June 28, 2013. Imagine Canada announces that 24 organizations add their names to the list of successful Standards Program applicants.

May 28, 2013. Imagine Canada and the Muttart Foundation to Award $100,000 to Winners of Students (Verb) Charities Contest. Six Students (Verb) Charities finalists have been chosen. Who will win the top prize of $50,000?

May 9, 2013. New Charity Tax Tools video available: Working with the CNCA - Tough Issues. An overview of the Canada Not-For-Profit Corporations Act and the issues facing nonprofits.

March 22, 2013. Budget 2013: Summary of items affecting the charitable and nonprofit sector. Budget 2013 maintains the federal government’s target to balance the budget by 2015-16. In order to achieve this, Budget 2013 contains limited new spending, while reaffirming spending reductions that were announced in Budget 2012. The budget also contains further measures aimed at improving the integrity of the tax system, including measures to close tax loopholes, clarify tax rules, and improve tax fairness. Read more.

March 21, 2013. Issue Alert: Imagine Canada Reacts to Budget 2013. Minister Flaherty introduced Budget 2013 this afternoon, announcing a new First Time Donor’s Super Credit to encourage Canadians to support charities across the country. Finance officials estimate that it will generate up to $110 million annually in revenues for the charitable sector. Read more.

March 21, 2013. Media Release: Imagine Canada Reacts to Budget 2013

February 26, 2013. Imagine Canada announces the first-ever chief economist for the charitable and nonprofit sector.

February 12, 2013. Finance Committee report recommends the Stretch Tax Credit.

December 6, 2012. Imagine Canada launches Grant Connect. Canadian Charities now have an easier way to find new funding sources.

November 29, 2012. Look for our supplement, Trust in the Giving Season, in Maclean’s magazine now on newsstands (December 10 cover date).

November 29, 2012. Updated Guide to Giving available. Answers questions many donors have about giving to charity.

October 23, 2012. Imagine Canada releases sixth Sector Monitor report. Findings indicate sector may face greater challenges in the coming year.

September 25, 2012. Strengthening Organizations: Webinar Series for Charities and Nonprofits. 12 practical webinars starting October 17, 2012 to March 27, 2013. Imagine Canada’s Standards Program and Insurance and Liability Resource Centre for Nonprofits present this webinar series featuring top-of-mind topics to help your organization assess and minimize its risk in the key areas of governance, finance, fundraising, and human resources. If you’re thinking of having your organization go through the Standards Program accreditation process, these webinars are essential to help you get ready. Subscribe to the entire series and access each webinar for as little as $12.50 each. Individual webinars start at $25 based on the size of your organization’s budget. REGISTER TODAY!

August 29, 2012. Registration is now open for the October 30th Forum de Montréal 2012. The future…inspired by the past, we move forward together! The Montreal Forum is a day long francophone conference where members of the nonprofit sector and their partners can share and network. Register Now (en francais)!

June 4, 2012. Charities’ Engagement in Public Policy: Charities have a long and proud tradition of involvement in public policy which some have recently called into question. In response, a number of organizations have darkened their websites today to raise awareness. Working on the front lines, charities know the impact of policies on people and communities. They also give voice to those otherwise unheard. The country and world would be poorer without their unique perspectives. Read more.

May 28, 2012. Issue Alert: Charities' Engagement in Public Policy.

May 22, 2012. New Webinar: Telling Your Story: How to use CharityFocus. Monday June 4, 2010. Register now!

May 8, 2012. New Standards Program for Canada’s Charitable and Nonprofit Sector.

May 4, 2012. Issue Alert: Charities "Laundering" Funds: Letter to the Minister of the Environment.

April 19, 2012. As part of National Volunteer Week, check out our giving and volunteering infographics.

April 16, 2012. Generous Canadians: Latest Statistics on Giving and Volunteering.

April 2, 2012. Budget 2012: Summary of items affecting the charitable and nonprofit sector.

March 29, 2012. Imagine Canada Reacts to Budget 2012.

March 21, 2012. Imagine Canada has prepared a Research Note that includes a preliminary assessment of the 2010 CSGVP Tables Report data, additional analysis on overall trends from the 2004 and 2007 surveys, and provincial and territorial breakdowns. Read more.

February 28, 2012. Francophone Webinar Series: Spring 2012. This FREE series of francophone webinars focuses on topics that are relevant to all charitable and nonprofit organizations: Youth Volunteer Engagement, Risk Management 101, Changes to Accounting Standards for Nonprofit Organizations, and The REAL VALUE of your Image. Each topic is presented by specialists in their respective fields. Since these webinars are FREE space is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration deadline is March 23, 2012. Register or learn more.

