Corporate giving and volunteering have never been more important. Communities expect companies to step up on social issues, and nonprofits need partners that will invest in long-term, trust-based relationships.
That’s why Imagine Canada developed the PRISM Practices — a nonprofit-informed, Canadian-made framework built on insights from the Bridging Perspectives study and pilot-tested with 12 companies across finance, energy, and professional services. Together with a free Gap Analysis tool, PRISM provides corporate teams with practical guidance to make their giving and volunteering programs more effective, more equitable, and more trusted.
Why PRISM Practices?
Until now, there has been no shared Canadian framework to guide how companies approach nonprofit partnerships. This has left corporate teams under-supported — particularly when responsibility for giving and volunteering often sits with HR, marketing, or communications staff who may not have community investment expertise.
The PRISM Practices fill this gap by offering a flexible framework that helps companies:
- Align efforts with both community needs and business goals
- Build reciprocal partnerships that last beyond one-off campaigns
- Support reconciliation with Indigenous communities through respectful, ongoing engagement
- Measure and report on results in ways that are meaningful for both companies and nonprofits
"This has been very, very useful for us. And there's definitely things that we can do better, and things that we can do differently...So this process has helped us sharpen our own practices." - One of 12 companies that pilot-tested the PRISM Practices across multiple sectors including finance, energy, and professional services
Examples of PRISM Practices in action
The framework is made up of specific practices and indicators that organizations can use to reflect, plan, and improve. A few examples include:
- Community Investment Strategy (1.1.2): Use disaggregated data to uncover gaps in access to programs across different communities and adjust strategy to address inequities.
- Partnership and Collaboration (2.1.2): Review funding application processes to remove unintended barriers and reduce administrative burden for nonprofits.
- Employee Engagement (2.3.4): Offer supportive policies like Volunteer Time Off or skills-based volunteering opportunities that align with community partner capacity.
- Measurement and Reporting (3.1.3): Scale evaluation requirements to match partner capacity and co-develop culturally appropriate reporting processes with Indigenous organizations.
- Truth and Reconciliation (4.2.3): Ensure all partnerships with Indigenous communities respect the principle of free, prior, and informed consent.
The practices framework is not a prescriptive checklist — it’s a flexible resource designed to help companies make meaningful progress wherever they are starting from.
A flexible, practical tool
The PRISM Practices can be used in multiple ways:
- Self-assessment tool → Identify strengths, gaps, and priorities
- Strategic roadmap → Refresh strategy or guide new initiatives
- Conversation starter → Spark dialogue across HR, ESG, and leadership teams
Grounded in five core principles — community-centered, trust-based, business-integrated, reflective, and adaptable — PRISM helps companies move from ad hoc efforts to strategies that are credible and sustainable.
Gap Analysis Tool
To make it easier to get started, Imagine Canada created the Gap Analysis tool. In just 30–45 minutes, your company can:
- See how your giving and volunteering efforts compare to today’s best practices
- Identify priority areas for action
- Receive a simple, shareable report for leaders and nonprofit partners
This tool isn’t about compliance. It’s about growth, learning, and building confidence in your company’s approach.
We’ll be releasing the Gap Analysis Tool in the coming weeks – email prism@imaginecanada.ca to be notified.
Ready to get started?
- Download the PRISM Practices white paper to understand the full framework
- Stay tuned for the Gap Analysis Tool to see where your company stands
- Join the PRISM Network to connect with peers, access benchmarking, and get nonprofit feedback on your partnerships
