Children's Aid Foundation of Ottawa

What Children's Aid Foundation of Ottawa does

Children's Aid Foundation of Ottawa (CAFO) is a registered Canadian charitable foundation founded in 1988 and headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario (1602 Telesat Court, K1B 1B1). It operates as the fundraising and grantmaking arm supporting children, youth, and families involved with The Children's Aid Society of Ottawa (CASO), with 92% of CASO's caseload involving children living at home with families facing mental health challenges, poverty, or addiction. The foundation delivers five core program areas: the Dare to Dream Bursary (post-secondary education support), Cookie Jar Program (at-home family support), Youth Transition Program (foster care entry/exit support), Enrichment Programs (camp, lessons, counselling), and the newly launched Home Base Program for youth aging out of foster care.

CAFO generates revenue through four streams: one-time and recurring individual donations (subscription tiers from $12/month comfort kits to $100/month first-rent support, plus an annual $1,000 Dream Launcher commitment), event fundraising (Salut! wine-paired dinner at Brookstreet, BDC | CAFO Charity Golf Tournament at Canadian Golf & Country Club, World Trivia Night at Rogers Centre with 1,000+ participants, Holiday Gift Program serving 380+ organizations, and the newer Harmony for Hope event), and corporate sponsorships from BDC, Cardel Homes, Wesley Clover Foundation, LCBO, Ericsson, Corrections Service Canada, and others. Disclosed 2025/2026 event revenue totaled approximately $217,655 across three signature events, with World Trivia Night alone raising over $128,000.

The foundation is staffed by 1–10 employees and is governed by an independent board of directors with no parent company or ownership structure beyond donor support. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the website, email newsletters (quarterly Dream Launcher editions), organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), and a dedicated donor portal. There is no proprietary technology product; operations rely on standard website CMS and third-party event registration and donor management tooling.

Name

Children's Aid Foundation of Ottawa

Legal name

Children's Aid Foundation of Ottawa

Website

https://cafott.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Children's Aid Foundation of Ottawa is a registered Canadian charity (founded 1988) that fundraises and grants funds to support children, youth, and families involved with The Children's Aid Society of Ottawa through education, enrichment, family support, and youth transition programs, funded by individual donations, monthly giving, corporate sponsorships, and five annual fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Charity Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Family Engagement & Take-Home Learning Materials (Home Packs, Parent Guides) (EDACAJAL)

Keywords

• Children's charity services
• Child welfare support
• Youth education programs
• Community fundraising events
• Monthly giving programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual donors supporting children and families in the child welfare system.
2. Monthly Giving Program (Dream Launchers): Recurring monthly donations providing dependable base of support for emergency needs and preventative programs.
3. Event Fundraising: Revenue from annual events including Salut! wine-paired dinner, charity golf tournament, World Trivia Night, and Holiday Gift Program.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Partnerships with corporate sponsors for annual events and programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Children's Aid Foundation of Ottawa (CAFO) is a registered Canadian charity that supports children, youth, and families involved with the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa (CASO). It funds education bursaries, family support (Cookie Jar), youth transition, enrichment (camp, lessons, counselling), and seasonal gift programs through individual donations, a Dream Launcher monthly giving program, corporate sponsorships, and annual fundraising events such as Salut!, the Charity Golf Tournament, and World Trivia Night.

Product overview

The Children's Aid Foundation of Ottawa is a children's charity offering a portfolio of programs and fundraising events. Its core offerings include the Dream Launcher monthly giving program, the Dare to Dream Bursary for post-secondary education, the Cookie Jar Program for at-home family support, the Youth Transition Program for independent living skills, and Enrichment Programs including summer camp and lessons. The Foundation also operates four signature annual fundraising events: the Salut! wine-paired dinner, the BDC | CAFO Charity Golf Tournament, World Trivia Night (Canada's largest live trivia contest), and the Holiday Gift Program providing seasonal support. The Home Base Program specifically supports youth aging out of foster care. These programs collectively support children, youth, and families involved with the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dream Launcher: Monthly donor program where donors commit to ongoing support for children in child welfare.
• Dare to Dream Bursary
• Cookie Jar Program
• Holiday Gift Program
• Home Base

Products and services

• Dare to Dream Bursary Provides postsecondary tuition and educational support (including tutoring and psycho-educational assessments) to children and youth in the child welfare system, helping recipients pursue higher education.
• Cookie Jar Program Provides resources and direct support to families involved with the Children's Aid Society where children remain at home, addressing the 92% of cases where families need extra support but few dedicated resources exist.
• Youth Transition Program Supports youth entering and leaving foster care with budgeting, cooking, life skills, first month's rent assistance, and transition-to-independence support.
• Enrichment Programs Funding and access to summer camp, hockey and equipment, swimming lessons, piano lessons, and counselling services for children in the child welfare system.
• Holiday Gift Program Provides toys, gifts, and grocery support to children, youth, and families during holiday celebrations including Christmas, Eid, Hanukkah, Chinese New Year, and Kwanzaa.
• Dream Launcher Monthly Giving Program A community of monthly donors providing dependable, recurring support for emergency needs and preventative programs for children and families in the Ottawa child welfare system.
• BDC | CAFO Charity Golf Tournament Annual fundraising golf tournament at the Canadian Golf & Country Club featuring breakfast, a shotgun start, BBQ lunch, and raffles, raising funds for children and youth in care.
• World Trivia Night Canada's largest live trivia contest, held since 1995 at Rogers Centre Ottawa, with 100 questions, teams of 10, and a fundraising minimum per team for the Trong Nguyen Memorial Trophy.
• Salut! Wine-Paired Dinner Annual wine-paired dinner at Brookstreet Hotel featuring VQA-certified Ontario and Niagara wines, a three-course meal, and youth ambassador testimonials, with proceeds supporting postsecondary bursaries.
• Home Base Program Program specifically designed to help youth aging out of foster care transition to independent living, providing safe housing and employment support, including a first month's rent donation tier.

