What Addus does

Addus is a Toronto-based registered non-profit charitable organization founded in 1997 that provides individualized community-based day supports for young adults with developmental disabilities. The organization operates a portfolio of programs including Community Participation Day Supports, Addus@Work (employment support with on-site job coaches), V.I.S.A. (Vision, Independence, Success and Achievement), the Individualized Supports Program (I.S.P.), Social Club, Art Club, and Art+ Art Studio, delivered across four Toronto locations (Orchard View, Windermere, Mt. Pleasant, and the head office). The organization is service-delivery focused with a minimal technology footprint; it does not operate proprietary software, AI systems, or APIs. It relies on CanadaHelps.org for donation processing and embeds an Instagram feed (@addusartplus) for Art+ program visibility.

Addus funds its operations through a diversified mix: partial base funding from the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services, individual/corporate/foundation donations facilitated through CanadaHelps.org, fee-for-service payments (including Passport Funding from families), and revenue from social enterprise arms. Social enterprises include Addus Windermere Catering (hand-crafted foods, est. 2011, Bloor West Village), the Creative Collective online shop (greeting cards at $20/pack of 5, holiday cards at $10/pack, women's/unisex/toddler t-shirts at $20-$25), and the Smashing Good Pinatas initiative (pickup only, 4-week lead time). Catering prices range from $20 to $45 per item depending on serving size, with one-week advance notice and a flat $5 shipping rate for shipped orders. The organization cites a 1.73% fundraising and administrative cost ratio versus the Canadian Revenue Agency's recommended 35% ceiling.

The organization serves two primary constituents: (a) participants (young adults with developmental disabilities) and their families/caregivers, reached via community-led channels including referrals, employer partners (Starbucks, ChocoSol, Paintbox Catering), newsletter, website, social media, and the annual Walking For Dreams fundraiser; and (b) donor/funder constituents (individuals, corporations, foundations, and government), acquired primarily through direct outreach, CanadaHelps.org, community events, and the Walking For Dreams annual fundraiser. Leadership comprises Executive Director Mary Vieni, Program Manager Ann Beatty, and Office Manager Lorne Weinreb.

Name

Addus

Legal name

Addus

Website

https://addus.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Addus is a Toronto-based registered non-profit (founded 1997) providing individualized community-based day supports, employment assistance, and art programs for young adults with developmental disabilities, funded through government grants, donations, and social enterprise revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Developmental Disability Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Autism Assistive Technology & Learning Tools (Educational) (EDAKAKAM)

Keywords

• Developmental disability services
• Community day supports
• Supported employment programs
• Social enterprise catering
• Vocational training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Corporate gifts, in-kind donations, and third-party fundraising events. Online donations processed through CanadaHelps.org partnership.
2. Product Sales: Sale of handmade products including greeting cards, holiday cards, t-shirts, pinatas, hot sauce, and music. Products are created by participants in art programs, with proceeds supporting organizational operations.
3. Catering Services: Addus Windermere Catering, established in 2011, provides hand-crafted foods for events including baked goods, entrees, soups, salads, and trays. Operated by participants with developmental disabilities and staff.
4. Government Funding: Partial funding received from the Ministry of Community and Social Services. Organization supplements government funding with fundraising and donations.
5. Fee for Service: Fee for service options available, including programs accommodating families who receive Passport Funding for developmental services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Addus is a registered non-profit charitable organization based in Toronto that provides community-based day support programs for young adults with developmental disabilities, including individualized supports, employment preparation and placement, art and social programs, and social enterprises such as catering, piñata-making, greeting cards, holiday cards, and branded apparel. Programs are funded through government program fees, donations, and grants, and are supplemented by revenue from a small set of social-venture businesses that also serve as vocational training opportunities for participants.

