New cohort of nonprofit organizations accredited by Imagine Canada’s Standards Program
25 accredited nonprofits earn the seal of excellence donors look for during giving season
Toronto, November 8, 2022 — Imagine Canada, the umbrella organization for the charitable and nonprofit sector, is proud to welcome the latest group of accredited nonprofits to its national Standards Program. By achieving accreditation, these organizations have proven their dedication to the highest level of accountability, governance, and transparency.
With giving season just around the corner, it is the perfect opportunity for these newly accredited organizations to display the Program’s seal of excellence, which signals to donors and the general public that the organization has met the rigorous criteria of the program, and takes good governance very seriously.
Congratulations to the newly accredited organizations for their remarkable commitment to excellence!
Abundance Canada
Ancaster Community Services
Delta Family Resource Centre
Downtown Mission of Windsor
Himalayan Life Canada
La Passerelle-I.D.É.
Let’s Talk Science
McGill University Health Centre Foundation
P.E.A.C.E
Regina Food Bank
The Spark of Hope Foundation
YMCA of Greater Saint John Endowment Fund Inc.
Along with the newly accredited nonprofits, 13 organizations are continuing to demonstrate excellence after successfully completing their re-accreditation, bringing the total number of organizations across the country to 273:
CMHA South Cariboo Branch
Canadian Sport Institute Pacific
Essex Region Conservation Foundation
Moorelands Community Services
Ottawa Humane Society
Pulmonary Hypertension Association of Canada
Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation
Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation
Société canadienne de la sclérose en plaques division du Québec
St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation of London
Visions of Independence
YMCA du Québec
YMCA of Southern Interior BC
“Accreditation requires a strong commitment by both the volunteer Board of Directors and the organization’s staff,” said Bruce MacDonald, President and CEO of Imagine Canada. “We applaud these charities and nonprofits for demonstrating high standards to strengthen their practices. The Standards Program celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, and we are thrilled to see organizations continually laying the foundation for organizational excellence in our sector.“
The holidays are a very busy time of year for many charities across the country, with more individuals turning to nonprofit organizations for support. This year will be especially challenging, with inflation already pushing demand upward. The Standards Program is a capacity-building and risk management certification process that seeks to provide organizations with a blueprint that will elevate their governance and practices. Accreditation enables them to more effectively deliver on their missions and have the greatest possible impact.
Organizations from coast to coast to coast, big and small, and devoted to a diverse range of worthy causes have demonstrated excellence by achieving accreditation. Recognition through Imagine Canada’s national Standards Program is a public demonstration of credibility and transparency. For the complete list of accredited organizations, please visit ImagineCanada.ca/standards.
We congratulate all organizations on their accreditation, and extend our thanks to the dedicated volunteer peer reviewers for their outstanding contribution to this important work.
About the Standards Program
Organizations participating in the Standards Program have access to a spectrum of resources at all stages of the process, such as self-assessment tools, volunteer peer advisors from accredited organizations, and online resources to strengthen practices. The peer reviewers’ assessment of policies and practices, as well as constructive feedback, contribute to elevate accountability, transparency, and sound governance practices in Canadian charities and nonprofits.
Created by the sector for the sector, the Standards Program is the only national accreditation program that is designed for all Canadian charities and nonprofits. To earn the accreditation, organizations must demonstrate excellence in five fundamental areas: board governance; financial accountability and transparency; fundraising; staff management; and volunteer involvement.
The Trustmark is a sought-after symbol of trust and excellence within the sector for funders, donors, sponsors, and supporters alike.
Acknowledgements
The Standards Program is made possible with the financial contributions from founding and presenting sponsor Canada Life; and generously supported by the Lawson Foundation.
ABOUT IMAGINE CANADA
Imagine Canada is a national, bilingual charitable organization whose cause is Canada’s charities. Through our advocacy efforts, research and social enterprises, we help strengthen charities, nonprofits and social entrepreneurs so they can better fulfill their missions. Our vision is of a strong Canada where charities work together alongside business and government to build resilient and vibrant communities.
To learn more, visit our website, follow us on Twitter, on LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook and Instagram.
For additional information please contact:
Noéline Le Jeune
Coordinator, Communications (Bilingual)
nlejeune@imaginecanada.ca