Building capacity and strengthening communities

Across Canada, charitable and non-profit organizations play an essential role in shaping vibrant, inclusive communities. In addition to contributing over $200 billion annually to the Canadian economy[1] and serving as Canada’s largest employer[2], the non-profit sector provides critical services and resources to people in need while helping drive change at every level of society.

However, the non-profit sector is under unprecedented strain. Organizations are facing significant challenges – from increased demand for services to financial instability to workforce pressures, including burnout, talent retention and declining volunteerism. Although these have long been challenges for the sector, the pandemic and the affordability crisis have made them worse.[3]

Non-profit organizations and their leaders need swift action with support and resources to help them thrive so they can continue to deliver the vital services our communities need and drive meaningful impact. That’s why RBC is launching a new approach to help strengthen the capacity of Canada’s non-profit sector.

Supporting leadership and digital capabilities

Through this initiative, RBC and RBC Foundation have committed more than $7 million in funding to 22 community investment partners across the country that are providing support to other non-profit organizations focused on two key areas:

• Leadership and Talent Resilience: helping non-profit leaders develop essential skills, strengthen their own and their teams’ well-being and resilience and access the resources and tools they need to thrive.
• Digital Skills Development: helping non-profits bridge the digital skills gap and improve operational efficiencies through access to tools, training and systems in areas such as AI adoption, data management and cybersecurity.

“We have been listening to our community investment partners to better understand the challenges they are facing in their operations,” says Andrea Barrack, SVP, Sustainability & Impact, RBC. “At RBC, we see it as part of our responsibility as a funder to invest in the overall health, longevity and sustainability of our community investment partners and the non-profit sector as a whole.”

Inaugural recipients

Below is the list of community investment partners that are working towards strengthening the non-profit sector in Canada:

*funding provided by RBC Foundation

More than funding: A collective effort

RBC’s approach will bring more than financial support. RBC aims to bring together funders, non-profit organizations and community leaders in common cause to foster greater collaboration across the sector – because real change happens when we work together.

RBC employees will also lend their time and expertise through skills-based volunteering and mentorship opportunities, helping non-profit leaders strengthen their digital confidence, data capabilities, leadership skills and capacities for community impact.

A shared vision

This program builds on RBC’s long-standing commitment to community investment and is a part of RBC’s broader Purpose Framework – Ideas for People and Planet – our plan for creating positive, measurable and lasting change in the communities we serve.

To learn more about RBC’s community investments, visit rbc.com/peopleandplanet.

[1] https://imaginecanada.ca/sites/default/files/factsheet_canada_2025.pdf

[2] https://imaginecanada.ca/sites/default/files/people-first-a-portrait-of-canada-s-nonprofit-workforce.pdf

[3] https://carleton.ca/cicp-pcpob/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2025/04/Briefing-Document-1-EN-1.pdf

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