Fondation Dr Clown

What Fondation Dr Clown does

Fondation Dr Clown is a Canadian non-profit organisation headquartered in Montreal, founded in 2002 (incorporated 20 June 2002; first programme in autumn 2000), that delivers professional therapeutic clown services free of charge to three beneficiary populations: hospitalized children, students in specialised schools, and seniors in long-term and palliative care settings. It operates two core programmes — Dr Clown (hospital and school settings, with artists wearing lab coats) and La Belle Visite (seniors and end-of-life care, with artists embodying a 1930s–50s Beauceron "Labelle" family to evoke reminiscence) — plus supplementary offerings including the interactive school show Mission Dr Clown, a children's podcast (Dr Clown dans tes oreilles), downloadable colouring resources, and the Faculté d'art clownesque training academy launched in 2024.

The underlying technology is a human-delivered, methodology-driven service rather than a software product: artists (working in pairs) deploy theatrical improvisation, music, and a proprietary "approche relationnelle personnalisée" to create individual connections adapted to each patient's medical, psychological, and cultural context. The foundation employs 65 self-employed therapeutic clown artists with specialised pre-deployment training, supported by approximately 12 administrative staff and a 20-member volunteer board drawn from major Quebec employers.

Funding is donation-based across corporate partners, private foundations, and individuals, organised into five giving tiers ranging from Club Joie ($100,000+) down to Club Simplicité (under $10,000). Programmes are delivered to beneficiaries at no cost through formal institutional partnerships with 90+ healthcare facilities and schools (including CHU Sainte-Justine, IUGM, Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies, CHSLDs, and specialised schools). Operations are concentrated in Quebec, with a Quebec City hub since 2007 and a new training studio inaugurated in October 2025; the foundation also belongs to international therapeutic clown networks including Therapeutic Clowns Canada, Rire Médecin (France), and the Gesundheit! Institute (USA).

Name

Fondation Dr Clown

Legal name

Fondation Dr Clown

Website

https://fondationdrclown.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Fondation Dr Clown is a Montreal-based Canadian non-profit founded in 2002 that delivers free therapeutic clown services to hospitalized children, students in specialised schools, and seniors in long-term care, through two core programmes (Dr Clown and La Belle Visite) funded by donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Therapeutic Clown Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (62134)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Community-Based Preventive & Health Promotion Clinics (HLAFAGAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Palliative Care Clinics & Outpatient Programs (HLADAHAF), Children’s Entertainment Booking (Clowns, Characters, Princess Parties) (HSACAHAF)

Keywords

• Therapeutic clown services
• Pediatric hospital programs
• Senior care visits
• Specialized school programs
• Nonprofit health services

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Corporate and Foundation Donations: The foundation is primarily funded through donations from businesses, private foundations, and individuals who believe in the mission. Partners are categorized into tiers: Club Joie ($100,000+), Club Honnêteté ($50,000-$99,999), Club Ouverture ($25,000-$49,999), Club Légèreté ($10,000-$24,999), and Club Simplicité ($9,999 and under). Multi-year commitments provide financial stability.
2. Annual Donation Campaigns: Direct public fundraising through annual donation campaigns. The foundation runs an annual campaign accessible via the Zeffy platform (zeffy.com). Individual donors can make contributions at any level.
3. Event-Based Fundraising: Benefit events including the annual Bal Imaginaire (annual benefit ball), the Confetti event for young professionals (Cercle de la Relève Bé-Nez-Fique), and the Clown toujours theatrical show at the Gesù. These events generate donations while also serving as community engagement tools.
4. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising: Supporters can create their own fundraising campaigns through the foundation's website, mobilizing their personal networks to raise funds. Dedicated campaigns like the 'Ella, petite étoile' fund honor deceased children while supporting ongoing programs.
5. Merchandise and Product Sales: An online boutique (Zeffy) sells Dr Clown branded products including giant coloring posters, children's books, and Christmas cards. All revenues from merchandise are directed 100% to funding programs. Products are created with generous partners who handle production.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Fondation Dr Clown delivers free therapeutic clown visits to hospitalized children, patients in general hospitals, students in specialized schools, and seniors in care facilities across Quebec. The foundation operates two distinct programs—Dr Clown for pediatric and youth populations, and La Belle Visite for seniors and palliative care—using 65 professional artists working in pairs who create individual relationships through improvisation, music, and personalized engagement. All services are provided at no cost to beneficiaries or partner institutions, funded entirely by corporate donations, foundation grants, individual giving, and benefit events.