February 2, 2012. Issue Alert. Charities' enagement in public policy. Imagine Canada is concerned about some of the negative comments that have been recently made about the role of charities with regard to advocacy, political activity and participation in the public policy process. Read more.

January 19, 2012. Submissions are now being accepted for Imagine Canada and The Muttart Foundation’s national contest: Students (Verb) Charities

January 11, 2012. Statement from Imagine Canada on Public Policy Engagement. Much has been said in the media in the last few days about the role of charities in the public policy process. You will find linked a letter to the editor that was written by Imagine Canada following the open letter by Minister Oliver around the Northern Gateway pipeline review. Imagine Canada has taken no position on the project. That is not our role. But we do know that the voice of charities is critical and that debate and discussion will always make for better decision making. Read more.

December 20, 2011. Imagine Canada releases Sector Monitor factsheet. Factsheet 1, Vol. 2, No. 2. Preliminary Assessment of Trends. The fifth and most recent edition of our Sector Monitor was conducted between November 3 and December 2, 2011.

December 13, 2011. New Research Bulletin: Trends in Individual Donations (1984 to 2010). Our latest Research Bulletin presents an overview of trends in charitable donations from 1984 to 2010, drawing on a number of data sources derived from Canadian personal income tax returns. This Bulletin builds on findings from previous Research Bulletins released through the 1990s and early 2000s and focuses on describing long-term trends in donations as well as the impact of the recent global economic downturn.

November 10, 2011. The National Summit for the Charitable and Nonprofit Sector is SOLD OUT! But, you can still participate online. Register today to be a part of this important  national conversation!

October 28, 2011. Imagine Canada reacts to Globe & Mail Article. As you may know, there was an article in today's Globe and Mail that may leave the impression that the charitable sector is not accountable for dollars received from the Federal Government and that results of funding are not adequately demonstrated. Imagine Canada is concerned by this message and has forwarded the attached letter to the Globe & Mail's editor. We are also working on an op-ed piece to discuss broader issues, that could not be addressed in a single letter, and have contacted Minister Diane Finley's office to arrange a meeting to discuss these matters.

September 6, 2011. Forum pour le partenariat. Imaginez ce que nous pouvons faire ensemble. Tuesday, October 25, 2011 - Montréal, Quebec. Join us for a one day francophone forum focusing on helpful tools for charities and nonprofits in the areas of sustainable funding, volunteerism in Quebec, business-community relationships, youth engagement, social entrepreneurship, partnership development and more. For more information and to register.

August 24, 2011. Canada’s Charity Leaders Cautiously Optimistic about the Future while Major Sector Challenges Remain. Imagine Canada released today its fourth report from the Sector Monitor survey program that was launched at the end of 2009. The program is designed to regularly monitor the state of charities across the country and their ability to deliver their missions. This release is significant as responses to this iteration of the survey indicate positive changes within Canada’s charitable environment as the sector continues its fragile recovery from the recent economic downturn.

July 19, 2011. Compensation in the Charitable and Nonprofit Sector: Our Statement. Recently, there has been increased media interest in the compensation of people employed in the charitable and nonprofit sector in Canada. At Imagine Canada, we strongly believe in, and champion the need for, transparency and accountability, as seen in our Standards Program, Ethical Code, and the soon to be launched CharityFocus, but we also believe that workers in the charitable and nonprofit sector should be appropriately compensated for their work.

July 5, 2011. Charity Ranking Systems: Our Statement. In the July issue of MoneySense magazine there was a feature entitled, The Charity 100: Make Your Donations Go Further, which seeks to rank Canadian charities. Imagine Canada does not agree that rating charities is helpful to Canadians especially in the absence of evaluating the impact of their work. We believe there is a need for transparency and disclosure in the charitable and nonprofit sector and encourage Canadians to carefully research organizations they wish to support. However, we advise Canadians not to rely solely on ranking systems which do not present a complete picture.

June 9, 2011. Caring Companies: Collaborating for Community supplement featured in Maclean’s magazine now on newsstands! To view and download PDFs of previous Imagine Canada supplements, visit the partnership section of our website.

June 2, 2011. National Summit for the Charitable and Nonprofit Sector. November 28 to 30, 2011. Delta Ottawa City Centre Hotel. Space is limited, so register today!

May 18, 2011. The Annual General and Special Meeting of the Members of Imagine Canada will be held on Tuesday June 21, 2011 for the purpose of electing directors and conducting other business. Read more.

April 4, 2011.  Canadian Business & Community Partnership Forum, Registration Open!

March 30, 2011. Election Kit for Charities and Nonprofits.

