Philanthropy and a sense of belonging

Article originally published in the Scrivener Winter 2024 . Written by Sara Neely, Senior Director, Philanthropic Services at the Victoria Foundation.

Recipe for well-being

In an age of disconnection, everyone, especially women, has a role to play in bringing our communities together.

Late last year, the World Health Organization declared loneliness a “global public health priority” and launched a commission on social connection.

It noted that “anyone, anywhere, can be lonely or socially isolated. Across all ages and regions, loneliness and social isolation have serious impacts on our physical and mental health, and the well-being of our communities and society.”

These days, our ways of connecting to people and the world around us are more varied than ever, with the help of our multiple screens at any time of day. The way we use those connections is a personal choice. They can be a force for good or they may leave us feeling a lack of belonging, feeling lonely, wondering where we fit in our communities, our neighbourhoods, cities, or the wider world.

Our belonging and well-being are tied to our community’s well-being. Each relies on and benefits from the other.

Our belonging goes beyond the connections made on our social media channels. Real and authentic person-to-person connections are vital – even in the digital age. That is how we experience the essence of human relationships and our place in fostering well-being for all; it is crucial to demonstrating empathy and support for each other, and how, working together, we can create something greater than we can do alone.

This sense of or lack of belonging also impacts the human and financial resources used to fuel a philanthropic ecosystem that nurtures well-being in our communities.

More disconnection equals less giving.

A recent report by CanadaHelps reveals a deep layer of disconnection – one that might surprise you. It speaks to a loneliness that has large implications for the philanthropic sector.

Disconnected Canadians are less likely to give time and money.

Yes, you read that correctly. “The Giving Report 2024: From Disconnection to Collective Action” notes a strong link to philanthropy: more than 80 percent of those with many close friends donate, while just over half of those with very few close friends donate.

The report underscores the importance of building – in fact, rebuilding – connections that might be lost behind our screens, helping foster community involvement while sharing our passions for causes that matter.

The saying that “a rising tide lifts all boats” is often associated with the idea that improvements in the general economy will benefit all participants within it. For those working in the charitable sector, community building is key to lifting the tide. Through collaboration and sharing of knowledge, resources, and perspectives, nonprofits can strengthen their resilience and adaptability.

Fostering a sense of community extends to staff, volunteers, donors, and beneficiaries of the service – creating a deeper connection to the mission and values of the cause. In turn, the charitable sector thrives through enhanced volunteer and donor engagement.

This relationship is critical given the major impact the non-profit sector has on our economy. ?About 85,000 charities in Canada employed almost 11 per cent of the full-time workforce in 2021, and non-profits represented eight percent of Canada’s GDP in the same year.

Despite that, for the 12th year in a row, the number of Canadians claiming charitable donations on their tax return declined from about 23 per cent in 2010 to 17 per cent in 2022.

That is troubling, given the impact that charities have across Canada, particularly for nearly a quarter of Canadians who expect to rely on their services for basic needs, not only for housing, education and food security, but areas like health care, preserving parks and waterways, and addressing gender and racial inequalities.

They are causes that Canadians care about and yet their rate of participation in giving is declining.

The downward trend can be seen in financial constraints, cost of living, less affiliation with religious institutions, and a change in the sense of obligation to others. Even with the rise and fall in the economy, and housing inflation over the last 12 years, there has been a steady decline.

Service usage is at an all-time high with more than half of charities unable to meet current levels of demand.

There’s no doubt that disconnection – stemming from the pandemic, the rise of social media and streaming, online living, working remotely – is leading to a decline in giving and volunteerism.

The disconnection becomes far more personal.

The CanadaHelps report reveals that only 22 per cent of Canadians report having six or more close friends in 2022.? That’s down from 37 per cent in 2013 – a steep decline.

The findings demonstrate the importance of social networks, not only for the meaning they bring to our lives but also how they will impact future giving trends. They impact the way we engage in community and the causes that are important to us, along with what we give and when.

Women are the future of philanthropy and community well-being.

Despite those unnerving trends, there is a segment of the population better equipped with the resources to bring a greater sense of belonging back to the forefront of our communities.

Women are the powerhouses for community well-being through their deep engagement in charities and nonprofits, personal financial and human resources, and their many social connections.

Philanthropy is upheld by everyone, men and women alike, but women hold a particular role in bringing everyone together.

As inheritors of family values and, ultimately, likely most of the family’s financial resources, women are well positioned to fuel community well-being through their philanthropy in transformative ways.

A 2023 report from TD Wealth called “Trust and Transformation: Canadian Women and Philanthropy” says “Fundamentally, women are propelled to help others through a sense of social responsibility and a belief that citizenship imposes an obligation on everyone who is able to set aside some time, effort and personal resources to help build a community that is just and equitable.

This report followed TD Wealth’s 2014 report which prompted a nation-wide discussion on the prominent role of women in philanthropy; together, the reports reveal some significant data.

Direct engagement with the charitable sector demonstrates the ways in which women both contribute and are served.

• 77 percent of non-profit employees are women; they represent the majority of volunteers at organizations serving families in Canada.
• $4.3 billion was donated by women in 2021 compared to $2.7 billion one decade earlier.
• Women are also users of the services, with unfortunately, for example 52 per cent are clients at food banks.

Along with an increase in accumulated wealth and income, women as surviving spouses are expected to benefit disproportionately in the forecasted transfer of wealth of $1 trillion over the next decade. Simply put, women live longer than men.

Building Social Networks for Everyone

Influencers for philanthropic decisions include family experiences, social awareness, friends, growth in financial assets, and a high level of awareness of issues affecting women and families. Forums for education and discussion play a role in taking action.

Women also have a truly significant role in combatting loneliness.

The TD Wealth report notes that one of the influencers for why women give is a strong connection to community. Based on research undertaken by Statistics Canada, women, on average, have five close relatives and fifteen friends. These numbers are shaped by economics, with more affluent women having a wider circle of friends than those at lower wealth levels.

Women can use their social advantage and their extensive history in philanthropy to engage everyone else in community building. Whether it is joining a social giving circle or participating in an educational forum, contributing as a board member, planning a fundraising event, or digging in as a volunteer in myriad ways, women are the prominent drivers of our philanthropic systems now, and into the future.

On Vancouver Island, we may be doing better in our region with the Victoria Foundation’s 2024 “Vital Signs Report” showing that about three quarters of respondents feel connected to the community, and just over one third say their friends and family are one of the best things about living here.

That said, there is always more work to be done.?Here are some of the ways to help people combat loneliness and create a sense of belonging.

• Join giving circles to learn about the community’s needs.
• Volunteer on community initiatives.
• Talk with family and friends about your passions.
• Meet people through shared interests.
• Enable connections for newcomers through your local intercultural centre.
• Engage in culturally based programming.
• Show a random act of kindness – at any time.

We have an abundance of opportunities to connect with others in this beautiful region of our country. In many ways, we are truly fortunate. The social networks we create are key to the future of our families and the wider community.

Let’s work together to help those among us feel that strong sense of belonging – for themselves and for the well-being of our communities and society.

See the full Scrivener magazine here: Scrivener Winter 2024