What Imagine Canada Accreditation Means for Your Donations

At Make-A-Wish Canada, we take our responsibility to manage the generous contributions of our supporters seriously. That’s why we’re proud that in 2025, we’ve earned a five-year accreditation under Imagine Canada’s National Standards Program—a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to excellence, transparency, and accountability.  

This third-party accreditation is awarded to nonprofits that meet Canada’s highest standards for financial accountability, fundraising, and governance. By achieving this accreditation, we are not only reaffirming our dedication to these important principles, but also ensuring that your donations are being used as effectively and responsibly as possible.  

What Does This Accreditation Mean for You?  

You might be wondering, what does Imagine Canada’s National Standards Program accreditation really mean, and how does it benefit you, our supporters? Here’s how:   

Your Donation is Used Effectively  

When you support Make-A-Wish Canada, you can trust that your contribution is making a real difference. Our Imagine Canada accreditation assures you that your donation directly helps fund the granting of life-changing wishes for children facing critical illnesses across Canada. You can be confident that your support is being put to work in the most impactful way possible, enabling us to bring hope and joy to children and families during their most difficult journeys.  

You Can Trust Our Transparency

We know that trust matters. That’s why we’re committed to being transparent about how we use your donations. The Imagine Canada National Standards Program requires us to meet high standards for financial transparency. This means we provide easy access to our independently audited financial information, so you can see for yourself how donations are being used to fulfill wishes. We take pride in sharing this information publicly, and it helps reinforce our commitment to managing your generous contributions responsibly.  

You’re Making a Difference  

Imagine Canada’s accreditation doesn’t just recognize our financial practices—it also highlights the impact of your support. With the assurance that we are operating with the highest standards of accountability, you can remain confident that your contributions are helping to create real, measurable outcomes. From fulfilling transformative wish experiences to expanding our reach across Canada, your support is helping us bring more joy, hope, and healing to children in need.  

This accreditation means that Make-A-Wish Canada is part of an exclusive group of organizations that have passed through a rigorous, third-party assessment process. Out of 170,000 nonprofits in Canada, only 331 have earned this accreditation. We’re proud to be among these outstanding organizations, setting a high standard for trust and accountability in the nonprofit sector.  

What Are the Standards for Accreditation?  

The Imagine Canada National Standards Program is the most widely recognized set of nonprofit standards in Canada. To earn accreditation, we had to meet 73 rigorous standards covering all aspects of nonprofit operations. These include areas such as: 

• Financial management: How we track, allocate, and report on donations.  

• Fundraising practices: How we raise money to fund our programs, including the ethics and transparency of our campaigns.  

• Governance: The structures and processes we use to make decisions and ensure accountability to our supporters.  

• Staff and volunteer management: How we support and train the dedicated people who make our work possible.  

This accreditation process involved a thorough, peer-reviewed assessment by independent experts who evaluated our practices in these areas to ensure that we are meeting the highest standards.  

Why Does This Matter?  

We know that our donors want to be confident that their contributions are having the greatest possible impact. We want you to feel good about where your money is going. This accreditation gives you the peace of mind that we are not only good stewards of your donations but also that we are held to the highest standards of excellence, transparency, and accountability.  

Looking Ahead  

We’re incredibly grateful to Imagine Canada for this recognition and to our supporters who make our work possible. As we continue to grant life-changing wishes to children facing critical illnesses, this accreditation strengthens our commitment to ensuring that your contributions are always put to their best use. Together, we can continue to bring hope and joy to children across Canada.