The total amount of tax-receipted donations to charities by Waterloo Region residents fell significantly in 2008 from our most generous point in 2006.  While the number of donors decreased by 1,430, total donations went down $21,000,000 according to a report released today by Statistics Canada.  This 13% drop in total donations is a significant challenge to the stability of charities in our community.  Nationally donations were down 4%, and provincially they were down 9%, so we took a bigger hit than most.  The high point for donations nationally was in 2007 ($8.65B); provincially it was 2006 ($4.1B).  The decline in 2007 for Ontario was probably due in large part by the decrease in manufacturing jobs that began before the recession.  Even after the impact of job losses in Waterloo Region, manufacturing jobs still led local employment sectors – over one-in-five jobs still being in manufacturing in 2008, so we continue to be vulnerable.

The trend will most probably be continued through 2009 with even lower donations for this year.  What does $21,000,000 mean to local charities?  Spread around equally, it would provide about $14,000 for every charity in the Region.