The Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement was developed as part of the International Year of Volunteers 2001 celebrations.  In 2004, Volunteer Canada updated the Code in partnership with the Canadian Administrators of Volunteer Resources (CAVR). It is designed to present a setting in which organizations can discuss how their volunteers are engaged and supported.

The Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement 
The Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement provides voluntary and not-for-profit organizations with a philosophical framework for involving volunteers at the governance, leadership and direct service levels. The Code outlines the values, principles, and standards for effective volunteer practices within organizations. It also includes the Organization Standards Checklist, which will assist organizations to evaluate and improve their volunteer programs.

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Volunteer Management Audit: Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement
The Volunteer Management Audit: Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement has been developed as a tool for nonprofit and charitable organizations to assess their volunteer resources program. This audit tool is composed of seven sections which will provide important information about volunteer involvement and management practices within your organization. Please note that it is not necessary for your organization to have adopted the Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement in order to complete the audit.

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A challenge to your board of directors from the board of Volunteer Canada

The board of Volunteer Canada would like to issue a challenge to your board of directors: we invite all organizations across Canada to adopt the Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement, and in doing so, your board may want to consider the following motion:

"That the Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement be adopted by this organization as an integral part of operational practice, to be made known to every employee and volunteer, and to be made readily available to every staff member and volunteer for consistent reference and consultation."

The International Year of Volunteers (2001) provided a rare opportunity to put volunteers and volunteerism into the forefront of our thinking in the voluntary sector and in society at large. We hope that the Canadian Code for Volunteer Involvement will help us all do so. We look forward to hearing from you if your organization chooses to adopt the Code.

The Board of Directors,
Volunteer Canada

Click here for a list of organizations that have shared with us that they have adopted the code.