Volunteering

Volunteering

We encourage, recognize and support the volunteer efforts of our employees and retirees to contribute their time and talents to charitable and non-profit organizations.

Our community investment program is complemented by the volunteer contributions of employees and annuitants to numerous charitable initiatives. We encourage senior employees to volunteer time and expertise on the boards of organizations we support. The purpose of this involvement is twofold: learning more about the voluntary sector while lending valuable private sector expertise to organizations. The list of organizations where Imperial employees have served as directors is diverse and includes Alberta Ecotrust, Art Gallery of Alberta, Calgary Zoo, Toronto's Frontier College, Glenbow Museum, Junior Achievement of Canada, Let’s Talk Science, Iniskim Centre at Mount Royal University, and the SEEDS Foundation.

In addition, our Volunteer Involvement Program (VIP) provides a means to encourage, recognize and support employees and annuitants who serve the community through community work. Under VIP, employees, annuitants and their spouses can apply for grants for charitable and non-profit organizations for which they volunteer services. We currently distribute about $300,000 each year through the program.

How to Apply - Employee and Retiree volunteering

Volunteer involvement program eligibility
The purpose of the Volunteer Involvement Program is to encourage charitable volunteerism in the community. Volunteer service, activities and projects should be consistent with our pledge to be a good corporate citizen and support important societal goals including education, health and human services, and the environment.

Eligible applicants
To be eligible the applicant must be one of the following:

  • a regular employee of Imperial Oil or one of ExxonMobil affiliates that operate in Canada
  • an annuitant from one of the above companies
  • a spouse or common-law partner of an employee or annuitant referred to above
  • a surviving spouse or common-law partner of a deceased employee or annuitant of one of the above
  • have volunteered for at least 20 hours in the previous 12 months

Eligible organizations
To be eligible for a grant, an organization must be:

  • a charitable or non-profit organization registered with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and have a valid CRA business registration number
  • a non-profit organization not registered with CRA (e.g., an amateur athletic organization, community non-profit organization, etc.)
  • a Canadian public elementary or high school parent volunteer association, i.e., Parent Teacher Leadership Group (PTLG) or equivalent

Eligible organizations include those providing:

  • Disaster relief and emergency services
  • Community assistance including food, shelter and clothing
  • Assistance to the disabled and underprivileged
  • Youth programs and activities including amateur sports and athletic clubs (age 18 and under)
  • Family crisis services and programs
  • Senior citizens with a better quality of life
  • Health care, health volunteer services and cure for diseases
  • Cultural organizations including arts, museums, historical societies, performing arts, public broadcasting, etc.
  • Civic services including volunteer fire departments, emergency management, community centers and services, and libraries
  • Parks and nature centers
  • K-12 education (accredited private and public schools) and supporting organizations such as Parent/Teacher Groups
  • Colleges and universities
  • Environmental programs including biodiversity, conservation, and preservation of endangered species and habitats
  • Humane societies, animal shelters, etc.
  • Fundraising events where participation is open to the general public; the event is planned, organized, and sponsored by the non-profit organization; and Imperial volunteers are only assisting with the work necessary to put on the fundraising project, such as staffing of a registration table, serving of refreshments, event clean-up, etc.

Ineligible organizations
Ineligible organizations include those not recognized as charitable and tax exempt. Further, organizations whose primary mission does not meet the charitable definition for VIP purposes are ineligible.

Ineligible organizations include:

  • Organizations based outside of Canada
  • Activities taking place outside of Canada
  • Political organizations
  • Religiously affiliated organizations (church-sponsored accredited schools are eligible)
  • Limited constituency and other organizations with a non-charitable focus including: hobby and garden clubs; genealogical societies; sports clubs (age 18 and over); friendship clubs; foreign language and social clubs; college or university parent and alumni associations
  • Organizations that represent a conflict of interest for employees or the Company, or may involve the Company in controversial issues
  • Non-accredited K-12 schools or school districts
  • Private foundations.


VIP grant limits
Charitable organizations

  • Maximum of $1,000 per applicant per year
  • Maximum of $2,000 per organization per year

Non-profit, amateur sport and public school associations

  • Maximum of $500 per applicant per year
  • Maximum of $1,000 per organization per year

An eligible applicant may apply on behalf of only one organization or association each calendar year. A maximum of two applications (from different applicants) per organization or association may be approved per calendar year. A minimum of 20 hours in the previous 12 months must have been volunteered in order to be eligible for a grant.

Note: A grant may be less than the amount requested. The VIP review committee approves the amount to be granted, based on the description, scope of the project and budget funds available.

All payments will be issued on a quarterly basis. Application deadlines are as follows:

  • First Quarter - March 1
  • Second Quarter - June 1
  • Third Quarter - September 1
  • Fourth Quarter - November 10

Payments for all VIP grants will be consolidated into one cheque and mailed directly to the recipient organization approximately one month following the application deadline. A summary listing identifying all volunteers will be included with the payment. Volunteers will receive notification that their volunteer grants have been paid.

Applications must be received by November 10 to receive payment for the year’s efforts.

Apply online
All applications and proposals must be submitted through our online application systems. Requests submitted by any other means will not be considered. You can expect to hear from us in about four to six weeks after your application has been submitted.

Qualified organizations can submit their proposal with our online grant application form. 

Employees, annuitants and their spouses, please use our online VIP application form.