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Strong Charities. Strong Communities.

CONTENTS

Leadership Letter

Strategic Plan

Accreditation

Research and Data

Communications

Public Policy

Operations

Financial Summary

Our People

Our Supporters

Imagine Canada: Getting into Step

This was the year Imagine Canada started to dance.

2016 Annual Report

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Elevate our excellenceAmplify our voice

Ensure our relevanceInfluence our environment

If last year was one of focus and sorting our priorities, 2016 was the yearwhen the strategic planning and collaborative choreography of the previousyears were aligned and Imagine Canada fell into step.

Letter from the leadership: living the strategy

In 2015, Imagine Canada established a long-term Strategic Planning Framework based onthe needs identified by the charitable sector. We identified four key areas in which ouraction can make a much-needed difference for our sector at a systems level. In 2016, westarted rolling out the plans and delivering on the promises made in that Framework.

Under our new Framework, Imagine Canada is building on our history of success to moveto the next step. We have aligned our financial and employee structures to fit ourmission. We are clearly defining our plans and are refining the programs that will improvethe working environment for organizations across the country. We’re listening.

In this report, you’ll learn about the steps we’ve taken in our first year of translating ourStrategic Framework into a detailed plan. We’ll share the outcomes we’re seeking toachieve, and the progress we’ve made toward those outcomes in 2016.You’ll learn about:

The networks and new voices we’re bringing together How we’re optimizing the quality of our work The important data and insights we’ve uncovered

Achieving systems-level change is a long-term process. The work we defined andimplemented in 2016, along with our early milestones and results have started toposition Imagine Canada to meet our ambitious goals.

~ Bruce MacDonald, President & CEO and Owen Charters, Chair,Board of Directors

In 2015, we developed a 7-10 year Strategic Framework witha view to creating a system for Imagine Canada and sectorleaders, in which:

We will be able to measure and effectively communicate the value and impact ofthe programs we offer.We will broaden the spectrum of opportunities available to charities andnonprofits to create financially sustainable business models.We will understand and adapt to the powerful forces shaping Canadian society.

To accomplish this vision, we articulated four key mission areas:

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We understand that this work requires discipline and complete alignment with ourmission in terms of our resources, our people and our processes, and we’re doing thebehind-the-scenes work necessary to optimize our operations.

The game-changing outcome we’re seeking:

A Canada where charities and nonprofits are operating at thehighest level of governance and deliver thehighest quality programs.

What we’re putting in place to get there:

A stronger and expanded accreditation program for charities.

Standards Program

In 2016, we invested in research and planning to strengthen and build awareness of ouraccreditation program for charities, the Standards Program. We have made internalchanges that will allow us to scale and are moving into a phase of rapid growth.

As the Standards Program reached its fifth year, we concluded the program’slaunch phase, with over 200 organizations now accredited.The first group of participating organizations to be accredited (in 2012) will startthe re-accreditation process in 2017.In 2016, we welcomed Habitat for Humanity into our program for accreditationof federated groups (piloted in 2015); part of our strategy to increaseparticipation in the program.

Number of accredited organizations; 2012 - 2016

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Response to our Imagine Canada Standards Accreditation by ourstakeholders (donors, hospital executives, community leaders) hasbeen incredibly positive. This has provided credibility to ourorganization and has improved our alignment with our hospital.

MELANIE ADAMS – President and CEO, QueenswayCarleton Hospital Foundation

Public opinion research

Our 2016 public opinion survey revealed a gap between the level of transparency thatCanadians want and what they are currently seeing from Canada’s charities. However,72% of survey respondents said they were more likely to trust and have confidence incharities that have achieved third-party accreditation.

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The game-changing outcome we’re seeking:

A sector-wide operating culture that sees organizations use moredata, information, research and knowledge to make wise decisions.

What we’re putting in place to get there:

Primary research to uncover information and data that all charitiesneed, and which allow us to proactively understand the future ofthe sector as a whole.

