David LasbySenior Research Associate

May 1, 2008

The Role of Co-operatives in Ontario’s Social Economy

Information Sources

2003 National Survey of Nonprofits and Voluntary Organizations (Ontario data)

• Financial data adjusted for inflation

2007 survey of Ontario co-operatives conducted by Ontario Co-operative Association

Background - NSNVO

Conducted during Fall, 2003

Conducted by Statistics Canada, as a telephone survey

Surveyed approximately 13,000 organizations nationally• 2,250 from Ontario

Sample frame constructed from a number of sources:• Business Registry

• Provincial and Federal registrars

• Canada Revenue Agency filings

Background - Co-ops Survey

Conducted during summer 2007

Attempted contact with all known Ontario co-operatives• Approximately 600 responses

Conducted by ON Co-op using a variety of modes:• Online

• Telephone

• Paper

Sample frame based on ON Co-op’s list of co-operatives and supplemented by extensive searches

The Contributions of Cooperatives to the Social Economy in Ontario

Relatively small in number• Approximately 1,300 co-operatives in Ontario vs. 45,000 nonprofits or

about 3% of total number of organizations

Significant contribution to revenues• $4.6 billion vs. $51.8 for nonprofits or about 8% of total revenues for

social economy

Relatively small paid staff contribution• 15,000 vs. 959,000 for nonprofits or about 2% of social economy

employment

Relatively small volunteer contribution• Volunteer complement of 49,000 vs. 7.8 million for nonprofits

The Number of Organizations

Co-ops By Organization Type

Nonprofits and Co-ops by Organization Type

•Agricultural•Retail•Transportation

•Child care•Housing•Credit Unions•Community Dev’t

Relative Revenues of Nonprofits and Co-ops

Co-ops by Size of Annual Revenues

Nonprofits and Co-ops by Size of Annual Revenues

Contributions to Total Revenues*

* NPO figures exclude Hospitals, Universities & Colleges

+25%

Contributions to Total Revenues*

* Excludes Hospitals, Universities & Colleges

+132%

+169%

Relative Paid Staff Complements of Nonprofits and Co-ops

Nonprofits and Co-ops by Size of Paid Staff Complements

Contributions to Total Paid Staff Complement*

* Excludes Hospitals, Universities & Colleges

+6%

+42%

Contributions to Total Paid Staff Complement*

* NPO figures exclude Hospitals, Universities & Colleges

+4%+3%

Relative Volunteer Complements of Nonprofits and Co-ops

Nonprofits and Co-ops by Size of Volunteer Complements

Contributions to Volunteer Complement*

* Excludes Hospitals, Universities & Colleges

+47%

Contributions to Volunteer Complement*

* NPO figures exclude Hospitals, Universities & Colleges

Paid Staff Fraction*

* NPO figures exclude Hospitals, Universities & Colleges

Part-time Paid Staff Fraction*

* NPO figures exclude Hospitals, Universities & Colleges