Application Guidelines

Eligibility is restricted to Canadian non-profit agencies delivering social services within Canada in any of seven recognized areas of social service delivery. 

TO APPLY

You may apply online or complete the Application Form, which you mail in. Refer to the Guide for Applicants for information to assist you in answering questions. Questions that have associated information and explanatory material in the Guide are marked with a 'star' icon. 

We encourage all participants to apply online. Applying online maintains the integrity of your organization's data as it minimizes the incidence of data entry error. There are also built-in checks to ensure that you are answering questions correctly.

TEN DIFFERENT PERFORMANCE AREAS

As a participating non-profit agency, you’ll need to complete a detailed application covering ten different performance areas:

• Financial Management
• Income Independence
• Strategic Management
• Board Governance
• Volunteers
• Staff
• Innovation
• Program Cost
• Outcome Monitoring
• Accessibility

PERFORMANCE SCORES

Performance scores are calculated and forwarded to each applicant in a confidential report along with a copy of the annual Non-Profit Performance Report [PDF]. This report is an analysis based on the results of each year’s awards program.

PARTICIPATING AS FINALISTS

The three or four agencies in each service category that score the highest in the objective evaluation are invited to participate as finalists in the second stage of expert assessment. If you are selected as a finalist, you will need to complete essay-style questions and submit letters of support, which will be evaluated by an esteemed panel of judges. This panel is made up of recognized experts from the business, social, and non-profit sectors. 

NOTIFICATION OF FINALIST STATUS

Finalist organizations are short-listed at the end of July and are contacted directly by telephone. All remaining applicants will receive their non-finalist status notification after finalists are contacted. Refer to our Home page for the current application season's timing and news under the Donner Awards News and Calendar updates.

AWARD RECIPIENTS

The final award recipients are announced at a celebratory event usually held in Toronto in the fall.