Quantifiable outcome

• Youth supported in pursuing postsecondary education through Dare to Dream Bursary program
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)minorOthersGovernment partner providing charitable registration oversight. CRA confirms organization's charitable status (Registration #: 897546735RR0001).
• The Children's Aid Society of Ottawa (CASO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary beneficiary partner. 92% of CASO's work is with children and youth living at home with families. CAFO provides resources that complement CASO's child protection services for families facing mental health challenges, poverty, or addiction.
• Brookstreet HotelcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue and catering partner for Salut! event. Located in Kanata, providing luxury venue for annual wine-paired dinner charity event.
• Tawse Wine and SpiritsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine partner providing certified VQA wines from Niagara and Ontario terroir for Salut! event.
• Rosehall RunminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine partner for Salut! event, providing Ontario VQA certified wines.
• Pillitteri Estates WineryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine partner for Salut! event.
• Chateau des CharmesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWine partner and event supporter for Salut! event.
• Cardel HomescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting partner for Salut! event and supporter of Holiday Gift Program.
• Rogers Centre (Ottawa)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for World Trivia Night, Canada's largest live trivia contest.
• Ottawa Trivia LeagueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrivia partner providing expertise and support for World Trivia Night.
• Kiwanis Eastern OttawaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFounding partner and top fundraising team for World Trivia Night 2025 ($5,843.43 raised).
• BDCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partner and presenting sponsor for BDC | CAFO Charity Golf Tournament.
• Canadian Golf & Country ClubcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for annual charity golf tournament, providing scenic golf course for event.
• Ottawa Titans (Field of Dreams Foundation)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerChampion Education Dream Launcher sponsor for Salut! event.
• The Properties GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPutting Green Partner for Golf Tournament and Champion Education Dream Launcher sponsor.
• EventfluentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partner providing technology support for events.
• LCBOminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrize sponsor and retail partner for Salut! event and World Trivia Night.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Children's Aid Foundation: Toronto-based foundation supporting children and youth involved with the child welfare system through education bursaries, enrichment programs, and youth transition support. Directly comparable in mission, beneficiary segment, and program architecture to CAFO.
• Covenant House Toronto: Major Canadian charity serving youth experiencing homelessness and those aging out of care, with programs overlapping CAFO's youth transition and Home Base offerings including housing, life skills, and education support.
• Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa: Ottawa-based youth services organization providing after-school programs, recreation, and youth development support. Comparable as a local child and youth services provider operating in CAFO's same geographic market.

Regional players

• Children's Foundation (Edmonton): Edmonton-based children's charity supporting disadvantaged children through bursaries, camps, and basic needs. Operates with a similar regional foundation model focused on child welfare beneficiaries, but in a different Canadian geography.
• United Way East Ontario: Regional fundraiser and grantmaker serving Eastern Ontario including Ottawa, distributing funds to social service agencies. Comparable in grantmaking and donor mobilization model, though broader in scope beyond child welfare.

Broad incumbents

• Kids Help Phone: National Canadian charity providing e-mental health support for youth, with large-scale donor base and corporate partnerships. Comparable as a Canadian youth-focused charity with strong national brand and diversified funding streams.
• Make-A-Wish Canada: National Canadian wish-granting charity for children with critical illnesses, leveraging signature events, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations. Comparable fundraising operating model and Canadian donor base, though serving a different beneficiary condition.
• Right To Play: Canadian-headquartered international charity using sport and play for child development in disadvantaged communities. Comparable as a Canadian-rooted children's charity with corporate partnerships, signature events, and recurring donor programs.
• War Child Canada: Canadian charity supporting children affected by war, with similar program pillars (education, protection, livelihood) and a donor-driven funding model. Comparable operating model though serving beneficiaries in conflict zones rather than local welfare systems.

Emerging players

• Children First Canada: Canadian advocacy and convening organization focused on children's wellbeing with coalition-building and policy work. Comparable as a national child-welfare focused organization, though primarily advocacy-oriented rather than direct program delivery.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/CAFOttawa
• Facebookfacebook.com/cafottawa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/children-aid-foundation-ottawa
• Instagraminstagram.com/cafottawa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Children's Aid Foundation of Ottawa