Charities, Sustainable Funding and Smart Growth:

This 2016 paper by our Chief Economist looked at trends in the charitable and nonprofitsector, Canada’s looming social deficit and how, projecting to 2026, these will manifestover time in unmet needs, longer waiting lists, reduced social services and the generalerosion of quality of life in Canada. Download

Political Activities of Charities:

In 2016, we conducted a Sector Monitor survey to understand the political activities ofcharities. The survey revealed that most charities are involved in some form of publicpolicy activity (67%), including 31% involved in political activities: substantially morethan commonly believed. The data obtained through this survey, while of interest to allsector organizations, has already informed our own public policy and program work (seeInfluence our environment below). Download

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Rapidly increasing demands and slower economic growth willstress Canada’s ability to sustainably finance the sector’s efforts…both the nonprofit sector and governments [must] broaden policyhorizons, think more in the long term, embrace a wider range offinancial and other options.

BRIAN EMMETT – Chief Economist for Canada’s Charitableand Nonprofit Sector

Youth Employment Research:

We conducted qualitative interview-based research to shed light on the experiences ofyoung people seeking work in the sector, and the sector’s ability to attract and retainyoung workers. This work included recommendations for organizations seeking to recruitand retain young people.* Download

Personal Philanthropy Project:

We conducted quantitative and qualitative research to understand how to increasecharitable giving among affluent Canadians.* Download

*Published in 2017

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The game-changing outcome we’re seeking:

Canadian citizens have an improved perception of social impactorganizations and organizations have the ability to speak with aunified, amplified voice to key audiences.

What we’re putting in place to get there:

A movement to shift the mindset of Canadians from overhead andrankings to impact and effectiveness.

Public Facing Initiative:

In 2016, we began laying the groundwork for a movement to change deep-rooted beliefsand perceptions about charities and nonprofits. We call this movement our Public FacingInitiative and while we acknowledge it will take time, the work has begun and alreadyguides our key communications activities.

Building our communications network:

To amplify our voice, we need to broaden our reach and provide high quality content. Tothis end, we successfully implemented a guest blogging strategy in 2016 that hasexpanded our network of contributors and increased the number of organizations we canreach through this publication.

Cumulative blog views; 2016 vs. 2015

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Imagine Canada is in a unique position to offer leadership inreframing this discussion because our stakeholders are charitiesthemselves, and our mission is to support and strengthen them.

MARNIE GRONA – Director, Marketing & Communications

Holiday Giving Campaign:

With a message of professionalizing the sector, our holiday giving PRcampaign focusedon our public opinion survey findings (see Elevate our Excellence, above) regarding howaccreditation affects Canadians’ perceptions of charities and their giving decisions.

The campaign resulted in 140+ media hits in local and national outlets for an estimated30.7 million media impressions.

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The game-changing outcome we’re seeking:

A “social impact lens” is applied when public policy is being created.

What we’re putting in place to get there:

A major shift in how we carry out our proactive public policyactivities with greater opportunity for charities and nonprofitsto participate collectively.

Political Activity Working Group:

To mobilize the collective strength of the sector in public policy, in 2016 we piloted aworking group model for policy development. Thirty-seven organizations responded toour call for participants in our first working group on the issue of political activity.Following this pilot, we struck a second group, which is looking at youth employmentin the sector.

Day on the Hill:

In October of 2016, we held our second Day on the Hill to advocate for a better operatingenvironment for charities and to show Parliamentarians the role the sector plays incommunities across Canada. With the participation of 40 charity leaders, we held 48meetings with MPs, Senators, political staff and senior officials to talk about legal andregulatory reform, organizations’ data needs and grant and contribution reform.

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CEGN is appreciative for the strong role that Imagine Canada playedin the recent political activities consultation, both in terms of thedevelopment of its own excellent brief for the panel and for its rolein galvanizing other organizations to make their own submissions.

PEGI DOVER – Canadian Environmental Grantmakers’ Network

The game-changing outcome we’re seeking:

Imagine Canada is an effective sector organization, with thecapacity and resources to aggressively pursue its mission.

What we’re putting in place to get there:

Re-aligned Imagine Canada finances, with a focus on long-term sustainability.

Imagine Canada social enterprises:

Recognizing their importance to a sustainable, diversified, profitable portfolio of revenuestreams, we continue to invest in the development of our three social enterprises: theStandards Program (see Elevating our Excellence above), Caring Companies and GrantConnect. Grant Connect, our philanthropic research database, marked its 50thanniversary in 2016, which we celebrated with in-person Sector Social events inVancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal.

