Skills for Change
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Skills for Change firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Skills for Change
- Legal name
- Skills for Change
- Website
- https://skillsforchange.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Skills for Change industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Newcomer Settlement & Employment Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Apprenticeship Training (611513)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)
Keywords
Where Skills for Change is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Skills for Change business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Government Funding: Skills for Change is primarily funded by government sources including Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Government of Canada, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (Ontario), and the City of Toronto. Programs such as LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) are explicitly funded by IRCC. The Health Informatics Bridging Program is funded by the Government of Canada. Bright Futures Youth Program is funded by the YESS (Youth Employment and Skills Strategy) Canada fund.
- Donations and Philanthropy: The organization accepts charitable donations from individuals and organizations to support its programs and services. The website includes a dedicated donate page and highlights donor-funded initiatives such as the Uplift Fund from Toronto Pearson ($1.57 million initiative, of which Skills for Change is a recipient).
- Program-Specific Grants: Skills for Change receives targeted grants for specific programs. The Women in Skilled Trades (WiST) program received Uplift Fund support from Toronto Pearson. The TechForward Black Women in Data Analytics program is supported by dedicated funding. Google.org supported AI upskilling initiatives through the AI Opportunity Fund.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Multi-year contract | Core social programs (LINC, Employment Services, Settlement, Mentoring, Trades Programs, Health Informatics, Youth Programs) are completely free to eligible participants |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Career Skills courses offered at subsidized rates from CAD $450 to $850 |
| Freemium | Multi-year contract | Employer partnership and corporate training services are provided at no direct cost |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Skills for Change product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Skills for Change is a Toronto-based registered charity that delivers free employment, settlement, language training (LINC), mentorship, mental health, skilled trades pre-apprenticeship, AI upskilling, youth, and pre-arrival programs to newcomers, refugees, women, youth, seniors, and Canadian employers. Programs are funded primarily by federal, provincial, and municipal governments, supplemented by private foundations and donations, and delivered directly through its own offices in Toronto and Hamilton, partner college campuses, and online channels.
Product overview
Skills for Change is a workforce development and settlement services organization offering a diverse portfolio of programs for newcomers, refugees, women, youth, seniors, and underserved communities in Canada. The organization provides core services including Employment Services, Mental Health Services, Settlement Services, Mentoring Services, Language Services (LINC), Career Skills Services, AI Upskilling Programs, Trades Programs, Leadership Development Programs, and Pre-Arrival Services. The portfolio includes specialized programs including the Health Informatics Bridging Program (ten-week full-time program in partnership with George Brown College), LINC language instruction (IRCC-funded), Care for Newcomer Children childcare, Road Ready automotive trades pre-apprenticeship (Mohawk College partnership), WeldUp welding certification, Trade Spark electrical pre-apprenticeship (Humber Polytechnic), Bright Futures Youth Program for at-risk youth, Black Youth in STEAM programming, TechForward data analytics for Black women, and Pathways to Skilled Trades. Career Skills training includes accounting/finance courses (QuickBooks, Sage 300, Payroll, Taxation), Microsoft Office, IT courses (Cybersecurity, Data Analytics), and business/marketing programs (Digital Marketing, Web Design, Project Management PMP/CAPM).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Skills for Change: Primary organizational brand providing employment, settlement, language training, mentorship, and other support programs
Products and services
- Employment Services Comprehensive employment support including job search assistance, resume building, interview preparation, and employer matching for newcomers and underserved populations, available free of charge.
- Mental Health Services Mental health and wellness support services for program participants to address trauma, stress, and settlement-related challenges.
- Settlement Services Immigrant, Refugee & Settlement Hub providing support for newcomers' integration into Canadian society including housing, documentation, and community connection.
- Mentoring Services Mentoring for Change program with 30 years of experience assisting internationally educated professionals in settlement, language development, entrepreneurship, and employment through mentor matching.