March 24, 2011. The 2011 SectorCast series begins March 30th.  Register your organization today!

March 22, 2011. Imagine Canada Reacts to Budget 2011.

March 21, 2011. Call for Board Nominations. Imagine Canada is inviting the nominations of candidates for its Board of Directors. 

February 21, 2011. National Summit for the Charitable and Nonprofit Sector. Strengthened connections. Enhanced collaboration. Collective impact. Sector influencers and opinion-leaders will come together from across the country and across the sector to be part of the National Summit for the Charitable and Nonprofit Sector at the Delta Hotel Ottawa City Centre on November 29 & 30, 2011. The National Summit is hosted by Imagine Canada with partners the Community Foundations of Canada and the United Way of Canada. The National Summit is a key component of the National Engagement Strategy which is about strengthening collective action on issues that matter to us all and that will help charities and nonprofits better serve Canadians and communities locally and around the world. For additional details and to RSVP your interest in attending, visit the National Summit section of our website.

February 8, 2011. Imagine Canada releases third Sector Monitor report. This edition of the Sector Monitor looks at conditions in late 2010.

December 14, 2010. A new report from the Business Contributions to Communities Initiative, Insights for Strategic Corporate Fundraising, looks at how different industry sectors give to charitable and nonprofit organizations. Read more about this report here.

December 9, 2010. Imagine Canada releases Guide to Giving. Answers questions many donors have about giving to charity.

November 15, 2010. November 15th is National Philanthropy Day! This special day recognizes the philanthropic contributions to our Canadian communities and abroad. Join us in celebrating the incredible philanthropic achievements by the many individuals and organizations that contribute to stronger communities. See the Association of Fundraising Professionals supplement in the Globe and Mail for more.

Our most recent Maclean’s supplement Time to Give: Ordinary Giving, Extraordinary Impact! focuses on the amazing work of charities and nonprofits and the individuals who support them.

September 30, 2010. We have recently discovered a major issue with our email server that has caused several backdated emails to be sent out today. These emails may have been ones you have already received or never initially received from us from several weeks or months ago. We regret any inconvenience this may have caused and would like to assure you that we are working towards a swift resolution of this situation. If you have any concerns, please call us at 1-800-263-1178, x221.

September 23, 2010. Statement from Imagine Canada: CBC News coverage on charity fundraising is misleading

September 9, 2010. Charity Tax Tools Fall Webinar series announced! This fall Imagine Canada will be hosting eight FREE Charity Tax Tools webinars, including two French events. Check them out!

September 1, 2010. Fall SectorCast series. Imagine Canada will be hosting seven new SectorCast webinars throughout the fall months and include two exclusively French webinars.

August 26, 2010.Imagine Canada releases second Sector Monitor report. Canadian charities continue to face considerable challenges despite slow recovery of the broader economy.

August 19, 2010. Imagine Canada has written to the leaders of all four parties in the House of Commons, outlining the serious consequences that the proposed Bill C-470 would have on charities across the country. The letter was co-signed by the leaders of charities across Canada.

August 6, 2010. Imagine Canada submitted its prebudget recommendations to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance. Our submission calls for the adoption of a Stretch Tax Credit for Charitable Giving to promote donations by individuals, equal access to federal business development programs for charities and non-profits, and an expanded mandate for the Tax Court of Canada.

July 20, 2010. Proposed changes to census data collection will create challenges for Canada’s charities and nonprofits. Letter to the Hon. Tony Clement sharing our disappointment and concerns: English or French.

June 24, 2010. Registration now open for Imagine Canada's Risk Management Conference held October 28, 2010 in Toronto.

June 1, 2010. All new 2010 SectorCast Series - View the schedule and register for the 2010 SectorCast Series.

May 5, 2010. Imagine Canada's Annual General Meeting will be held June 10, 2010 in Ottawa. Information on the meeting and Board elections and nominations is now available here.

April 28, 2010. Imagine Canada releases first Sector Monitor Report. Imagine Canada released today its first Sector Monitor report from a new survey program designed to monitor the state of charities across the country and their ability to deliver their missions.

March 4, 2010. Imagine Canada Responds to Budget 2010. Today’s federal budget provided greater flexibility for charities as they seek to meet the increasing and changing needs of Canadians in the wake of the recession and in the face of longer-term trends like the aging of Canadian society.

March 3, 2010. Standards Forum:  Launch of Ensuring Excellence – A Standards Initiative for Canadian Charities and Nonprofits.  If you are an executive leader of a charity or nonprofit organization in Canada please join Imagine Canada, Volunteer Canada, the HR Council, and your colleagues from across the country and across the sector in the establishment of a new Standards Program for Canada's charities and nonprofits.  Space is limited at the in-person and live webcast event.  Senior leaders in the sector are invited to register for this event as soon as possible.