Percent of Imagine Canada’s revenue generated by social enterprise; 2014-2016

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Retiring programs:

Because we are committed to doing only those activities that are in alignment with ourstrategy, in 2016 we retired three programs: Charity Focus, Quick Prep andthe Ethical Code.

The information below for the year end December 31 is derived from the financialstatements for 2016, which were audited by Collins Barrow Toronto LLP. Our completeaudited financial statements and T3010 Registered Charity Information Return, as filedwith the Canada Revenue Agency, are available at our Annual Reports section.

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Karen AlebonCathy BarrJennifer BarrettMichele BenoitLynn ChambersEmily CordeauxMarieke Dufresne *Stephen Faul *Brittany FritschAlex GardnerAnn Gratton *Marnie GronaBill HarperDevon HurvidErica IpBernadette Johnson

David LasbyJulie LebelBruce MacdonaldHaley MacDonaldRohit Mehta *Joan MitchellNicole MitchellNisha OliverOlena PanfyorovMargot PorterMary Ann Quinit-Ngoy *Amy Rector *Natalie RekaiBill SchaperCornelia SchreckerGalina Shapiro

Jan Belanger *Owen ChartersMarlene DeboisbriandDerek GentKatherine HayDarlene JamiesonRefat JiwaniPascal LépineMargaret Mason

Kevin McCort *Allan NorthcottMike PedersenPeter RobinsonLee RoseMartha Tory *Lynne ToupinStéphane Vaillancourt *Willy Van Klooster *

The Rhythm of Our OrganizationWe are only able to carry out our mission through the talent of theindividuals we attract.

The hard work of our staff, board and volunteer have enabled us to achieve somethingremarkable. At the heart of all our actions within the sector is the desire to make sure weare a place people want to be, so we’re creating that culture. Each person owns part ofthe strategy: our people are central to our success.

Staff

Board of Directors

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Beth BilsonWanda Brascoupe PetersPeter BroderMalcolm BurrowsOwen ChartersDebbie DouglasLois FineGordon FloydJuniper GlassBarbara GranthamJohn GregoryJason KellyTricia KhanMyna KotaDenis Lalonde *David LePageSusan Lewis *

Susan ManwaringJanice Margolis *Teresa Marques *Clare NorthcottBrad Offman *Denise OuelletteSusan PhillipsPatti PonVinod Rajasekaran *Bobby SahniJulia SánchezDick VolletJillian WittSharon WoodTara WormeLeslie Wright

BMO

Carters Professional CorporationEY

Great-West Life, London Life andCanada Life *Hydro One Inc.Investors Group *KCI (Ketchum Canada Inc.)

KPMG

Miller Thomson LLP

Spire PhilanthropySun Life Financial (Sun LifeAssurance Comapny of Canada)TD Bank Group *Telus

Sector Pulse

* Left Imagine Canada in 2016

Imagine Canada donors, sponsors and funders not only make ourwork possible financially, but in supporting us, they are our dancepartners. Thank you.

Corporate / Business Sponsors

As well as the many participants in Imagine Canada’s Caring Company Program, whosefees help to support our work.

Foundation / Charitable Supporters

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The Agora Foundation *AnonymousCalgary FoundationCarthy FoundationThe CounsellingFoundation of CanadaThe Lawson Foundation *The Max Bell Foundation *

Metcalf FoundationThe Muttart Foundation *PricewaterhouseCoopers Canada FoRBC Foundation *Suncor Energy Foundation *United Way TorontoThe Winnipeg Foundation

Cathy BarrOwen ChartersBill HarperRefat & Dolat JiwaniMarcel LauzièreBruce & Heather MacDonaldSusan Manwaring

Margaret MasonMr. & Mrs. N McGuganMike PedersenPeter RobinsonGeorgina SteinskyLynne ToupinDominic Wong

Brittany AndrewManuel ArangoJanet AustinSara AustinAnn Barnard BallJacques BérubéBeverly BlanchardAlison BledsoeMark BlumbergErin BoudreauSusan Bower

Michael GroganArla GustafsonSharilyn HaleJacqueline HallDebbie HantuschRenée HébertJeanette HeywoodJustin HoJennifer Holmes-WeierCatherine Jagdeo

Larry MurrayAndy MurrieJoan NandlalMonique NewtonVyda NgJamie NiessenMariana NimaraAllan NorthcottJacline NymanMarlene OliveiraLeslie Olsen

As well as the many Foundations, Charities and other nonprofits who are Grant Connectsubscribers, Standards Program participants, Sector Champions or members, whose feeshelp to support our work.

