End of the Rainbow Foundation

What End of the Rainbow Foundation does

End of the Rainbow Foundation is a registered Canadian charity (Private Foundation, Charitable Registration Number: 74824 1882 RR0001) incorporated under the Companies Act of Alberta and founded in 2017 by Kelly Ernst. The organization improves socioeconomic conditions for 2SLGBTQI+ individuals in Calgary, Alberta through non-clinical peer support, refugee resettlement and private sponsorship programs, tax preparation, support groups, and corporate training. Its central asset is The Calgary Rainbow Room, Calgary's first dedicated 2SLGBTQIA+ community centre, opened on June 29, 2026 at #400, 750 11 St SW, which co-locates seven partner organizations (Calgary Outlink, Centre for Newcomers, Rainbow Elders Calgary, The Centre Edge Society, La Cité des Rocheuses, Queer Arts Society, Gay History Project) and houses program lines including TransJourneys, TransFamilies Calgary, True Colours, Crafting Connections, and a CRA Community Volunteer Income Tax Program tax clinic.

The foundation operates a community-led go-to-market model: services are delivered in-person at the Rainbow Room and through virtual channels (Zoom, email), with reach amplified by word-of-mouth, partner referrals, and community events including the annual Pride on the Patio Party. All services are provided free of charge to clients. Revenue is generated via individual donations (monthly tiers CAD $25–$1,000 and one-time tiers CAD $1,000–$20,000), corporate sponsorships across Platinum/Gold/Silver/Bronze/Supporter tiers, foundation grants (Chinook Lesbian and Gay Fund, Calgary Foundation, United Way, Nickle Family Foundation), and government grants (CAD $137,000 from the Government of Canada in August 2024).

The technology stack is standard nonprofit SaaS (PayPal, Zeffy, CanadaHelps, JotForm, Google Calendar, Zoom) with no proprietary platform; the organization relies on an 11–50 person headcount that is primarily volunteer-driven, led by a volunteer board with deep domain expertise in immigration consulting, psychiatry, private wealth, and international development.

Name

End of the Rainbow Foundation

Legal name

End of the Rainbow Foundation

Website

https://endoftherainbow.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

End of the Rainbow Foundation is a Calgary-based registered charity that operates the city's first dedicated 2SLGBTQIA+ community centre, delivering peer support groups, refugee resettlement and private sponsorship, tax clinics, and training to 2SLGBTQI+ individuals, refugees, newcomers, and families of trans individuals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

LGBTQ+ Community Support Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

LGBTQ+ Rights & Advocacy Organizations (BPAGAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB), Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

Keywords

• LGBTQ+ community services
• Peer support groups
• Refugee resettlement support
• Community centre operations
• Charity fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The foundation operates as a registered charity and relies on donations from individuals and organizations. They accept one-time and monthly donations through PayPal, Zeffy, and cheque. Monthly donor tiers range from $25 CAD (Helper) to $1,000 CAD (Soul Mate).
2. Government Grants: The Canadian government announced over $400,000 in funding for three 2SLGBTQI+ organizations in Alberta, including End of the Rainbow Foundation, to support gender inclusion initiatives, strengthen network capacity, investigate service gaps, and improve police relations for 2SLGBTQI+ communities.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: The foundation receives support from corporate sponsors at various levels (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Supporter). Sponsors include local Calgary businesses, faith communities, and community organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

End of the Rainbow Foundation operates as a registered charity hosting The Calgary Rainbow Room, Calgary's first dedicated 2SLGBTQI+ community centre. It provides non-clinical mental-health peer support groups, LGBTQ+ refugee resettlement and private sponsorship services, free tax preparation, English language learning, and customized organizational training seminars — all delivered in collaboration with multiple partner nonprofits and primarily in-person in Calgary, Alberta.

Product overview

End of the Rainbow Foundation operates as a single unified organization providing community services rather than a platform product. The core offering is The Calgary Rainbow Room, Calgary's 2SLGBTQI+ Community Centre, which serves as the central hub hosting multiple service modules and partner organizations. The foundation's service portfolio includes refugee support services (Calgary LGBTQ+ Refugee Centre, Calgary LGBTQ+ Private Sponsorship Program), peer support groups (TransJourneys, TransFamilies Calgary, True Colours, Crafting Connections), practical services (Tax Clinics, English Language Learning), and training seminars. All services operate from The Calgary Rainbow Room location in collaboration with partner organizations including Calgary Outlink, Centre for Newcomers, Rainbow Elders, The Centre Edge Society, La Cité des Rocheaches, and others.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Calgary LGBTQ+ Refugee Centre: Provides one-to-one support for LGBTQ+ refugees in Calgary, helping them obtain services and support to resettle.
• TransJourneys
• TransFamilies Calgary
• Calgary LGBTQ+ Private Sponsorship Program
• True Colours
• Crafting Connections
• Tax Clinics

