Right To Play International
Right To Play is a Toronto-headquartered global nonprofit founded in 2000 that uses play-based learning to educate and empower children facing adversity, including internally displaced children in conflict-affected regions across West Africa and the Middle East. The organization is funded through government grants and charitable donations and operates seven national offices.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Right To Play International does
Right To Play International is a global nonprofit organization headquartered in Toronto, Canada, founded in 2000 with national offices in seven countries (Canada, USA, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, UK) and programs operating in conflict-affected regions including West Africa and the Middle East. Its core offering is a play-based learning methodology designed to build critical skills — confidence, collaboration, problem-solving — and to deliver psychosocial support to children facing adversity, particularly internally displaced children in fragile settings.
The organization's technology is centered on a proprietary Play-Based Learning Framework (described as a 'novel method architecture') that integrates psychosocial support with educational interventions. Programs are delivered through partnerships with local education authorities and community-based organizations; the EMPOWER project in Mali, funded by Global Affairs Canada with CAD $8.6 million over 4.5 years, exemplifies the field-based delivery model. Right To Play also publishes research and policy outputs, including a May 2025 policy brief on accelerating foundational learning through play, and operates a Children's Emergency Fund for rapid crisis response.
Right To Play's revenue model is exclusively donation- and grant-driven (no commercial pricing applies), with the organization recognized as a Platinum Candid Seal and 4-Star Charity Navigator entity in 2025. Revenue streams include individual charitable donations through the website and a Children's Emergency Fund, plus institutional government grants such as the CAD $8.6 million Global Affairs Canada award. The organization employs 501-1000 staff globally, is led by Susan McIsaac / Jessie Thomson as President and CEO, with Carl L. Liederman serving as Chairman. Operating for 25 years, the organization reports reaching millions of children annually, with the EMPOWER program alone serving 57,516 children since 2022 in Mali's Mopti and Gao regions and tripling Grade 4 reading proficiency from 13% to 31% in target areas.
Right To Play International firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Right To Play International
- Legal name
- Right To Play
- Website
- https://righttoplay.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Right To Play is a Toronto-headquartered global nonprofit founded in 2000 that uses play-based learning to educate and empower children facing adversity, including internally displaced children in conflict-affected regions across West Africa and the Middle East. The organization is funded through government grants and charitable donations and operates seven national offices.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Right To Play International industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Humanitarian Education Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)
Keywords
Where Right To Play International is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Right To Play International business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Charitable Donations: Individual donors contribute through the organization's website and donation campaigns. The organization operates a Children's Emergency Fund for rapid response to crises.
- Government Grants: Major government funding, such as the CAD $8.6 million EMPOWER project funded by Global Affairs Canada over 4.5 years, supporting education programs in Mali.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Right To Play International product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Right To Play is a global non-profit humanitarian organization that delivers play-based learning programs to children in conflict-affected and displacement settings, helping them stay in school, overcome prejudice, heal from trauma, and develop critical life skills. Programs are implemented through partnerships with local education authorities and community-based organizations, with major initiatives including the CAD $8.6 million EMPOWER project in Mali and the Children's Emergency Fund for crisis response.
Product overview
Right To Play is a humanitarian organization that delivers play-based learning programs to help children in conflict zones access education, heal from trauma, and develop essential skills. The organization's core offering is its play-based learning methodology, which is implemented through specific programs including the EMPOWER project in Mali (a CAD $8.6-million initiative providing inclusive education and trauma support), alongside publications such as the Policy Brief on foundational learning through play, and emergency funds for children in crisis situations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Play-Based Learning Programs The organization's core methodology and primary service offering, using structured play to build critical skills (confidence, collaboration, problem-solving) and integrate psychosocial support for children affected by conflict and displacement in countries such as Mali and the Palestinian territories.
- EMPOWER Project A CAD $8.6 million initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada, working with local education authorities and community-based organizations in Mali's Mopti and Gao regions to provide inclusive education and trauma support to internally displaced children; has reached 57,516 children since launch and doubled Grade 4 reading proficiency from 13% to 31%.
- Children's Emergency Fund An emergency fund that channels donor contributions to provide children in conflict zones with rapid psychosocial support to cope with fear and trauma, complementing the organization's core programming.
Quantifiable outcome
- Grade 4 reading proficiency doubled from 13% to 31% through EMPOWER program
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Right To Play International
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Right To Play International technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Right To Play International partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Right To Play International competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- War Child: War Child is an international NGO that uses play, sport, and creative arts to support children affected by conflict — virtually identical mission and methodology to Right To Play, making it the most direct peer.
- ChildFund International: ChildFund International is a child-focused international development NGO working on education, protection, and youth development in low- and middle-income countries, with a comparable donor-funded operating model.
Broad incumbents
- Save the Children: Save the Children is a large global INGO focused on child rights, education in emergencies, and emergency response; it operates in many of the same conflict-affected geographies as Right To Play and competes for similar institutional grants.
- Plan International: Plan International is a global INGO advancing children's rights and equality for girls, with significant programming in education, protection, and youth-led development across the same conflict-affected regions.
- UNICEF: UNICEF is the United Nations agency mandated to advocate for the protection of children's rights, including education and psychosocial support in emergencies; it is the broadest incumbent in this space and a major institutional funder/partner.
- Concern Worldwide: Concern Worldwide is an international humanitarian organization tackling extreme poverty and supporting education in emergencies, overlapping with Right To Play on education-in-crisis programming and donor base.
- International Rescue Committee: The IRC responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises with education, child protection, and women's empowerment programs, operating in many conflict-affected geographies similar to Right To Play.
- Norwegian Refugee Council: The NRC is a leading INGO providing assistance and protection to refugees and displaced people, including education and learning programs in conflict zones that overlap with Right To Play's programming.
- BRAC: BRAC is a large international development organization operating across education, child protection, and livelihoods in many low-income and crisis-affected countries, including play-based learning programs for vulnerable children.
Emerging players
- Street Child: Street Child is a smaller INGO focused on education and protection for children in crisis and conflict-affected regions in West Africa and South Asia; it competes for a subset of the same institutional grants and individual donor pool.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Right To Play International social profiles
Digital presenceRight To Play International financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Right To Play International leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Right To Play International subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
Right To Play International funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors2 records
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Right To Play International M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Right To Play International
What does Right To Play International do?
Right To Play is a global non-profit humanitarian organization that delivers play-based learning programs to children in conflict-affected and displacement settings, helping them stay in school, overcome prejudice, heal from trauma, and develop critical life skills. Programs are implemented through partnerships with local education authorities and community-based organizations, with major initiatives including the CAD $8.6 million EMPOWER project in Mali and the Children's Emergency Fund for crisis response.
Is Right To Play International a public or private company?
Right To Play International is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Right To Play International founded?
Right To Play International was founded in 2000. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Right To Play International based?
Right To Play International is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Right To Play International make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Charitable Donations are the primary driver. The others are government Grants.
Who are Right To Play International's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are War Child and ChildFund International. Broad incumbents are Save the Children, Plan International, UNICEF, Concern Worldwide, International Rescue Committee, Norwegian Refugee Council and BRAC. Street Child is listed as an emerging player.
Does Right To Play International have an API?
No public API is recorded for Right To Play International.
What industry is Right To Play International in?
Right To Play International's product category is Humanitarian Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGABAG, Child Protection & Child Rights. Its NAICS code is 624110 and its SIC code is 8300.