At PRSN, we believe that strong relationships are the backbone of successful refugee sponsorships. That’s why we’re excited to release our latest research report: Building Better Relationships Between Private Refugee Sponsors and Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) Organizations.
This report offers new insights into how sponsors and SAHs experience their partnerships and how those partnerships can be improved.
Our findings are drawn from surveys of both sponsors and SAH representatives across Ontario. While many contributions reported positive and productive collaborations, the data also highlighted some common challenges, such as gaps in communication, inconsistent access to training, and uneven resource support. These challenges can make a tough job even tougher, especially for new sponsors navigating the process for the first time.
The good news? There’s real opportunity to do better—and sponsors and SAHs alike want to work together to improve the experience for everyone involved, especially the newcomers we’re all here to support.
The report identifies six key areas where improvements could have real impact:
- Clearer, more consistent communication
- Robust and accessible training programs
- Better access to tools and resources
- Financial literacy and fundraising support
- Emotional and psychological supports for both sponsors and refugees
- Stronger feedback and accountability mechanisms
None of this work falls to just one party. It’s about co-creation and building stronger partnerships based on shared goals and mutual respect.
This research builds on our previous report on relationships between sponsors and settlement agencies, and reinforces PRSN’s commitment to be a champion for private sponsors across Canada.
We invite you to read the full report and join the conversation. Together, we can build a more responsive, collaborative, and impactful sponsorship system.