Product overview

Addus is a registered non-profit charitable organization providing day supports for young adults with developmental disabilities since 1997. The organization offers a portfolio of services centered on community participation and inclusion. Core programs include Community Participation Day Supports, Addus@Work employment assistance, V.I.S.A. (one-to-one community-based placements), I.S.P. (Individualized Supports Program), Social Club, Art Club, and Art+ Art Studio. The organization operates social enterprises including the Creative Collective shop selling greeting cards, holiday cards, t-shirts (women, adult unisex, and toddler sizes), and the Addus Windermere Catering business. A separate Smashing Good Pinatas initiative produces handcrafted piñatas. Products are sold through an online WooCommerce shop, with proceeds supporting Addus's programs and participant artists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Day Supports Community-based day program supporting young adults with developmental disabilities in skill-building, social participation, and daily activities; delivered at multiple GTA locations for participants and their families.
• Addus@Work Employment Program Employment preparation and supported-employment program placing Addus participants with local employer partners for on-the-job training, trial work experiences, and paid supported employment.
• V.I.S.A. Program Vocational program supporting participants with developmental disabilities in building employment-related skills and experience.
• I.S.P. (Individualized Supports Program) Individualized supports program providing person-centered services tailored to each participant's developmental and personal goals.
• Social Club Social-recreation program offering group activities and community participation opportunities for young adults with developmental disabilities.
• Art Club Group art program for participants with developmental disabilities, integrating creative expression into Addus's day supports.
• Art+ Art Studio Studio-based art program offering participants an advanced creative-arts experience as a step up from the entry-level Art Club.
• Addus Windermere Catering Catering social enterprise run by Addus that prepares and serves food for events while providing vocational training opportunities for participants with developmental disabilities.
• Smashing Good Piñatas Social-enterprise piñata-making business producing handmade piñatas and providing hands-on vocational experience for participants.
• Greeting Cards Line of greeting cards produced as a social enterprise of Addus and sold through its Social Art Shop.
• Holiday Cards Seasonal holiday card product line produced and sold as part of Addus's social-enterprises for retail consumers and supporters.
• Branded T-Shirts (Women, Adult Unisex, Toddler) Branded apparel product line of Addus t-shirts sold online in women's, adult unisex, and toddler sizes as part of the organization's social-enterprises.
• Creative Collective (Social Art Shop) Online social-art shop showcasing and selling artwork created by Addus participants under the Creative Collective brand.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 80% of participants require financial support to access Addus services
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 2015 Parapan Am GamesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Special events partnership supporting the 2015 Parapan Am Games in Toronto. Addus participants engaged with the event.
• StarbuckscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor employment partner providing supported work opportunities for Addus participants. Long-term partnership (10+ years) with participants working as baristas. Addus provides job coach support to participants at Starbucks locations including Bloor and Ellis.
• ChocoSolcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal business partner providing employment opportunities for Addus participants with supported work placements.
• Paintbox Catering and BistrocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal food service partner providing employment opportunities for Addus participants with developmental disabilities.
• CanadaHelps.orgcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline donation processing partner. CanadaHelps.org processes online donations for Addus, providing secure, low-cost donation technology. Registered charity (#896568417RR0001). Reduces administrative costs of manually processing donations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Community Living Toronto: Toronto-based non-profit providing supports, employment services, and community participation programs for people with developmental disabilities, directly comparable to Addus in geography, mission, and service mix.
• Reena: Greater Toronto Area non-profit delivering residential and community participation supports for individuals with developmental disabilities, serving a similar participant base and operating comparable day-program models.
• Kerry's Place Autism Services: Ontario-based non-profit providing community, residential, and supported-employment programs primarily for people with autism and other developmental disabilities, comparable in participant population though more autism-centered.

Broad incumbents

• JVS Toronto: Established Toronto non-profit offering vocational and employment services spanning diverse populations; overlaps with Addus@Work's job-coaching and employer-partnership focus but serves a much broader client base.
• March of Dimes Canada: National Canadian non-profit providing employment, accessibility, and recreation services for people with disabilities, comparable to Addus in supported-employment and community participation offerings though at significantly larger scale.
• Community Living Ontario: Provincial umbrella non-profit representing and supporting members with developmental disabilities across Ontario, providing advocacy and resources that complement Addus's direct service model.
• Surrey Place Centre: Toronto-based health and social services organization serving children, youth, and adults with developmental disabilities and autism, overlapping with Addus in day-supports and community-inclusion programming.
• YAI: Large US-based non-profit providing person-centered supports, employment, and community programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities — a comparable operating model at much greater scale.

Regional players

• Christian Horizons: Canadian faith-rooted non-profit providing residential and community supports across multiple provinces for people with developmental disabilities, comparable in mission though broader in geographic footprint than Addus's Toronto-only operations.

Emerging players

• People First of Canada: Canada-wide advocacy organization led by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; comparable population but focused on self-advocacy rather than direct service delivery like Addus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Addus-1919992441599294
• Instagraminstagram.com/addusartplus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Addus