The Business of Charities & Nonprofits: The Need for Change

March 8, 2021 | Susan M. Manwaring, Katrina Kairys | Toronto

PANL Perspectives

Charities and nonprofits have long been entrepreneurial and innovative in developing new means of generating revenue to achieve their missions and serve our communities. They sell cookies and agricultural products, run cafés, market software, and much more. The devastating effects of COVID-19 on the sector’s revenues will press organizations to be even more creative in finding alternative revenue sources. But, current rules make it difficult for Canadian charities – and even more difficult for nonprofits – to engage in ‘business’ activities (or what some refer to as ‘social enterprise’). These restrictions will hinder the sector’s ability to recover and rebuild following the pandemic. Reform is urgently needed.

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