Products and services

• Calgary Rainbow Room (Calgary's 2SLGBTQI+ Community Centre) Calgary's first dedicated 2SLGBTQI+ community centre offering a safe gathering space with living room, craft room, library, mailing services, and rotating art gallery; serves as the operational hub for the foundation's peer support groups, refugee settlement support, tax clinics, and partner organization services.
• Calgary LGBTQ+ Refugee Centre Provides one-to-one support for LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers settling in Calgary, including refugee claim assistance and referrals to community organizations for resettlement support.
• Calgary LGBTQ+ Private Sponsorship Program (Calgary Rainbow Railroad Station) Assists LGBTQ+ refugees persecuted in their home countries to settle in Calgary by assembling sponsorship groups, securing housing, and providing food, clothing, language training, and career development through volunteers and partner referrals.
• TransJourneys Drop-in peer support group meeting on the first Sunday and third Friday of each month for transgender, non-binary, intersex, and questioning individuals in Calgary, providing peer support, education, and resources.
• TransFamilies Calgary Monthly peer support group for parents and adult family members of trans-identified individuals, with in-person meetings April–October and online Zoom meetings November–March.
• True Colours Social and support group for LGBTQ+ newcomers and the wider 2SLGBTQ+ community, curating activity-based events and social gatherings to foster friendships and community empowerment.
• Crafting Connections Monthly in-person group for 2SLGBTQ+ people aged 18+ combining peer support and crafting in a welcoming environment, with supplies and facilitator guidance for various crafting projects.
• Tax Clinics Free tax preparation service for the 2SLGBTQ+ community, operated through the Canada Revenue Agency's Community Volunteer Income Tax Program by trained volunteers preparing and e-filing returns for eligible individuals with simple tax situations.
• English Language Learning for 2SLGBTQI+ Newcomers Language training service to help LGBTQ+ newcomers settle in Calgary and improve their English-language skills.
• Training Seminars Customized training services for organizations to help them become welcoming and nurturing for LGBTQ+ people, covering introductory training, LGBTQ+ welcoming interview skills, and UNHCR and Canadian SOGIE guidelines for professionals.

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Calgary OutlinkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing peer support, community support groups, a non-crisis peer support and resource line, 2SLGBTQ+ Mentorship Program, an online resource directory, and on-site library at the Calgary Rainbow Room.
• Rainbow Elders CalgarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing support and friendship for LGBTQ+ seniors by organizing safe social events, operating as a tenant at the Calgary Rainbow Room.
• The Centre Edge Society (Sew Proud)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization assisting queer and trans people to sew and alter clothing to best fit their body and gender expression, operating as a tenant at the Calgary Rainbow Room.
• Centre for NewcomerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing LGBTQ+ immigrant and youth case management services. Also a partnership project partner for the Calgary LGBTQ+ Private Sponsorship Program with End of the Rainbow Foundation.
• La Cité des RocheusescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing services for French 2SLGBTQ+ newcomers, operating as a tenant at the Calgary Rainbow Room.
• Queer Arts SocietysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributor organization providing arts programming, a film library, and rotating art displays for The Rainbow Room.
• Gay History ProjectsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributor organization showing rotating displays of 2SLGBTQ+ history memorabilia in the Calgary Rainbow Room.
• Calgary and Area Affirming Network of Faith CommunitiessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting LGBTQ+ refugee sponsorship efforts, helping refugees escape oppressive countries and start anew in Canada.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Egale Canada: Canada's national 2SLGBTQI+ human rights organization, advancing equality through research, education, and policy advocacy. Broader and more established, but addresses the same beneficiary population and uses the glossary referenced by End of the Rainbow on its own site.
• Sherbourne Health Centre (Sherbourne Health): Toronto-based health and community services organization with significant 2SLGBTQI+ programming including the Rainbow Health Ontario resource. Comparable in delivering integrated supports to LGBTQ+ populations; broader scope as a primary care provider.

Direct peers

• Rainbow Railroad: A Canadian/International nonprofit that helps LGBTQ+ individuals escape persecution and resettle safely. Directly comparable to End of the Rainbow's Calgary LGBTQ+ Refugee Centre and Private Sponsorship Program, though at much larger scale.
• The 519: Toronto's dedicated LGBTQ+ community centre offering programming, space rental, and direct services. Closest functional analogue to the Calgary Rainbow Room model in another Canadian city; useful peer for centre operations and service design benchmarking.
• QMUNITY: British Columbia's queer, trans, and Two-Spirit resource centre, providing direct support, information, and programming. Operates a similar community-centre-plus-direct-services hybrid model serving 2SLGBTQI+ populations.
• Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD): A national organization engaging in 2SLGBTQI+ education, advocacy, and youth programming. Comparable in mission scope and Canadian geographic reach, though focuses more on education/advocacy than direct community services.
• PFLAG Canada: National peer support organization for parents, families, and friends of LGBTQ+ individuals. Directly comparable to End of the Rainbow's TransFamilies Calgary program offering peer support to adult family members of trans-identified individuals.
• Calgary Outlink: A Calgary-based nonprofit that provides peer support, community support groups, a non-crisis peer support line, 2SLGBTQ+ mentorship program, online resource directory, and on-site library — and is itself a co-located partner at End of the Rainbow's Rainbow Room. Most directly comparable organization in the same market.

Emerging players

• Skipping Stone Foundation: An Alberta-based organization supporting transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse youth and their families. Comparable on a narrower segment (trans youth and families) within the same Alberta geography as End of the Rainbow.

Others

• Centre for Newcomers: A Calgary-based settlement agency providing services for immigrants and refugees. Co-located partner of End of the Rainbow and provides LGBTQ+ immigrant and youth case management at the Rainbow Room — adjacent rather than directly competitive.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about End of the Rainbow Foundation