The Cost of Doing Good: An Invoice for Impact

As members of the social sector, we see the real costs of doing good every day - the unpaid hours, the emotional labour, the stretched budgets. But the invoice for this work isn’t about money alone; it’s about acknowledging what it truly takes to keep nonprofits running and communities thriving.

Line Item: Emotional Labour – $ Priceless

Emotional labour is the unseen cost of caring. Every conversation that lingers after hours, every sleepless night spent worrying about funding or community safety or employee wellbeing or program delivery or organizational impact or reporting requirements is emotional labour. Emotional labour keeps the sector running, but it rarely makes it onto a balance sheet in real terms. 

We don’t burn out because we don’t care; we burn out because we care too much.

Line Item: Overtime – $0/hour

Volunteers, staff, and leaders pour thousands of unpaid hours into keeping nonprofit programs alive. “Free labour” sustains the sector. But what if those hours were counted - and valued - like they should be? How would that change the wellbeing of employees, the success of organizations, the impact in the community? 

No one expects corporate employees to work for free (although don’t get us started on unpaid internships), and in fact, you’d be laughed at if you asked your doctor, lawyer, or grocery store checkout employee to work unpaid. Did you know that, according to Imagine Canada, in the social sector, 55% of nonprofits have no paid staff at all! And for those that are paid, the average annual salary for those working in community nonprofits was $43,020 in 2021, compared to $62,581 in the economy overall. Ouch. 

Line Item: Innovation on a Shoestring – $50

Bootstrapping is in our bones when you work in nonprofits. New ideas, creative outreach, reimagined systems are all born from necessity, not luxury. The nonprofit world makes $50 feel like $5,000 through ingenuity and grit.

According to StatsCan, overall demand for non-profit organizations' services or products outpaces capacity to meet that demand. 74% of charities report higher demand for services than they can meet with their current resources. And that demand is growing!

Line Item: Advocacy – Billed, but rarely reimbursed

Fighting for systemic change often falls to those least resourced to do it. And the need for advocacy never stops. Whether it’s trauma-informed care, diversity initiatives, or policy reform, the hours spent advocating for others - or for systemic change in the sector - often come at personal or organizational cost.

Line Item: Public Perception – -$500

From the outside, the sector shines with stories of generosity and purpose. But behind the scenes are budgets stretched thin, staff wearing six hats, and leaders quietly exhausted. The myth that nonprofits should “do more with less” is one of the costliest misconceptions - and it’s one we keep paying for.

Visibility doesn’t always equal value. And paying for charity overhead isn’t a crime. 

Subtotal: The Price of Passion

The subtotal doesn’t just measure the costs - it reveals a painful imbalance. Doing good isn’t free, and yet society often treats it like it should be. It’s time we reconcile passion with fair pay, respect, and sustainable support.

Total Due:

Recognition. Funding. Respect.

Systemic ChangePayment is overdue.

To the amazing folks working in our sector: Thank you for your service to our community. Thank you for showing up, even when it’s hard (and it’s often hard) and even when the voices of recognition and appreciation are silent. We see you. We value you. Thank you. 

To the general public: This invoice isn’t a demand for payment - it’s a reminder to value what we too often take for granted. Please, support your local nonprofits. Sponsor a community event. Recognize the people behind the impact. Fight for fairness for the nonprofit sector - your community depends on it.