Product overview

Fondation Dr Clown operates two core therapeutic programs: Dr Clown provides therapeutic clown visits in hospitals and specialized schools, while La Belle Visite serves seniors in care facilities. The organization offers supplementary programs including Mission Dr Clown (school shows), a podcast for children, and a clown arts training school. Fundraising activities include benefit events (Bal Imaginaire, CONFETTI) and community campaigns. All therapeutic services are free for beneficiaries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dr Clown Therapeutic clown visits in pediatric hospitals, general hospitals, rehabilitation centers, specialized schools, child psychiatry units, and youth centers. Artists work in pairs wearing lab coats, forming individual relationships with patients to bring joy, facilitate emotional expression, and ease medical procedures. Targets hospitalized children, students with special needs, and youth in transition.
• La Belle Visite Therapeutic visits for seniors in geriatric care facilities, long-term care centers (CHSLDs), and palliative care settings. Features the Labelle family characters inspired by 1930s-50s era to evoke reminiscence through music (ukulele, flute, accordion), conversation, period costumes, and shared activities. Targets seniors in care facilities and end-of-life patients.
• Mission Dr Clown Interactive 50-minute theatrical show for first-cycle primary school students, performed by two artists who model student behavior. Addresses four key themes: right to make mistakes, self-confidence, emotion management, and acceptance of differences. Includes pedagogical tools for classroom preparation and follow-up activities. Targets primary school students.
• Dr Clown dans tes oreilles Therapeutic podcast for children aged 4-12 featuring 6 episodes of 9-10 minutes each. Episodes address emotional development topics using therapeutic clown techniques (joy and laughter). Freely available on Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, and RadioPublic, with companion coloring activities. Targets children ages 4-12 and their families.
• Faculté d'art clownesque (Therapeutic Clown Training School) Training school offering courses in therapeutic clown arts, including introductory programs and specialized therapeutic pathways (Parcours thérapeutique) to train professional therapeutic clowns. Targets aspiring and current therapeutic clowns.

Quantifiable outcome

• 139,419 significant therapeutic encounters in 2024-2025 (11.1% growth from previous year, following 25% record growth in 2023-2024)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Elva ConseilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMartine Coulombe, Founder of Elva Conseil, serves as Secretary of the board. Provides strategic and transition consulting expertise.
• Fasken Martineau DuMoulinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerÉloïse Laflamme, lawyer at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin, serves as co-president of the Cercle de la Relève Bé-Nez-Fique and as a board member. Provides legal expertise.
• TACT (relations publiques)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNicolas Laflamme, Director at TACT public relations, serves as co-president of communications and marketing for the Cercle de la Relève. Provides PR expertise.
• NAFHCO / MTL Clown FestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership announced April 22, 2024 for the 2024 Montreal Clown Festival. Collaboration to promote therapeutic clowning and the art of clowning.
• Faculté d'art clownesquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation's own educational arm (faculteartclownesque.ca) that offers therapeutic clown training. The 'Parcours thérapeutique' (therapeutic path) was introduced in 2025 for training future therapeutic clowns. Not a separate entity but an integral part of the foundation's educational mission.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Rire Médecin: France-based therapeutic clown organization operating in pediatric hospitals since 1991. Directly comparable non-profit model deploying trained clowns in pairs to hospitalized children; explicitly identified in the Foundation's own international network partnerships.
• Theodora Foundation: Swiss-founded non-profit running 'Giggle Doctors' programs for hospitalized children across Europe and beyond. Directly comparable in mission, hospital-deployment model, and reliance on professional performer-clowns and corporate donations.
• Red Noses International: Austria-headquartered charitable organization operating 'clowndoctors' programs across Europe and the Middle East for children and seniors in healthcare settings. Directly comparable in artist training pipelines, hospital partnerships, and program expansion model.
• Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit: US therapeutic clown program founded in 1986 by Michael Christensen, sending professional clowns into pediatric hospitals. Directly comparable hospital-deployment model; explicitly listed in the Foundation's international network partnerships.
• CliniClowns (Cliniclowns Nederland): Netherlands-based non-profit deploying trained clowns into hospitals and care homes for children, seniors, and people with disabilities. Directly comparable multi-population service model covering both pediatric and geriatric care.
• Humour Foundation — Clown Doctors: Australian non-profit running 'Clown Doctors' programs in pediatric hospitals. Directly comparable professional-clown model, healthcare-system partnership structure, and corporate fundraising approach.
• Hearts & Arts: US-based non-profit placing trained performing artists in hospitals and care facilities to engage patients, including children and seniors. Comparable in artist-deployment model and dual pediatric/geriatric focus.

Emerging players

• Gesundheit! Institute (Patch Adams): US-based organization founded by Dr. Patch Adams promoting therapeutic clowning and humanitarian care in hospitals worldwide. Comparable philosophy and methodology; less institutionalized as a hospital-deployment program in North America.

Others

• Therapeutic Clowns Canada: National professional association of Canadian therapeutic clown organizations. Not a direct competitor; rather an ecosystem coordinator that the Foundation lists as an active member, useful as a sector reference point for Canadian therapeutic clowning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCiHPAJqY_LIdtIpgk3WEG8w
• Facebookfacebook.com/fondationdrclown
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fondation-dr-clown
• Instagraminstagram.com/fondation_drclown
• Xx.com/FondDrClown

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

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 Fondation Dr Clown