February 1, 2010. Imagine Canada and Maclean’s magazine continue their partnership for the fourth consecutive year. In 2010 Imagine Canada and Maclean’s will once again produce three special supplements designed to engage Canadians in the work of the charitable sector and those who support it. Advertising rates are being extended at a minimum 30% discount to Imagine Canada’s supplement advertisers. For more information download the supplement information document that includes the 2010 schedule and ad rates.

January 26, 2010. Imagine Canada launches Charity Tax Tools website! New Tool for Canada’s Charities makes CRA Reporting less Taxing. Charity Tax Tools (http://charitytax.imaginecanada.ca) is a free comprehensive information website with easy-to-understand content developed by Imagine Canada that will provide Canadian charities with timely information and tools to ensure they have the resources to meet Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) requirements.

November 13, 2009. Read about Imagine Canada’s proposed Stretch Tax Credit for Charitable Giving in the Philanthropy in Action insert in today’s Globe and Mail. See our opinion editorial and advertisement made possible in part with the generous support of The Muttart Foundation. The purpose of the Stretch Tax Credit for Charitable Giving is to encourage more Canadians to give and to support those who do give to give more. Read more about the Stretch Tax Credit

September 25, 2009. The 2009 Thanks & Giving supplement featured in Maclean's magazine is now on newsstands (October 5 issue date). Building upon the success of the 2008 Thanks & Giving supplement, it continues to focus on our individual giving research and bring to life the data presented in the recently released 2007 Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating. The supplement showcases inspirational stories on individual donors and their favourite causes as well as profiles regular Canadians' unique giving practices and their motivations for doing so. It is aimed to encourage Canadians to pause and consider the importance of charities and nonprofits in their day-to-day lives. In partnership with CanadaHelps.org, the online giving portal, readers can donate to any of Canada's 84,000 plus charities.

September 21, 2009. Canada's charities and nonprofits provide critical services to communities across Canada: What if they are not adequately prepared for an H1N1 outbreak? Imagine Canada president and CEO, Marcel Lauzière, recently penned an opinion editorial about H1N1 and the charitable and nonprofit sector that appeared in Montreal’s La Presse, the Halifax Chronicle Herald, the Edmonton Journal, Winnipeg Free Press and Maclean's website. We really don’t know if there is going to be an H1N1 outbreak but it is essential to be prepared, especially for the many charities and nonprofits who are on the front-line delivering essential services to Canadians.

September 10, 2009. Perspectives on Fundraising: What Charities Report to the Canada Revenue Agency. A new report prepared by Imagine Canada was released by The Muttart Foundation on September 10th about the fundraising costs of Canadian charities. The report looks at data from charities’ 2007 public information returns (the T3010) and calculated various indicators related to fundraising, including examining revenues, costs, methods of fundraising used, usage of contract fundraisers, and fundraising cost ratios. This data is examined by province, organization type, revenue size, age of organization, employees, as well as by several other key demographics. Costs are compared from 2003 to 2007 to see if there were any significant shifts in patterns. The report provides some reassurance, but raises troubling questions about the accuracy of reported information.

August 27, 2009. H1N1: Are You Ready? Charities and nonprofit organizations provide support to Canadians in every community across the country and many provide essential services. It is important for us to be prepared for events that could hinder our ability to be there for Canadians in difficult times. The H1N1 (Human Swine Flu) pandemic is such an event. Although there are conflicting opinions about how serious the pandemic is likely to be, it makes sense for organizations to be prepared.

• Ready for Crisis: Health Emergencies and the Voluntary Sector
• Useful Checklists for Small- and Medium-sized Organizations
• Job Task Template - Making Sure Critical Tasks Keep Getting Done (PDF)
• Business Emergency Sample Plan
• H1N1 Information from Public Health Canada
• H1N1 information from U.S. Government
• Excellent article written for nonprofits during avian flu
• USA Employer and employee guidance from U.S. government
• Teleworking preparedness
• Pandémie de grippe aviaire : préparez-vous maintenant ! Centre patronal de santé et sécurité du travail du Québec
• Getting Started on Business Continuity Planning for an Influenza Pandemic from the City of Ottawa
• Non-Profit Sector Mitigation, Preparedness, Relief and Recovery Planning for Pandemics and Disasters by the Voluntary and Non-Profit Sector Organization of Manitoba Inc.

