In 2014, the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation became the first healthcare organization in Quebec to earn the Imagine Canada trustmark, a prominent symbol of excellence and leadership in the charitable sector. This accomplishment and our ongoing partnership with Imagine Canada continue to fill us with pride. Join us as we take a closer look at the confidence and credibility associated with this program, whose mission is to ensure donations are used effectively and responsibly.
The CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation’s Imagine Canada accreditation was renewed in December 2020 — excellent news, and rightfully deserved.
To achieve and maintain this accreditation, charities and non-profits must demonstrate their continued commitment to improving their governance practices and complying with strict rules of ethics in their fundraising efforts.
Imagine Canada accreditation speaks to the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation’s pledge to making sure patients and families get the absolute most out of the donations we receive. It is a recognized standard of excellence that underscores the Foundation’s sound management practices and financial stewardship.
“The communities we serve and the donors who entrust their gifts to us expect us to be honest, reliable, transparent and the best we can be,” said Maud Cohen, President and CEO of the Foundation. “That is why we adhere to this nationally recognized standards program.”
The Foundation’s policies and procedures in five key areas — board governance, financial accountability and transparency, ethical fundraising, employee management and volunteer involvement — have all undergone a comprehensive volunteer peer review. The resulting accreditation indicates that the Foundation complies with each of the 73 standards set out on the program.
The initial accreditation is the most demanding step in the process, but a rigorous reassessment is required every five years. There are also yearly checks in place to confirm the Foundation continues to fulfill specific criteria.
The Imagine Canada program inspires us to improve our practices on an ongoing basis. It is a major undertaking, but an essential one considering how much time our donors invest in ensuring their gifts go where they will be put to the best use.
To learn more about the Standards Program, please visit the Imagine Canada website.
