In communities across Canada, the United Way Centraide network is taking stock of the remarkable impact of the Community Services Recovery Fund (CSRF) — a $400-million investment by the Government of Canada to help community service organizations adapt, recover, and strengthen their services in the wake of COVID-19.

CSRF was created in direct response to United Way Centraide Canada’s  relentless advocacy efforts on behalf of Canada’s community service organizations, which faced unprecedented pressures during the pandemic as they worked hard to meet skyrocketing demand. In November 2022, we were named as a National Funder of the initiative, along with The Canadian Red Cross and Community Foundations of Canada.

Together, our three organizations designed an equitable and effective application process, which opened in January 2023. In total, an incredible 12,174 applications were received by all three partners for local funding needs, representing $896 million in requested funds.

As we mark the end of CSRF as of December 2024, we are proud to share an inside look at the impact of this investment on United Way Centraides and their partners right across Canada — an impact that will empower community service organizations to continue changing lives for years to come.

CSRF by the numbers

As a National Funder of CSRF, United Way Centraide Canada received 3,466 applications from organizations from coast to coast to coast. With 2.6 times more funding requested than was available, a total of 1,683 projects were funded in every province and territory of Canada with an average grant amount of $61,123.

The projects funded through United Way Centraide Canada focused primarily on program and service innovation and redesign, with a goal to help organizations build resilience and long-term strength so they can better serve their community in the years ahead.

The top three sectors represented by United Way Centraide funded projects included social services, arts and culture, and health, while the top three primary populations served by funded organizations included the general population, people living on low income, and children.

Nearly 100% of all funding recipients shared that CSRF enabled them to adopt new tools and approaches, modernize their operations, and become more resilient in the face of future challenges.

The transformative impact of CSRF in local communities

Behind the numbers are countless stories of how CSRF has empowered Canada’s community service organizations to create transformative change in the lives of people right across the country.

In Surrey, BC, CSRF helped Umoja Operation Compassion Society — formed in 2003 to help newcomer immigrants and refugees integrate into their new surroundings — modernize its facilities to better serve individuals, families, and children.

In Ottawa, ON, the Rideau Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre (RRCRC) used CSRF funds to adapt its innovative food security initiatives to be more nimble, accessible, and responsive to the diverse needs of those it serves.

In New Brunswick, the team at Autisme Péninsule acadienne — a non-profit supporting people with autism and professionals working in autism-related fields — redesigned the organization’s main website to enhance access to its wide range of supports and services. The team also created a new website catering specifically to people with autism in the workplace.

And in Montreal, QC, CSRF enabled Dans la rue — a leader in supporting young people experiencing homelessness — to invest in urgently needed prevention strategies to help youth access the supports and services they need before they can fall into homelessness.

Click here to read even more inspiring stories from across Canada.

The need remains great

Although CSRF has now come to an end, its impact will be felt for many years to come by the thousands of community service organizations funded across Canada through United Way Centraide Canada, CANADIAN Red Cross, and Community Foundations of Canada.

But despite the success of this historic initiative, the need to invest in the community services sector remains an urgent priority.

With just under half of all applications to CSRF granted funding, many community service organizations nationwide continue to struggle to rebuild, modernize their operations, and keep up with persistently high demand for their services. Many others will face new and complex challenges as the issues impacting Canadians change and evolve.

United Way Centraide Canada is deeply committed to standing firm as a strong and unwavering voice for the sector and those it serves. Together with our partners at the national and local levels and the entire United Way Centraide network, we will continue to advocate for innovative funding, policies, and approaches to create impact for people and communities in every part of Canada.

Read more about the Community Services Recovery Fund and how it made a difference in communities nationwide.