August 26, 2009. Connect with Imagine Canada. This website is just one of the many ways to stay connected online with Imagine Canada and the charitable and nonprofit community. We’re also on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, FriendFeed, YouTube and Delicious. We also host Nonprofit Newswire where you can read Canadian news and press releases from on-line media outlets, news services, and nonprofit organizations.

June 12, 2009. The Canada Revenue Agency recently released a revised and final version of its Guidance on Fundraising by Registered Charities. Many stakeholders were consulted in creating this policy, including Imagine Canada, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the Health Charities Coalition of Canada (HCCC). We share a strong desire to make the sector more accountable and applaud the CRA for their responsiveness to feedback from small and large stakeholders impacted by the policy. The revised policy reflects some of this input and we are pleased that the policy is an improvement on earlier drafts. Read more.

June 11, 2009. In Charity We Trust: A Year in Review featured in Maclean's on newsstands today! Read more.

June 8, 2009. Growth in Charitable Giving outpaced Volunteering prior to Economic Downturn. Latest Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating Data Released. Read more.

June 4, 2009. Latest Canadian Giving and Volunteering Data to be Released. New data from the largest Canadian study on giving and volunteering to be released on Monday June 8. Findings from the 2007 Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating (CSGVP) provide a portrait of activities that are integral to the Canadian social fabric and allow us to understand how and why Canadians contribute to their communities either through donations, volunteering or helping fellow Canadians. Read more.

May 25, 2009. Imagine Canada and the Ontario Nonprofit Network invite charities and nonprofits to comment on proposals put forth in the Financial Reporting by Not-For-Profit Organizations position paper. This document proposes a number of alternatives to the current accounting standard regime used by the nonprofit sector. The Accounting Standards Board is soliciting input on a number of matters that could have a significant impact on the way the sector does business. Charities and nonprofits have an opportunity to provide comment until June 30, 2009. Read more.

May 4, 2009. Imagine Canada’s Annual General Meeting will be held May 28, 2009 in Toronto. Information on the meeting, and on Board elections and nominations is now available. Read more.

April 7, 2009. Imagine Canada’s Ethical Code Program Exceeds Year One Targets! Member Charities Embrace Program to Solidify Donor Trust. Leaders and pioneers of the Ethical Code Program community movement gathered today to celebrate the first year of Imagine Canada’s re-launched Ethical Code Program as the first official report back to the community was released. Read more.

March 26, 2009. The Nonprofit Sector and the Economy. Imagine Canada’s Nonprofit Library Commons adds Economy Specific Newsfeed to the Nonprofit Newswire Service. In order keep you informed on current news, as it pertains to the nonprofit sector and the economy, we’ve created a Nonprofits and the Economy newsfeed to complement our regular Nonprofit Newswire service. Read more.

March 25, 2009. Call for Board Nominations. Imagine Canada is inviting the nomination of candidates for its Board of Directors.

March 10, 2009. Representatives of the National Nonprofit Sector Task Force on the Modernization of Federal Not-for-Profit Corporations Law appeared today before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology. Read the brief.

March 5, 2009. It’s Win-Win when Business Partners with Charities and Nonprofits! Imagine Canada Announces Winners of the 12th Annual Canadian Business & Community Partnership Awards 

January 30, 2009. Imagine Canada's 2009 Canadian Business & Community Partnership Forum & Awards. New Approaches for New Economic Times. Two days of breakthrough thinking, networking and dialogue on the future of business and community partnerships. Elevate your programs to a new level of excellence! Download the Forum Program Brochure (pdf) or visit the event registration section of our store for further program details. See you in Vancouver March 4 & 5, 2009. Register Today!

January 27, 2009. Impact of Federal Budget on Canada’s Charities & Nonprofits: Canada’s Charities and Nonprofits are extremely disappointed that the Budget fails to acknowledge the role they play in helping vulnerable Canadians. more...(PDF)

January 16, 2009. The 2009 Federal Budget and Canada’s Charities & Nonprofits. Short-Term Stimulus Measures for Assisting Canadians and Communities during the Economic Downturn. Imagine Canada submitted a Brief to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance on Short-Term Stimulus Measures for Assisting Canadians and Communities during the Economic Downturn. The Brief is an outcome of consultations with a Task Force struck by Imagine Canada to provide further detail to the measures called for in an Open Letter to Stephen Harper published in newspapers on November 21, 2008. more...(PDF)

January 15, 2009. Imagine Canada’s Caring Company members — a broad representation of Canadian companies that formally commit to donating 1% of their earnings to community causes and organizations — added their voice to a call for stimulative measures to assist Canada’s vulnerable populations and the organizations that support them in a full-page statement published in the Globe & Mail on January 15, 2009.