- Language Services (LINC)
- Career Skills Services
- AI Upskilling Programs
Quantifiable outcome
- 20,000+ clients served annually across all programs
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Skills for Change
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Skills for Change technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Skills for Change partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Humber Polytechnic (Humber College)coreTrade Spark: Electrical Foundations is delivered at Humber Polytechnic's Centre for Trades and Technology (110 Carrier Drive, Etobicoke, ON M9W 5R1). The program provides 12 weeks of pre-apprenticeship training in electrician (Construction and Maintenance) with 1 week exposure to Industrial Mechanic Millwright, plus 8-12 weeks paid work placement. Humber provides the training facility, equipment, and instructional infrastructure.
- Mohawk CollegecoreRoad Ready: Diverse Mechanics for Change pre-apprenticeship program is delivered in partnership with Mohawk College in Hamilton. The program provides training in Automotive Service Technician (primary trade) and Auto Body and Collision Damage Repair (secondary trade). Training takes place at Mohawk College (135 Fennell Ave W, Hamilton, ON) with 5 days per week mandatory in-person attendance.
- George Brown CollegecoreHealth Informatics Bridging Program curriculum is delivered by George Brown College. The 10-week full-time program covers Fundamentals of Health Informatics domains. Skills for Change provides job search strategies, career pathway development, resume development, market research, LinkedIn profile optimization, networking and interview skills training, and employer connections.
- Skills Council of CanadaminorThe Pathways to the Skilled Trades program curriculum was developed with guidance from the Skills Council of Canada and funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. The program provides comprehensive, free 4-week training to help participants explore and secure jobs in the skilled trades sector.
- Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB Group)coreWeldUp program participants can earn 5 welding micro-credentials plus the Canadian Welding Bureau's (CWB) S Classification Welding Qualification through CWB testing and certification. CWB Group provides the certification assessment that allows internationally trained welders to gain Canadian credentials.
- LinkedIn CanadacoreLinkedIn Canada hosted the Leverage LinkedIn for Career Growth workshop at their downtown Toronto office. LinkedIn experts provided personalized coaching on building professional networks, crafting standout profiles, and conducting informational interviews. The workshop engaged 27 professionals and provided strategic guidance on leveraging LinkedIn for career advancement.
- World Education ServicescoreCo-led the Toronto Refugee Hiring Event (October 2025) alongside Skills for Change, Future Ready Initiative, and Jumpstart Refugee Talent. The event connected 214 pre-screened refugee job seekers with employers including CIBC, Scotiabank, Ainsworth, CBRE, InterRent, and Zurich. WES brought expertise in credential recognition and refugee employment support.
- Jumpstart Refugee TalentcoreCo-led the Toronto Refugee Hiring Event alongside Skills for Change, World Education Services, and Future Ready Initiative. Jumpstart specializes in connecting refugee talent with employment opportunities, bringing employer relationships and participant screening expertise to the partnership.
- Future Ready InitiativecoreCo-led the Toronto Refugee Hiring Event alongside Skills for Change, World Education Services, and Jumpstart Refugee Talent. The event brought together 214 pre-screened refugee job seekers from 850 applicants and multiple employer partners.
- ISS of BC (Immigration Services Society of British Columbia)minorPartnered with Skills for Change during the Women in Skilled Trades Roadshow 2025 in Vancouver. ISS of BC provided a welcome to newcomers segment, underscoring the inclusive vision of the roadshow and recognizing the strength of diversity and the role of immigrants in the trades industry.
- AccentureminorHosted Skills for Change's 2025 Annual General Meeting at their Scotia Plaza offices in Toronto. The event brought together board members, staff, and community members to celebrate accomplishments including Women in Skilled Trades program growth, AI Upskilling program (in partnership with Google.org), and community programs engaging over 1,200 participants.
- TD BankminorParticipated as a speaker and partner in the Arrive Ready Pre-Arrival Conference (February 2026). TD Bank contributed expertise on career pathways in the financial sector for newcomers, helping participants understand workplace expectations and employment opportunities in Canada.
- Seneca PolytechnicminorParticipated as a speaker and partner in the Arrive Ready Pre-Arrival Conference (February 2026). Seneca contributed insights on educational pathways and credential recognition for internationally trained professionals entering the Canadian workforce.
