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Canada’s nonprofit sector employs over 2.4 million people, the majority of whom are women, to provide critical services and programs that support communities across the country. However, most organizations do not have a dedicated HR department or access to reliable HR data and resources to inform key decisions.
This knowledge gap has serious consequences—particularly as nonprofits adapt to a rapidly digitizing world. The following insights come from a comprehensive report — Canada’s Nonprofit Tech Workforce by the Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience — which analyzes the state of tech work in nonprofits. It highlights systemic challenges in hiring, retaining, and supporting digital talent — and outlines why HR leadership and people strategy are more important than ever.
Overview: The Nonprofit Tech Workforce
- Tech roles are underrepresented in nonprofits. Only 0.68% of nonprofit workers are in tech roles, compared to 4.9% in other industries.
- There is a significant wage gap for tech workers in nonprofits. The average income for a nonprofit tech worker is $61,200, compared to $87,300 outside the sector—a 30% difference.
- This gap grows larger for experienced workers: nonprofit tech wages level off after age 35, while salaries in other sectors continue to grow with experience.
Gender: Disparities in Representation and Pay
- Women are underrepresented in tech roles in nonprofits, despite making up 80% of the nonprofit workforce.
- Only 0.3% of women in nonprofits are tech workers, compared to 2.8% of men—making men nearly 10x more likely to work in nonprofit tech.
- Women in nonprofit tech roles earn only 86% of what men in the same roles make.
- The gender pay gap is smaller in nonprofits than in the private sector, but still significant.
Implication for HR:
The nonprofit sector must address internal gender gaps in digital roles and ensure equity in compensation and opportunity. Learn more about implementing fair, transparent, and inclusive hiring and compensation policies.
Education: Different Pathways, Same Inequities
- Tech workers in nonprofits are more likely to have college diplomas or high school education than those in other industries, who are more likely to hold bachelor’s or graduate degrees.
- However, the wage gap exists at every education level. Even those with bachelor’s degrees earn $30,000 less in nonprofits.
Implication for HR:
Nonprofits need strategies to invest in upskilling and support professional development for tech workers. See recommendations and resources for digital upskilling.
Equity: Gaps for Visible Minorities and Indigenous Peoples
- Visible minority tech workers in nonprofits earn on average $3,000 less than white tech workers. In other sectors, this gap is more than $14,000.
- Indigenous Peoples make up just 3% of tech workers in nonprofits and earn on average $7,000 less than non-Indigenous peers.
Implication for HR:
Although the nonprofit sector has made progress in representation, equity gaps in pay and opportunity remain. To address these gaps in pay and opportunity, organizations must prioritize equitable hiring, inclusive leadership, and safe workplaces. Learn more about decolonizing hiring practices.
Age & Retention: Flattened Wages for Experienced Workers
- Tech salaries in nonprofits peak for ages 45–54 but decline sharply after that age in other industries.
- In nonprofits, the salary decline after age 55 is only $3,000, compared to $17,000 outside the sector. While this suggests better wage stability in nonprofits, it also reflects limited growth opportunities.
Implication for HR:
Nonprofits may struggle to retain senior tech talent due to limited advancement. Learn more about strategies for equitable performance management.
Centering People in Digital Transformation
As Canada’s nonprofit sector continues to evolve in a digital world, the path forward must be rooted in people-first HR strategies. The insights from Canada’s Nonprofit Tech Workforce report reveal critical gaps—but also clear opportunities—for nonprofits to build stronger, more equitable, and future-ready teams.
Read the full Canada’s Nonprofit Tech Workforce report by the Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience.
To explore more topics on Digital Adoption for Nonprofits, click here.
