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April 28, 2026 – VolunteerConnector today announces that it has been accredited under Imagine Canada Standards. With this achievement, we become part of a network of nonprofit and charitable organizations dedicated to continuous improvement, transparency, operational excellence and good governance.

The Imagine Canada Standards leverage the wisdom and expertise of the nonprofit sector in key areas such as board governance, financial accountability and transparency, fundraising, human resources, and volunteer involvement. They support organizations in strengthening their practices and advancing to the next level by building strong governance and operations - laying the foundation for lasting excellence, resilience, and impact.

“This reaccreditation comes at a pivotal moment as we reimagine our role both locally and nationally. Volunteer Calgary serves as a backbone organization for Calgary's nonprofit sector, and we also operate VolunteerConnector, our digital platform that serves 6,400+ organizations and 96,000+ volunteers with profiles, and has enabled 137,000+ volunteer-to-organization connections across 389 communities in Canada, in partnership with 45 regional partners. This dual mandate (local backbone and national digital infrastructure) makes us pioneers in civic infrastructure. Reaccreditation affirms that as we innovate and expand, we remain grounded in the governance, transparency, and accountability that make trust possible. We are building something new while honouring 70 years of history, and Imagine Canada's Standards gave us a framework to ensure we grow with integrity,” says Milton Ortega, Executive Director of Volunteer Connector.

"On the journey toward great governance, organizations pursue accreditation as a public testament to their commitment to the highest standards of transparency and accountability. We offer our sincere congratulations to the newly accredited and re-accredited organizations, key players in our Standards network of 285 organizations nationwide." said Bruce MacDonald, President and CEO of Imagine Canada. "By achieving accreditation, these organizations have solidified themselves as leaders in integrity, efficiency, and transparency in the nonprofit sector."

About the Standards

Since 2012,  Imagine Canada Standards serve as the only comprehensive guidelines created by the sector, for the sector, to address key areas of governance and operations: board governance, financial accountability and transparency, fundraising, human resources, and volunteer engagement. These Standards are designed to promote best practices and transparency within charities and nonprofits seeking to continuously improve. The goal is to foster resilience and bolster public confidence in both individual organizations and the sector overall. 

The accreditation process involves meeting 73 rigorous standards spanning financial management and accountability, fundraising, board governance, human resources, and volunteer engagement. The accreditation process is  adaptable for organizations of all sizes due to a three-tiered structure allowing nonprofits and charities to get accredited at any level based on their needs. Standards oversight is ensured by the Standards Council, an independent group of sector representatives responsible for maintaining and evolving the standards.

Peer-review Process and Compliance

Our policies and procedures in the five areas of compliance were evaluated by a group of independent reviewers from the sector and were found to be compliant with the Standards. Accredited organizations are required to complete full reaccreditation on a five-year basis. Compliance and continuous improvement during the accreditation period are supported through a reporting process that requires organizations to submit evidence demonstrating selected standards are being met.

"When funders, partners, and community members see the Imagine Canada Trustmark, they know their goodwill is in good hands. Volunteer Calgary plays a dual role that few organizations occupy: we serve as a backbone organization, strengthening Calgary's nonprofit sector through local initiatives, while also operating VolunteerConnector, our digital platform connecting volunteers and organizations across Canada. For an organization building civic infrastructure at this scale, trust is everything. Reaccreditation signals that we hold ourselves to the same high standards we encourage throughout the sector, and that we're positioned to serve our community for the next 70 years," says Milton Ortega, Executive Director of Volunteer Connector.

About Volunteer Connector and Volunteer Calgary

Volunteer Calgary is a backbone organization supporting the nonprofit and voluntary sector in Calgary through capacity building, volunteer engagement, and sector collaboration. For over 70 years, we have worked to strengthen community impact by connecting people, organizations, and opportunities to volunteer.

VolunteerConnector, powered by Volunteer Calgary in partnership with regional collaborators across Canada, is a national digital volunteer engagement platform. It supports more than 6,400 organizations and 96,000 volunteers, and has facilitated over 137,000 volunteer-to-organization connections across 389 communities. Together, our local and national work strengthens civic participation and builds resilient, connected communities across Canada.

For further information, contact: Mariam Raji, Communications and Marketing, Volunteer Calgary / VolunteerConnector, mariam@volunteerconnector.org