Independent advisory helping Canadian charities and non-profits prepare for Imagine Canada Standards accreditation. We know the 73 standards. We build the governance infrastructure to meet them.
Imagine Canada's Standards accreditation is the only national, bilingual program designed for all Canadian charities and non-profits. Organizations are evaluated by independent volunteer peer reviewers against 73 standards across five domains.
Achieving the Trustmark signals to donors, funders, regulators, and staff that the organization is transparent, accountable, and well-governed. It is increasingly recognized by funders as a condition (or a competitive advantage) in grant processes.
The process typically takes 12 months of focused internal work. Most organizations find the policy and governance gaps it surfaces are more significant than they expected.
73 standards total. Our advisory covers all five domains with governance expertise leading on Domain A.
Three developments in 2024 and 2025 have materially increased the value of the Trustmark. Organizations that move now are ahead of a wave.
As of October 2025, Intact Public Entities includes Imagine Canada accreditation in its underwriting evaluation of charitable clients. Accreditation can strengthen an organization's governance profile during underwriting conversations and provide clearer evidence of board oversight, risk management, and operational discipline.
In 2025, Canada Life launched a funded program supporting organizations through accreditation. 51 organizations selected in the inaugural cohort. Funded pathways are becoming available nationally.
When donations are down and demand is rising, funders are increasingly differentiating between organizations. The Trustmark is becoming a shorthand for credibility in competitive grant environments.
Organizations accredited before 2020 are entering reaccreditation cycles. The process requires another full year of rigorous review. Many need support the second time as much as the first.
Community foundations like Niagara are partnering with Imagine Canada to fund regional cohorts. London and southwestern Ontario organizations that pursue accreditation now are well-positioned as these programs expand.
Most organizations discover more gaps than anticipated. The accreditation process is a governance diagnostic as much as a certification. Organizations that prepare with an advisor navigate it faster and with fewer surprises.
Every organization is at a different stage. We meet you where you are: whether you are just exploring, actively preparing, or finalizing your application.
Understand exactly where you stand before committing to the full process.
End-to-end advisory from gap assessment through application-ready policies and records.
For organizations that have done the internal work and need help pulling the application together.
Our advisory covers all five domains. Governance (Domain A) is where our expertise runs deepest. It is also where most organizations have the most gaps.
A clear, sequenced process. Most organizations reach application-ready in 6–12 months with dedicated internal support.
30-minute conversation about your organization, your timeline, and where you think the gaps are. No obligation.
We walk all 73 standards with your team. Produce a written report with prioritized findings and a sequenced build plan.
Build the policies, update the records, shore up the processes. Board and staff engaged throughout. Progress tracked against every standard.
Compile and submit through Imagine Canada's platform. We support you through peer review questions and any follow-up requests.
Accreditation readiness advisory is right for organizations at a specific inflection point, not for everyone, and we will say so honestly on the first call.
You have decided to pursue the Trustmark and need an experienced partner to navigate the 73 standards efficiently, without a year of false starts and rewrites.
Your five-year cycle is approaching. The organization has changed, leadership may have turned over, and policies need a full review before resubmission.
A major funder has started asking governance questions. A new board chair wants accreditation on the agenda. The window of internal will is open and you want to move.
The organization does excellent work but the governance and policy infrastructure has not kept pace. Accreditation is the forcing function to build what should have been built years ago.
If any of these sound like your board, the readiness conversation is worth having.
A 30-minute conversation. Tell us where your organization is, what you already know about your gaps, and what your timeline looks like. We will tell you honestly whether and how we can help.
Governance 360 is an independent advisory practice. The Imagine Canada Standards accreditation program is administered directly by Imagine Canada. Organizations register, submit applications, and receive the Trustmark through Imagine Canada's platform.