- ADP (Automatic Data Processing)minorParticipated as a speaker and partner in the Arrive Ready Pre-Arrival Conference (February 2026). ADP provided industry expertise on human resources and payroll sector career pathways for newcomers to Canada.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Skills for Change competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- COSTI Immigrant Services: Toronto-based nonprofit providing settlement, language training, employment, and newcomer integration services funded by IRCC and the Ontario government. Closest direct peer — operates many of the same programs (LINC, employment services, settlement) for similar newcomer populations in the same GTA geography.
- ACCES Employment: Toronto-headquartered nonprofit delivering employment services, mentoring, and bridge training programs for immigrants and refugees. Highly comparable in target population (internationally trained professionals) and employer-matching service model, including direct competition for IRCC and Employment Ontario funding.
- JVS Toronto: Toronto nonprofit offering employment, language, and skills training programs to immigrants, refugees, and disadvantaged job seekers. Directly comparable service portfolio and funder base, including Career Services, language training, and sector-specific bridge training programs.
- Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC): Toronto-based council focused on immigrant employment outcomes through employer engagement, mentoring, and bridging programs. Direct peer on the employer-engagement and immigrant-into-workforce mission that anchors Skills for Change's Trades and Employment Services lines.
- CultureLink Settlement Services: Toronto nonprofit providing settlement, language, employment, and youth services for newcomers. Comparable in mission and GTA delivery footprint, with similar reliance on IRCC and municipal funding streams.
Broad incumbents
- YMCA Greater Toronto — Newcomer Services: Large established charitable organization operating newcomer settlement, language, employment, and youth programs across the GTA. A broader incumbent that competes for the same IRCC and provincial funding pool with a more diversified portfolio of community services.
Regional players
- MOSAIC BC: Vancouver-based nonprofit delivering settlement, language, employment, and community integration services for immigrants and refugees. Comparable service portfolio but operates primarily in British Columbia — the only major peer in Skills for Change's BC expansion geography.
- Immigrant Services Society of BC (ISSofBC): British Columbia's largest immigrant-serving agency, providing settlement, language, and employment services. Already a confirmed partner of Skills for Change on the WiST Roadshow, making it both a peer and a collaborator in BC newcomer-services delivery.
- Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS): Calgary-based nonprofit providing settlement, language, employment, and refugee support services. Comparable newcomer-services mission and Canadian settlement-sector model, operating in a different regional market.
Emerging players
- World Education Services (WES): Nonprofit that evaluates international academic credentials for immigrants, including Canadian newcomer integration support. Already a confirmed co-lead of the Toronto Refugee Hiring Event with Skills for Change — a complementary peer in the foreign credential recognition space rather than a head-to-head competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Skills for Change social profiles
Digital presenceSkills for Change financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Skills for Change leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Skills for Change funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Skills for Change 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 Skills for Change
What does Skills for Change do?
Skills for Change is a Toronto-based registered charity that delivers free employment, settlement, language training (LINC), mentorship, mental health, skilled trades pre-apprenticeship, AI upskilling, youth, and pre-arrival programs to newcomers, refugees, women, youth, seniors, and Canadian employers. Programs are funded primarily by federal, provincial, and municipal governments, supplemented by private foundations and donations, and delivered directly through its own offices in Toronto and Hamilton, partner college campuses, and online channels.
Is Skills for Change a public or private company?
Skills for Change is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Skills for Change founded?
Skills for Change was founded in 1984. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Skills for Change based?
Skills for Change is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Skills for Change make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are donations and Philanthropy and program-Specific Grants.
Who are Skills for Change's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are COSTI Immigrant Services, ACCES Employment, JVS Toronto, Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) and CultureLink Settlement Services. YMCA Greater Toronto — Newcomer Services is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are MOSAIC BC, Immigrant Services Society of BC (ISSofBC) and Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS). World Education Services (WES) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Skills for Change have an API?
No public API is recorded for Skills for Change.
What industry is Skills for Change in?
Skills for Change's product category is Newcomer Settlement & Employment Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAKANAF, Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction), with a secondary code of EDAAAFAN, Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills). Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.