Skip to main content

Standards oversight

white light house
Standards Program Oversight
IMAGINE CANADA BOARD

Imagine Canada’s volunteer Board is legally responsible for the Standards Program. The board approves Program policies and procedures; approves participation fees; approves Program budget; establishes the Standards Council and its terms of reference.

Imagine Canada’s Board is elected by the membership of Imagine Canada (which consists of charities and public-benefit nonprofits).

STANDARDS COUNCIL

The volunteer Standards Council is responsible for overseeing the Standards Program. This includes recommending Program policies and procedures to the Imagine Canada Board; approving revisions to the Standards; appointing members to peer review panels; reviewing and rendering decisions on complaints about the Program and its participants; and, provide guidance on current and emerging issues relating to the Program.

The current members of the Standards Council are:

 

Roger Ali    
Niagara Health Foundation (former)
Ontario

Stephanie Chung
Pennylegion Chung LLP
Ontario

Karen Cooper    
Drache Aptowitzer LLP
Ontario

Charlie Fluit
World Vision Canada (former)
Ontario

Renée Hébert
Community Housing Transformation Centre
New Brunswick

Maria Howard
Family Services of Greater Vancouver
British Columbia

Refat Jiwani, Chair
Aga Khan Museum (former)
Ontario

Michelle McCann
Health Association Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia

Leon Mills
Canadian Hard of Hearing Association Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador

Luce Moreau
AFP section Québec (former)    
Québec

Yves Savoie, Past Chair    
Heart and Stroke Foundation (former)    
Ontario

Shelagh Turner        
Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna    
British Columbia

Complaints

Organizations that have been accredited through the Imagine Canada Standards Program are required to comply with all Standards in order to maintain their accreditation. If you feel that an accredited organization is not operating in compliance with the Standards, you can register a complaint. Read the Complaints Policy for more information on how to submit a complaint and what happens once a complaint has been registered.

Charity Accreditation
Strengthen your organization and showcase excellence through our accreditation program.
The Imagine Canada Trustmark for Accredited Organizations

LEARN MORE

WHY JOIN THE STANDARDS PROGRAM

alt
Invest in credibility and donor confidence with our Standards Program accreditation trustmark.
Demonstrate excellence

Demonstrate excellence and leadership in five key areas of operation:
  • Board governance
  • Financial accountability and transparency
  • Fundraising
  • Staff management
  • Volunteer involvement
Learn how to identify and mitigate
Learn how to identify and mitigate organizational risk, improve governance practices, promote financial transparency and accountability, and foster a strong workforce.
Join a community
Join a community of Standards Program members and coaches who can guide you through the accreditation process.
Join over 200 charities and nonprofits who have invested in accreditation.

We invest in trust. The young people we serve expect us to be credible and reliable and our commitment to our donors is vital to ensure we can support all youth, 24/7/365. Kids Help Phone believes strongly in the value of the Imagine Canada’s Standard Program as it demonstrates our commitment to operate at the highest level of transparency and accountability.

– Katherine Hay, President & CEO, Kids Help Phone

It's been a great process for us and I can only encourage people to think about it for their own organization.

– Ted Garrard, President & CEO, SickKids Foundation

Donations may begin as dollars, but they grow into life-saving support for children all around the world. Having the Imagine Canada Standards Trustmark allows our board, volunteers, staff and donors to feel confident that we will have the greatest impact possible.

– Dave Spedding, Chief Operations Officer, UNICEF Canada

HOW IT WORKS

Become accredited by following these four steps:

1

Join the Standards Community

Access the online application, resources, and your community of peers. Pay a low monthly fee until your application is submitted to peer review.

2

Prepare for accreditation

Work on the areas your organization needs to fine-tune, and access coaches from accredited organizations for guidance as you prepare your application.

3

Submit your application

Your application is screened by Program staff to ensure it is complete.

4

Your application is peer reviewed

A team of volunteer peer reviewers assess your submission. Your application fee is due at this point.

Once your organization has successfully met the accreditation criteria, you will be awarded use of the Standards Program Trustmark.
Standards logo
Already started your application? Login to access your Standards Program application form.
Standards gap analysis tool
Featured Resource

Standards Gap Analysis Tool

This gap analysis tool is intended to help organizations identify the gaps in their governance processes, and get a big picture sense of their progress toward organizational excellence.

FEES

Size of Organization
Size of Organization
  • Less than $500,000
  • $500,000 - 2 million
  • $2 - 5 million
  • $5 - 10 million
  • $10 - 25 million
  • More than $25 million
  • $53
    Monthly Participation Fee
    Payable during preparation phase only (to access Program supports and the online application).
    $500
    Application Fee
    Payable when your application is submitted for peer review.
    $500
    Annual License Fees
    Payable upon accreditation and annually thereafter.
  • $79
    Monthly Participation Fee
    Payable during preparation phase only (to access Program supports and the online application).
    $1,000
    Application Fee
    Payable when your application is submitted for peer review.
    $1,000
    Annual License Fees
    Payable upon accreditation and annually thereafter.
  • $105
    Monthly Participation Fee
    Payable during preparation phase only (to access Program supports and the online application).
    $1,500
    Application Fee
    Payable when your application is submitted for peer review.
    $1,500
    Annual License Fees
    Payable upon accreditation and annually thereafter.
  • $131
    Monthly Participation Fee
    Payable during preparation phase only (to access Program supports and the online application).
    $3,000
    Application Fee
    Payable when your application is submitted for peer review.
    $3,000
    Annual License Fees
    Payable upon accreditation and annually thereafter.
  • $158
    Monthly Participation Fee
    Payable during preparation phase only (to access Program supports and the online application).
    $4,500
    Application Fee
    Payable when your application is submitted for peer review.
    $4,500
    Annual License Fees
    Payable upon accreditation and annually thereafter.
  • $184
    Monthly Participation Fee
    Payable during preparation phase only (to access Program supports and the online application).
    $6,000
    Application Fee
    Payable when your application is submitted for peer review.
    $6,000
    Annual License Fees
    Payable upon accreditation and annually thereafter.

OVERSIGHT

Learn about the governing bodies and policies that ensure accountability and oversight for the Standards Program

Still have questions about the Standards Program? We’d love to help!

CONTACT US
Language

Subscribe to the Standards Newsletter

Get helpful tips, key resources, announcements, and Standards Program information delivered to your inbox regularly.

STANDARDS PROGRAM SPONSOR

Standards banner