Discovery House Family Violence Prevention Society

What Discovery House Family Violence Prevention Society does

Discovery House Family Violence Prevention Society is a Calgary-based registered Canadian charity founded in 1980 that supports women and children fleeing domestic violence through an integrated continuum of trauma-informed services. Its core service platform comprises a 19-unit Second-Stage Shelter (Rosalie's), Canada's first Community Housing Program specifically for families impacted by family violence (serving roughly 84 families), Adult & Child Counselling (delivered both in-house and via a low-barrier Counselling Program supporting ~70 women on a subsidy-based pricing model), Rosie's Place Child Development Centre, Indigenous-led programs (Indigenous Mom's Empowerment & Kid's Club, Cultural Healing Space, Aboriginal Resource & Child Development Centre), and Financial Literacy & Coaching (~55 caregivers served). The organization does not operate proprietary technology; its "platform" is its case-management model, embedded partnerships (Shared Intake Program with Heart Home Network and Radiance Society), and research collaborations with the Harvard Center on the Developing Child, University of Calgary, and University of Manitoba that translate brain-development science into practice. It has been recognized as a Top 100 Charity in Canada for seven consecutive years with an A+ Charity Intelligence rating. The underlying technology for service delivery is people-led clinical and case-management practice rather than software IP.

The business model is a non-profit charity model. Revenue is assembled from individual donations, legacy gifts, planned giving (Guardian Angels / Estate Planning Society), corporate partnerships, family and community foundation grants (Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation, Calgary Flames Foundation, Calgary Foundation, United Way Calgary, and others), and government funding from the Alberta Government (Children and Family Services, FCSS Calgary), Government of Canada, and City of Calgary. Revenue mechanics therefore combine recurring unrestricted donations, restricted program grants, and project/capital funds — including the active $10 million Rebuilding Futures capital campaign (over $7M raised) supporting shelter and housing expansion. The customer base has two distinct constituencies: (i) service beneficiaries — women, children, and Indigenous families fleeing violence in Calgary, served on a need-based (largely free or subsidized) basis — and (ii) donors and grant-making institutions across government, foundation, corporate, and individual segments.

Strategically, Discovery House is deepening both its program breadth and its ecosystem role. Recent moves include opening a Cultural Healing Space, launching Indigenous-led programming, integrating into the Shared Intake Program across Calgary's domestic-violence sector, building a Parenting Program (including an Indigenous adaptation), and executing a $10M capital campaign. Headcount is reported in the 11–50 employee range, with leadership including CEO Margaret McGarrigle and board members such as Alixe Cameron. The organization is not venture-funded, has no public valuation, and operates entirely within the Calgary/Alberta service area.

Name

Discovery House Family Violence Prevention Society

Legal name

Discovery House Family Violence Prevention Society

Website

https://discoveryhouse.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Discovery House Family Violence Prevention Society is a Calgary-based Canadian charity (founded 1980) operating a 19-unit second-stage shelter and Canada's first community housing program for women and children fleeing domestic violence, delivering trauma-informed counselling, Indigenous-led cultural programs, and financial literacy services since 1980.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Domestic Violence Support Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Child and Youth Services (62411), Temporary Shelters (624221)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO), Mental Health & Emotional/Trauma-Informed Childcare (anxiety, PTSD) (HSAAAIAI), Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH)

Keywords

• Domestic violence services
• Family violence prevention
• Transitional housing
• Trauma-informed counselling
• Child youth programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Discovery House relies heavily on individual donors including monthly donors, annual donors, and major gift contributors. Donors can give through various methods including online donations, stocks and securities, estate and planned gifts, and mailing cheques.
2. Government Funding: Core funding from government sources including the Alberta Government and FCSS (Family and Community Support Services) to support operations and programs.
3. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Support from foundations including Calgary Foundation, Moffat Family Fund, and corporate partners for specific programs and capital campaigns.
4. Estate and Planned Giving: Legacy gifts and bequests from donors who include Discovery House in their wills, providing long-term sustainable support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Discovery House provides a 19-unit second-stage transitional shelter and Canada's first community housing program for women and children fleeing domestic violence. It delivers trauma-informed counselling, child and youth development programs, family support services, and Indigenous-adapted healing programs at no cost to eligible families in Calgary.

Product overview

Discovery House is a social services organization offering a comprehensive suite of programs for families escaping domestic violence. The core offerings include a 19-unit Second-stage Shelter providing transitional housing, and a Community Housing Program (Canada's first community housing program for families healing from domestic violence). Supporting services include trauma-informed Counselling Services, Child & Youth Programs with the dedicated Rosie's Place development centre, and Family Support Programs. Culturally-specific offerings include Indigenous Mom's Empowerment and Kid's Club, the Cultural Healing Space (Kookonnooni/Kiikinow), and Tobacco Ceremonies. A new Parenting Program Coordinator role was created to strengthen family healing through programs like Nurturing Parenting, Parenting After Violence, and Circle of Security. All services are accessed through intake programs that assess needs and connect families to appropriate supports.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rosie's Place: A trauma-informed child development centre at Discovery House for children up to age 5, featuring sensory play, arts and crafts, and reading activities. Named in honor of Ian and Marsha's grandmother who lived a long, spirited life.

