2,400 are formally registered nonprofits and about 1,100 are registered charities. Some are informal groups.

The Avalon Peninsula is home to about 40% of the community groups while the remaining 60% are located in other areas the province.

Have a look at some of the websites of community sector groups in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Volunteers

In Newfoundland and Labrador, about 52.1% of the population aged 15+ volunteer for nonprofit organizations. Since 2007, the volunteer rate has increased by 6% for Newfoundland and Labrador and sits slightly above the national average of 47%. 

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians ages 15-24 report the highest volunteer rate at about 74.2% while those aged 65 and older have the lowest rate of volunteering at 39.4%. Older volunteers contribute more hours when they do volunteer.

The average number of volunteers hours per year in Newfoundland and Labrador is 155, consistent with the national average of 156 hours per year.

Financial Donations

The donor rates for Newfoundland and Labrador are highest in Canada (92%) - up by a percentage point since 2007, and significantly higher than the national average which comes in at 84%. The donor rate is the percentage of the population who gave at least one donation of money to a charity or other nonprofit during the reference period.

The average amount donated by survey participants in Newfoundland and Labrador  is $331, an increase since 2007 but still falling short of the national average ($446). Both the percentage of the country’s population donating and the amount of the donations remain relatively unchanged since 2007. 

[Sources: Caring Canadians, Involved Canadians Tables Report, 2010 and CSC research.]

2007 Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating