What Rainbow Resource Centre does

Rainbow Resource Centre is a registered non-profit charity (legal name: Manitoba Institute on Sexuality; BN: 131783664 RR 0001) founded in 1973 and headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is Canada's longest-serving 2SLGBTQ+ centre and the longest continuously running 2SLGBTQ+ resource centre in North America, serving Manitoba's Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning communities and their families. The organization delivers a comprehensive portfolio of programs including free short-term counselling (up to 8 sessions), a youth program for ages 10-21, social groups, the Over the Rainbow program for adults 55+, subsidized youth summer camps (Camp Aurora and Spirit Day Camp), a Drag Artist in Residence program, and education and training workshops for workplaces, schools, and healthcare providers. Its core technology stack is modest: Zoom-based virtual programming to extend service reach to rural and northern Manitoba, and an eLearning platform for asynchronous organizational DEI training sold as team licenses.

The organization is currently developing Place of Pride, Canada's first purpose-built 2SLGBTQ+ campus at 545 Broadway in Winnipeg — a $23 million project that, upon completion, will expand programming space from 2,000 to 12,000 square feet and provide 21 units of deeply affordable housing for 2SLGBTQ+ older adults (Phase 1 occupied September 2024). The revenue model is diversified across government grants and funding (Government of Manitoba, Women and Gender Equality Canada, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Federal Rapid Housing Initiative, United Way), individual donations and corporate sponsorships (notably RBC-presented The Category Is Gala), fee-for-service education workshops ($1,350 general / $450 non-profit), ticketed events, and modest paid programming (camps, eLearning, webinars). Direct community services remain free. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Noreen Mian, with a full executive bench spanning counselling, community programs, learning and change, communications, philanthropy, finance, HR, and operations.

Name

Rainbow Resource Centre

Legal name

Manitoba Institute on Sexuality

Website

https://rainbowresourcecentre.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rainbow Resource Centre is a Winnipeg-based non-profit (founded 1973) serving Manitoba's 2SLGBTQ+ community with free counselling, youth programs, social groups, senior services, education, and affordable housing at its Place of Pride campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit community centre services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Special Needs Adult Day Programs (Developmental/Physical Disabilities, Seniors) (HLADAIAI), Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK), Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI)

Keywords

• 2SLGBTQ+ community services
• Non-profit community centre
• DEI training workshops
• Youth support programs
• Affordable senior housing

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnipeg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding & Grants: Primary revenue from federal and provincial government funding including Government of Manitoba, Women and Gender Equality Canada, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, and federal Rapid Housing Initiative for Place of Pride project.
2. Donations & Philanthropy: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and community fundraising including annual gala events. Donor Circles and sponsorship programs available.
3. Education & Training Workshops: Fee-for-service educational workshops to workplaces, healthcare providers, schools, and organizations. General rate $1350, discounted to $450 for registered non-profits, K-12 schools, and post-secondary classrooms.
4. Lunch & Learn Webinars: $15 per registrant for virtual webinar series on 2SLGBTQ+ belonging topics.
5. eLearning Courses: Online DEI training courses sold as team licenses for organizational onboarding and ongoing education.
6. Event Tickets & Gala: Revenue from annual gala events such as The Category Is Gala and Saturday Night Pride event tickets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Rainbow Resource Centre delivers free short-term counselling (up to 8 sessions), youth and older-adult programming, community-initiated social groups, and subsidized summer camps to Manitoba's 2SLGBTQ+ community. It also provides fee-based 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion workshops, eLearning courses, and GSA conference programming to workplaces, schools, and healthcare organizations, and operates Place of Pride — Canada's first purpose-built 2SLGBTQ+ campus with 21 units of affordable housing for older adults (55+).

Product overview

Rainbow Resource Centre is a community organization serving Manitoba's 2SLGBTQ+ communities offering a diverse portfolio of programs and services. The core offerings include Counselling Services (free short-term counselling up to 8 sessions), the Youth Program (ages 10-21), Over the Rainbow (for adults 55+), and various Social Groups. Additional services include Education and Training (workplace, school, and healthcare inclusion workshops), eLearning courses, Youth Camps (Spirit Day Camp and Camp Aurora), the Drag Artist in Residence program, and the annual GSA Conference. The organization is developing Place of Pride, Canada's first dedicated 2SLGBTQ+ campus featuring affordable housing and programming spaces. The portfolio is unified under the Rainbow Resource Centre brand, serving communities across all ages and stages of life.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Over the Rainbow (OTR): Program for Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (2SLGBTQ+) folks aged 55±.
• Place of Pride
• Camp Aurora
• Spirit Day Camp
• Drag Artist in Residence (DAiR)

Products and services

• Counselling Services Free short-term counselling (up to 8 sessions) and single sessions provided to 2SLGBTQ+ individuals of all ages, addressing various aspects of identity and community experience.
• Youth Program A program for 2SLGBTQ+ and allied youth ages 10-21 offering drop-in sessions, workshops, virtual programming, and excursions to build social networks and peer support.
• Over the Rainbow (OTR) A program designed to connect, inspire, and empower 2SLGBTQ+ folks aged 55+ with virtual and in-person programming, including coffee chats, creative writing, and social activities.
• Social Groups Community-initiated and community-run social groups for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals including Bi+ Social Group, BLiNK (family play group), Breakfast Club, Crafting Queerly, Non-Binary+ Social Group, Partners of Trans Individuals, Trans Feminine Circle, Transmasculine Group, and others.
• Education and Training Workshops 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion training for workplaces, schools, healthcare providers, and community organizations including workshops, GSA conference, eLearning courses, and lunch & learn webinars.
• Youth Camps (Camp Aurora & Spirit Day Camp) Subsidized summer camps for 2SLGBTQ+ youth in Manitoba: Spirit Day Camp (ages 10-13) as a day camp in Winnipeg, and Camp Aurora (ages 14-17) as an overnight camp in the Whiteshell area.
• Drag Artist in Residence (DAiR) A year-long residency program providing a $2,000 stipend to a drag artist to showcase talent, create artistic works, and serve as the face of Rainbow Resource Centre's Pride Season Campaign.
• Place of Pride Canada's first purpose-built 2SLGBTQ+ campus at 545 Broadway, Winnipeg, featuring 21 units of deeply affordable housing for 2SLGBTQ+ older adults (55+), programming spaces, counselling rooms, and community connection areas.
• GSA Youth Conference A biennial province-wide gathering for high school GSA members (grades 9-12) designed to uplift, connect, and empower 2SLGBTQ+ youth and allied educators across Manitoba.
• eLearning Courses Self-directed asynchronous online training courses for 2SLGBTQ+ DEI training, including Healthcare and Affirmation/Inclusion/Awareness courses, allowing organizations to train teams at their own pace.
• The Category Is Gala An annual fundraising gala presented by RBC celebrating queer culture, featuring drinks, dinner, and dancing to support Rainbow Resource Centre's programs and services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Expanded from 2,000 sf to 12,000 sf of programming space enabling thousands more community members to access services
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Manitoba Blue CrossminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 August 2026Partnership for relational therapy services, accepting intakes for counselling programs through Manitoba Blue Cross.
• Westminster Housing SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing partner for Place of Pride project, managing affordable housing for 55+ 2SLGBTQ+ older adults at 549 Broadway location.
• Variety ManitobaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn-kind donation of Camp Brereton facility (located 2 hours outside Winnipeg in the Whiteshell area) for Camp Aurora overnight summer camp.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The 519: Toronto-based 2SLGBTQ+ community centre offering counselling, social groups, education/training, and community programming. Highly comparable as a Canadian LGBTQ+ centre serving a similar mission with a comparable mix of free community services and paid training offerings.
• QMUNITY: Vancouver-based queer, trans, and Two-Spirit resource centre offering counselling, social groups, youth programs, and education. Direct Canadian peer with overlapping service portfolio and community-led model.
• Calgary Outlink: Calgary-based 2SLGBTQ+ community centre providing counselling, social groups, education, and community programs. Comparable Canadian LGBTQ+ centre serving a regional population.
• PFLAG Canada: Canadian national peer-support organization for2SLGBTQ+ individuals and their families. Comparable family-support focus and community-driven education model, though delivered via chapters rather than a central centre.
• Affirmations: Detroit-area LGBTQ+ community centre providing youth programs, social groups, counselling, and education. Comparable US peer with similar service mix and community-led governance model.

Emerging players

• SAGE (Services & Advocacy for LGBTQ+ Elders): US national organization focused on LGBTQ+ older adults, including advocacy, programming, and housing initiatives. Comparable for RRC's Over the Rainbow program and Place of Pride 55+ housing components.
• The Trevor Project: US-based LGBTQ+ youth organization offering crisis intervention, counselling, and education. Comparable for the youth programming and counselling components of RRC's portfolio, with national scale.

Broad incumbents

• Egale Canada: Canada's national 2SLGBTQ+ human rights organization with education, advocacy, and research programs. Comparable mission-aligned peer operating at a broader national scale rather than community centre level.
• CenterLink: US national network of LGBTQ+ community centres, providing support, networking, and resources to member centres. Comparable as a sector coordinator rather than direct service provider, relevant for benchmarking best practices.

Others

• Westminster Housing Society: Manitoba-based affordable housing provider and RRC's partner on the Place of Pride housing component. Relevant as a co-development and operating partner rather than a competing service provider.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCAqu81yxHC4Cl2MnQUKSwnA
• Facebookfacebook.com/RainbowResourceCentre
• Instagraminstagram.com/rainbowresourcecentre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 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 Rainbow Resource Centre