The Important Role of the Nonprofit Sector in Alberta’s Relaunch Strategy
By Maggie Easton, CCVO Policy Intern
The reopening of many businesses in Calgary and Brooks on May 25 marked the implementation of Stage 1 of the provincial relaunch strategy for all regions in Alberta. Many business owners are eager to resume operations in the wake of several months of significantly decreased revenue. Nonprofits and registered charities are in the same category as small businesses for the purpose of federal benefits such as the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program. Yet their steps to reopening may look quite different from the for-profit industry.
What is the Relaunch Strategy Under Stage 1?
Many nonprofits may have no choice but to close or transition to remote work in response to the pandemic. Under Stage 1, it seems that relatively few nonprofits will be able to reopen and resume operation.
Stage 1 involves allowing the following services to reopen: retail businesses; farmers’ market vendors; hairstyling and barber shops; restaurants; cafés and pubs; museums and art galleries; daycares and out of school care; day camps; places of worship and funeral services; and dog parks and playgrounds.
All services that are reopening or continuing to operate must follow sector-specific guidelines, available on Alberta Biz Connect. The Workplace Guidance for Business Owners document provides useful advice for all services that are reopening or continuing to operate. This document categorizes volunteers as employees, making the guidelines provided relevant for both volunteer-run organizations and organizations with paid staff. This guide includes a template for organizations to use, as they plan what measures they will implement to protect the health and safety of their staff and community.
Among the nonprofits included in Stage 1 are places of worship, museums, art galleries, and interpretive attractions. Guidelines offer sector-specific considerations, but all guidelines focus on enforcing physical distancing and reducing transmission risk. This may be done through reduced capacity and facility modifications, increased cleaning measures, contact tracing, or screening of employees and volunteers for illness.
Other nonprofits might find themselves able to reopen at this time only because they are in the same category as their for-profit counterparts. For example, nonprofit kitchens are specifically noted as falling under the umbrella of restaurants that may reopen. Nonprofit daycares and day camps are included in Stage 1 as well. The relaunch guidelines for these organizations were not written with the nonprofit sector in mind. Nonprofits who fall under the restaurant or day care umbrella might face challenges in adapting the new recommendations to their way of operating or the community whom they serve, which is likely quite different from the clientele or operation of the majority of their for-profit counterparts. These organizations would likely benefit from more specific guidance, or an easily accessible way to ask questions and raise concerns.
Barriers to Relaunch
Although the organizations included in Stage 1 have access to a wide variety of guidelines to follow surrounding health and safety measures, the implications of this new way of operating may prevent some organizations from reopening at all, despite the lifted restrictions. The issues that are emerging are as diverse as the sector itself, and the points explored here are only a few considerations.
Consideration of Volunteers
Organizations that rely on volunteers will likely face increased difficulty in finding volunteers who can return to their positions. In 2019, CCVO’s Alberta Nonprofit Survey found that these volunteer-run organizations were already struggling to recruit and maintain volunteers, citing a perceived decrease in ‘volunteer spirit.’ Many volunteers are older and may need to continue to self-isolate at home even as restrictions lift. Even those who are not considered high-risk may not feel safe returning to their positions and are less obligated to do so than paid employees. Though many people are home during this time, health risks may prevent the organization from being able to recruit more volunteers to fill these gaps. Even if they can, training will require additional resources from organizations who are already stretched thin from other increased operating costs. Although the province has included volunteers in their definition of ‘workers,’ volunteers are not the same as employees. Organizations in this position would also benefit from more specific provincial guidelines and support.
Limited Availability of Child Care
Lack of child care is also becoming evident as an issue for all sectors, and the nonprofit sector is no exception. With children unable to return to school, many parents are struggling to find care that will allow them to return to work. Daycares have strict limits on capacity, reducing the number of available spots, while the demand has increased dramatically. In addition to restrictions on capacity, requirements of staggering cohorts of children and staff, cleaning, and physical distancing may prompt some daycares not to reopen at all, further limiting the number of spaces available. Additionally, organizations such as recreation centres are still struggling to understand how they can run much-needed day camps when their facilities remain closed. The Business Council of Alberta published an analysis of this issue and proposed possible solutions to increase the number of Albertans who can return to work while needing child care. Addressing this issue is a vital step in reopening all parts of the economy.
Increased Operating Costs
Even if organizations are not facing significant barriers to reopening, there may be challenges in continuing to operate once open. Reopening involves increased costs associated with cleaning and sanitation supplies, in addition to physical distancing supplies like signage or plexiglass barriers. The issue of increased cost is compounded by the reality of decreased revenue due to limitations on capacity and services that can be offered. This is an issue for all businesses right now, but it is especially crucial for nonprofits who are more likely to have already been struggling with unpredictable and inflexible funding. Very little provincial or federal support has been introduced to address increased operating costs, and many organizations will need this financial support to stay open while following health guidelines.
Technology and Remote Work
Many nonprofits will continue to be closed until Stage 3 – the timing of which is still undetermined. Even organizations that can reopen in Stage 1 are urged to work remotely if possible. For example, a place of worship may choose to resume in-person worship services but continue to have their staff complete planning and administrative work remotely. This approach is the safest in terms of reducing the risk of virus transmission, and it provides flexibility for workers and volunteers who may be having trouble finding child care, or don’t feel safe yet returning to in-person activity.
However, transitioning to remote work can be difficult and costly. It may also require strategic planning and adaptation of existing duties and services to fit a virtual platform, depending on the nature of the organization. The 2019 Alberta Nonprofit Survey found that 54% of nonprofits were already offering remote work options. These organizations are likely to have less trouble maintaining entirely remote work, which bodes well for the survival of their organization as the pandemic continues. But the 2019 report also spoke of the ‘digital divide’ between nonprofits. 63% of nonprofits did not have a technology strategy in place, and some respondents noted that they live and operate in areas where even accessing high-speed internet is still a struggle. Organizations in this position will need dedicated technological support and training if they are to operate remotely. Even organizations that successfully moved to remote work may need support to brainstorm and get feedback on potential virtual programming as physical distancing continues.
Nonprofits are a vital part of Alberta’s civil society, and this should be reflected in consideration of their needs in the provincial response to COVID-19. Many organizations have been offered funding to maintain programming during these uncertain times. Still, increased funding to cover operating costs, as well as guidelines and recommendations more specific to the sector, are necessary for a successful relaunch of the nonprofit sector. Until the time when most nonprofits are ready to relaunch, dedicated technological support would greatly benefit those organizations that are struggling to maintain remote working, or who would like to explore creative ways to bring their services to a virtual platform.