Testimonials

Read what past applicants have to say about their participation in the Donner Awards Program.

About the application process...

“[N]ot only did the process of applying for the award lead to us receiving it, it made us more cognizant of and true to our purpose. It has helped us to streamline our work, prioritize and has taken us to higher levels of accountability. Without this experience, I am not sure we would have had the confidence to take these steps to better our organization or our work!”
Kim Morgan, Executive Director, Alzheimer Society of Thunder Bay (Thunder Bay, ON)

“The process of completing the application has been extremely helpful as a reference point for strategic planning and benchmarking for accreditation…. I have now come to realize that the real value of the Donner Foundation Award application is not the possibility of a $5,000 award, but the benchmarking report.”
Nancy Gale, Executive Director, Cariboo Chilcotin Child Development Centre (Williams Lake, BC)

“The process serves as a performance evaluation tool to identify areas of strength and challenges. By taking part in the application process, organizations are moving forward in defining/redefining their goals/objectives and performance measurement.”
Ping Peng, Director, Finance and Administration, Etobicoke Services for Seniors (Etobicoke, ON)

Participation in the Donner Awards Program “has been a really great guiding tool for us…Since I started here at the center in 1999, I have used the application as a guideline of where we have to improve our programs and accountability. The rating of the questions have provided me with valuable information about overall center weaknesses and those of individual programs. Each year I have chosen one area that I have wanted to work on to improve.”
Laura Hockman, Vernon Disability Resource Centre (Vernon, BC)

“The process of applying for a Donner Award has helped us to look forward to the future in a proactive manner. We have used the application items in our annual reports and outcomes measurement process. Overall, the process allows us to take risks and be open to evaluation, increasing our accountability and revealing areas in need of improvement. This process also allows us to compare with other agencies and try to fill in gaps in service.”
Stacey Peterson, former Executive Director, Simon House Residence Society (Calgary, AB)

Performance evaluation...

“The benefits of participating in the Donner Awards program are much greater than the initial monetary award. The Non-Profit Performance Report is a valuable tool that can be used to assist non-profits in evaluating the effectives of their organization. The Sudbury Action Centre for Youth has incorporated this analysis into the agency’s annual evaluation process. In conjunction with other assessment tools, we are able to identify our strengths and weaknesses. It is also an effective tool used to compare our agency with those providing similar services across the country….”
Marlene Gorman, Executive Director, Sudbury Action Centre for Youth (Sudbury, ON)

“The process of applying helped me take a critical look at our organization in the many areas of performance evaluated by The Fraser Institute. We were already performing well in some areas but interestingly enough we had not spent the time in articulating and documenting some of what we were doing. Currently I have a number of "tools" in place to help me track and communicate our goals, strategies and accomplishments. As a result of applying for this award I have researched many of the suggested references and further educated myself, the Board and staff on what is required to be considered a high performing agency….”
Brenda Thorlakson, Executive Director, Vernon and District Hospice Society (Vernon, BC)

“Our Board of Directors and staff found the [performance] report from your organization extremely valuable to our ongoing strategic planning, as it provided important benchmarking tools. Thank you!”
Celeste A. Peters, Grant Developer, WP Puppet Theatre Society (Calgary, AB)

“The format of the standardized performance assessment is to us a wonderful donation in and of itself, as we would not be able to afford an objective outside type of analysis such as this, which is freely offered on our behalf.  Having the opportunity to meet on the day of the banquet with others in similar fields from across Canada was an invaluable and exciting event, a memorable highlight for this agency.

Participating in the Donner Awards has greatly influenced our organization on a number of levels. It has been an enormous encouragement to us as front-line workers. It has provided us with a great tool by which to evaluate our programs and management. As well it has provided us with an additional level of recognition, acknowledgement, and integrity. Having a standardized performance measurement like this is very useful to set goals for improvement in provision of services.”
Kathy Sherk, Business Administrator, Women’s Addiction and Recovery Mediation (WARM) (Fort Erie, ON)

“It has been a wonderful opportunity and process to work through this application. We have learned a great deal about our agency, its processes and successes at providing the services in our region…. Thank you for this opportunity and we look forward to your feedback.”
Kim Dolan, Executive Director, Peterborough AIDS Resource Network (PARN) (Peterborough, ON)

“Participation in the Donner Awards has had a very positive influence on our organization. In addition to the recognition that comes from being a finalist, and the financial rewards that come from being a category or overall recipient, we see the process as extremely valuable. The Donner Awards are an objective, third party evaluation of [our] programs and services.”
Mark Wolff, Executive, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada – Calgary Chapter (Calgary, AB)

Improved donor confidence...

“The Donner Awards have recognized Evangel Hall for our efforts to serve the vulnerable in our community at a grass-roots level while at the same time enlisting the support of individuals and organizations with whom we have a close personal relationship. Being a Finalist has given our supporters a sense that their many investments in our work are effective.”
David J. Smith, Executive Director, Evangell Hall (Toronto, ON)

“The recognition of the Donner Award has helped our organization leverage additional funding from government, business, and individual donors. People want to be part of success, and are usually willing to donate to a good cause.... Our organization now has a reputation for excellence in service delivery, and the pursuit of excellence in the delivery of social services is one of our values.”
Marlene Gorman, Executive Director, Sudbury Action Centre for Youth (Sudbury, ON)

“The Donner Award has definitely brought additional credibility to our organization. We can say to potential funding partners and our community that an objective third party has undertaken a comprehensive evaluation of our organization and determined that we are performing above the average for non-profits in Canada. It is extremely important to us to achieve excellence in all we do and we are proud to be acknowledged in this pursuit by an objective third party.”
Brenda Thorlakson, Executive Director, Vernon and District Hospice Society (Vernon, BC)

“Receipt of the Award helps to assure credibility of the agency to service users and funders. New private and corporate donors/funders chose our agency as a recipient of their donations/funding after learning that we are the recipient of the Award.  Agencies in the community contact us for mentoring in service provision and funding applications.”
Ping Peng, Director, Finance and Administration, Etobicoke Services for Seniors (Etobicoke, ON)

"This independent certification of our value and quality business practices by the Donner Canadian Foundation has priceless public relations’ value. Thank you for this exceptional recognition program and valuing the contributions of the non-profit organizations to Canadian society.”
Sandy Johnson, Executive Director, Hospice Saint John & Sussex (Saint John, NB)