* Imagine Canada National Partners

Friends of Imagine Canada

Imagineers

Imagineers are the volunteers and contributors who have donatedtheir time and expertise to Imagine Canada.

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Carmen BoykoGuy BradburyGeoff BraunLinda Brazier LamoureRichard BridgePeter BroderRhae Ann BromleyTrish BronschDan BrunetteBarry BusseyMichelle CampbellBob CanuelRobin CardozoOwen ChartersQueenie ChooVincenzo CiampiSuzanne ClarkBeth ClarkeJesse ClarkeMichelle CoombsAmy CoupalDenise CummingKaren DadeClaude DavidLou Del GobboRob DonelsonChristopher DoughertyPegi DoverSydney DucharmeAmber DukartIan EdwardDerek EvansIris FabbroPeter FaidMichael FarrisStephen FaulHeather FlemingGordon FloydMarcy FogalTracy FordScott ForfarDarlene FramptonSid Frankel

Refat JiwaniBill JohnsonCarl JuneauGraham KelseyDebra KerbyAmy KishekSandi KiveragoMyna KotaCarolyn LabaPaul LacapAlain LaurendeauMarcel LauzièreDanielle Leguard-WhiteMichael LencznerJoelle LewisBen LiadskyLen LifchusRaine LiliefeldtKathy LilyholmJoanne LinzeyLisa LitzSara LyonsRuth MacKenzieKathy MageePatrick ManleyTracey MannSusan ManwaringJane MarcoTeresa MarquesDaniel MarquezVincent MartineauMargaret MasonTara MazurkKevin McCortDon McCreeshElizabeth McFaulRoss McGregorSharon McIntyreMicheline McKayJessica McKeachieHolly McLellanAndrea McManus

Daniel OverallGlen PearceHilary PearsonMike PedersenLili-Anna PerešaSusan PhillipsDeborah PikeJody RathgeberLucie RémillardSidney RibeauxMehvish RizviPeter RobinsonJanet RockLee RoseAnn RosenfieldPenelope RoweBobby SahniJulia SanchezYves SavoieKatherine ScottAndrea SealePamela SetoRann SharmaHeather SimpsonKeith SjogrenIsabella SmejdaJerry SmithScott SmithMarnie SpearsDave SpeddingPaula SpeevakJeff SurridgeShawna SylvesterMing-Young TamVandana TaxaliCathy TaylorJames TempleStephen TileSheila TilottaAnne TinkerMartha ToryLynne Toupin

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Eva FriesenRebecca GallowayDerek GentMarina GlogovacJason GoertzenRachel GouinJohn GrahamCindy GrantNathan GrasseMario GravelleTim Gray

Keith McNallyNoreen MianSuanne MiedemaGabe MillerLeon MillsShawn MitchellLyndsay MontinaTammy MooreLuce MoreauBill MorrisSusan MorrisScott Mullin

PJ Vankoughnett-OlsonTracey VavrekDick VolletMaryn WallaceNeil WattKristine WebberBeth WeintropBarb WilletShirley WilsonSharon WoodBob Wyatt

Alignment: 2016 Annual Report

Published by: Imagine Canada | T 416 597 2293 | F 416 597 2294

Copy Editors: Marnie Grona, Natalie Rekai, Cornelia Schrecker | Author: Marlene Oliveira |Design: Emily Rea, Natalie Rekai | French Translation: Solange Beaulieu

All rights reserved. The content of this electronic publication may be reproduced, in whole or inpart, by charitable and nonprofit organizations for non-commercial use and where ImagineCanada is acknowledged as the original publisher including year of publication, publicationtitle, and original document source (electronic publication link or website link). Otherwise, nopart of this report may be reproduced without prior written agreement from Imagine Canada.

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