Mercy Ships Canada Achieves Accreditation from Imagine Canada’s Standards Program

Mercy Ships Canada is excited to announce today that it has been accredited under Imagine Canada’s national Standards Program. With this achievement, we join a growing community of more than 240 organizations dedicated to operational excellence.

The Standards Program is a Canada-wide set of shared standards for charities and nonprofits designed to strengthen practices in five fundamental areas: board governance; financial accountability and transparency; fundraising; staff management; and volunteer involvement.

“It’s no small feat for an organization to earn Standards Program accreditation. It’s a rigorous, peer-reviewed process that is meant to build Canadians’ trust and confidence in the charitable sector,” says Bruce MacDonald, president and CEO of Imagine Canada. “The organizations accredited to date reflect a broad spectrum in size, scope and geography. Each one takes governance, accountability, and transparency very seriously. We’re proud to have them on board.”

About the Standards Program

The goals of Imagine Canada’s Standards Program are to increase organizational excellence and transparency of charities and nonprofits, and to strengthen public confidence in individual organizations and the sector as a whole.

Peer-Review Process and Compliance

Our policies and procedures in the five areas of compliance were evaluated by a group of volunteers from the sector, and were found to be compliant with the Standards Program. Accredited organizations are required to complete full reaccreditation on a five-year basis. Compliance during the accreditation period is monitored through an annual process that requires organizations to submit evidence demonstrating selected standards are being met.

“Mercy Ships Canada is proud to receive this significant accreditation. The achievement comes at an exciting time for our organization, as we continue to build our network of partners in Canada, build global medical capacity and transform lives in the world’s poorest nations. We are proud to share the values and standards of Imagine Canada and join their community of operational excellence,” says Mercy Ships Canada CEO Jamie McIntosh.

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ABOUT MERCY SHIPS:
Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to deliver free, world-class healthcare services, capacity building, and sustainable development to those with little access in the developing world. Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 56 developing countries, providing services valued at more than $1.6 billion and treating more than 2.7 million direct beneficiaries. Our ships are crewed by volunteers from over 50 nations, with an average of over 1,300 volunteers each year. Professionals including surgeons, dentists, nurses, healthcare trainers, teachers, cooks, seamen, engineers, and agriculturalists donate their time and skills. With 16 national offices and our Africa Bureau, Mercy Ships seeks to transform individuals and serve nations one at a time.

For more information email [email protected].