Products and services

• Second-stage Shelter A secure, unmarked 19-apartment building providing transitional housing for families leaving violence. Features underground parking, 24-hour security, shared laundry, counselling spaces, a cultural healing space, community room, kitchen, child development centre, art room, and courtyard with playground.
• Community Housing Program Helps single-parent families find safe, affordable rental housing throughout Calgary. Staff work with families for up to two years to help them reach goals, understand lease agreements, and connect to community resources.
• Counselling Services Trauma-informed counselling for women and children delivered by professional staff. Helps process trauma, manage change, deal with depression and anxiety, cope with stress, and build resilience. Includes sessions for children to learn about healthy relationships, emotions, and communication skills.
• Child & Youth Programs Programs for children affected by domestic violence focusing on emotional safety, confidence, and healthy development. Includes Rosie's Place trauma-informed development centre for children up to age 5, addressing developmental milestones through sensory play, arts, crafts, and reading.
• Family Support Programs Practical supports for daily life and parenting after violence, including advocacy, life skills, budgeting assistance, and connections to community resources. Programs are flexible and adapt to meet family needs.
• Indigenous Mom's Empowerment and Kid's Club A ten-week Indigenous adaptation of the international evidence-based intervention program for mothers and children who have been exposed to domestic violence. Developed with insights from local Elders and the University of Manitoba to integrate Indigenous ways of knowing and being.
• Cultural Healing Space (Kookonnooni/Kiikinow) A transformative cultural healing space at the heart of the shelter for families to come together and heal. Features Elder-led one-on-one meetings and traditional Indigenous pathways of healing.
• Parenting Program Strength-based, trauma-informed support helping caregivers rebuild confidence and enhance capacity to nurture child healing and development. Offers individual and group parenting education including Nurturing Parenting, Parenting After Violence, and Circle of Security programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• For every dollar invested in domestic violence prevention and intervention, there is a return of $20 (reduced healthcare, justice system, and social service costs)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and general.

• Alberta Council of Women's Shelters (ACWS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting women's shelters across Alberta, aligned with Discovery House's mission.
• The Heart Home NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in The Shared Intake Program - collaboration between all three of Calgary's second-stage shelters allowing families to apply once and be placed on a single waitlist.
• Radiance SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in The Shared Intake Program - Calgary second-stage shelter collaborating with Discovery House for unified intake process.
• Harvard University Center on the Developing ChildstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership examining early brain development and healthy childhood attachment to inform new childhood intervention programs.
• University of CalgarystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in research collaboration with Harvard and in developing Indigenous adaptations of programming.
• University of ManitobastrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in developing the Indigenous adaptation of Mom's Empowerment and Kid's Club program.
• Enough for AllgeneralStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalgary community initiative partner working toward collective impact.
• Calgary Housing CompanygeneralStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing partner supporting affordable housing initiatives for families served by Discovery House.
• AspiregeneralStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing support services.
• Little Rock PrintinggeneralStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner providing printing services support.
• The Nonprofit ChambergeneralStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber membership organization supporting Calgary nonprofits.
• Elder Pam Heavy HeadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous Elder leading cultural healing programs, tobacco ceremonies, and Indigenous adaptations of Mom's Empowerment and Kid's Club. Cultural healing space named with Blackfoot name 'Kookonnooni' and Cree name 'Kiikinow' meaning 'Our House'.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter: Calgary-based emergency shelter serving women and children fleeing domestic violence. Directly comparable as a Calgary DV shelter serving an overlapping client population, though focused on emergency (first-stage) rather than second-stage shelter.
• Radiance Family Society: Calgary-based second-stage shelter for DV survivors and partner in the Shared Intake Program. Directly comparable as a second-stage shelter serving the same population, with collaborative intake infrastructure.
• Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society: Calgary-based shelter for Indigenous women and children fleeing domestic violence. Directly comparable given shared mission of serving DV survivors in Calgary with culturally grounded programming similar to Discovery House's Indigenous adaptation work.
• Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre: Winnipeg-based Indigenous organization providing family healing, housing, and culturally grounded support. Comparable given similar Indigenous-led programming and DV/family violence service mix, though operating at significantly larger scale.
• Sagesse Domestic Violence Prevention Society: Calgary-based organization focused on domestic violence prevention through education, support, and training. Comparable given shared Calgary focus and DV prevention mission, though emphasizing prevention over shelter provision.

Broad incumbents

• Alberta Council of Women's Shelters (ACWS): Provincial umbrella organization supporting member shelters across Alberta. Comparable as a sector-coordination body that Discovery House partners with, providing training, advocacy, and resources to member shelters including Discovery House.
• YWCA Calgary: Calgary-based nonprofit offering a broad portfolio of services for women and families including housing, childcare, and employment programs. Comparable given shared women-and-families mission in Calgary, though operating at a much larger scale and broader scope than Discovery House.

Regional players

• Central Alberta Women's Emergency Shelter Society (CAWES): Red Deer-based emergency and second-stage shelter serving women and children fleeing domestic violence in central Alberta. Comparable given shared DV shelter model and Alberta footprint, though serving a different geographic catchment.
• Ernestine's Women Shelter: Toronto-based shelter serving women and children fleeing violence. Comparable given shared second-stage shelter model and trauma-informed programming, though operating in Ontario rather than Alberta.

Others

• Calgary Housing Company: Calgary municipal housing agency providing affordable rental housing to low-income households. Comparable as a Discovery House partner organization supporting affordable housing access for DV survivors transitioning out of shelter.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DiscoveryHouseCalgary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/discovery-house-family-violence-prevention-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

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 Discovery House Family Violence Prevention Society