KidSport
KidSport is a Canadian national not-for-profit that provides financial assistance for children's sport registration fees and equipment. Operating through 176 community chapters, it distributes approximately $9 million in grants annually to families facing financial barriers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersWinnipeg, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What KidSport does
KidSport is a Canadian national not-for-profit organization that provides confidential financial assistance for sport registration fees and equipment to children aged 18 and under whose families face cost barriers. Founded in 1993 and headquartered at 145 Pacific Ave in Winnipeg, the organization operates through a network of 166–176 community and provincial/territorial chapters across all 13 Canadian provinces and territories, making it the only national entity dedicated specifically to this mission. Applications are processed through a third-party online portal at kidsport.smartsimple.ca, with grant caps varying by chapter between $400 and $750 per child per year (e.g., BC Provincial up to $400/child, Yorkton up to $500/child, Wynyard up to $750/child).
KidSport distributes roughly $9 million annually in grants and has raised a cumulative $40 million over the past 5 years, helping 188,000 children access organized sport. Revenue is sourced from four streams: individual donations (with an average gift of $300 funding one full season), national and local corporate sponsorships, federal government grants under the Community Sport for All Initiative, and event-based fundraising including the MOVE430 virtual fitness challenge ($30/participant) and the annual Give the Gift of Sport holiday campaign (now in its 14th year).
The organization's go-to-market is community-led: 176 chapters operate as quasi-independent fundraising and grant-distribution units, while national partnerships provide enterprise-scale sponsorship and brand reach. Marquee partners include Saputo (national partner since 2018, founding partner of KidSport Quebec in 2023), the Seaman Hotchkiss Hockey Foundation ($750,000/3 years starting 2023), Icy Hot ($500,000/3 years), Under Armour (multi-year partnership since 2022 targeting 5,000 children by spring 2025), and Source for Sports (130+ retail locations, multi-year partnership beginning 2025). KidSport is governed by a voluntary Board of Directors with representation from provincial sport federations and is registered as a Registered Canadian Amateur Athletic Association (CRA charity number 86212 5986 RR0003). The national office operates with a lean 3-person executive team (CEO Greg Ingalls, Operations Manager Debra Kluck, Development and Communications Manager Lauren Maharaj) supported by volunteer chapter leadership.
KidSport firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KidSport
- Legal name
- KidSport Canada
- Website
- https://kidsportcanada.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- KidSport is a Canadian national not-for-profit that provides financial assistance for children's sport registration fees and equipment. Operating through 176 community chapters, it distributes approximately $9 million in grants annually to families facing financial barriers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KidSport industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Sport Grants and Charitable Funding
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Child and Youth Services (62411)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Grantmaking Agencies & Education Program Grants Administration (EDADAHAD), Scholarships, Grants & Education Benefits Administration (Financing-adjacent) (FSAKAEAM)
Keywords
Where KidSport is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Winnipeg
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
KidSport business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Individual Canadians donate to KidSport to support children in their communities or across the country. The average donation of $300 can provide one child a full season of sport.
- Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorships: National and local corporate partners provide financial support, in-kind donations, and fundraising campaign support. Major partners include Saputo, Seaman Hotchkiss Hockey Foundation ($750,000), Icy Hot ($500,000), Under Armour, Source for Sports, and various food brands.
- Government Grants: KidSport receives government funding such as the Community Sport for All Initiative from the Government of Canada to support sport participation for marginalized populations.
- Event Fundraising: Virtual events like the MOVE430 Challenge (registration $30) and annual Give the Gift of Sport campaign generate funds while engaging participants in physical activity and awareness.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | MOVE430 Challenge Registration |
| Outcome Based/ Performance | Multi-year contract | Sport Registration Grants per Child |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
KidSport product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KidSport provides confidential financial grants covering sport registration fees and equipment for children aged 18 and under from families facing financial barriers. Grants of up to $400-$750 per child per year (varies by chapter) are administered through 176 local and provincial chapters across Canada via an online application portal. The grant program is sustained through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, government funding, and two annual fundraising campaigns.
Product overview
KidSport is a national not-for-profit organization that operates as a single unified charitable mission focused on removing financial barriers to sport participation for children. The core offering is the KidSport Grant Program, which provides financial assistance for sport registration fees and equipment to kids aged 18 and under through a confidential application process. This is supported by two major annual campaigns: the MOVE430 Challenge (a virtual fitness event running each April) and the Give the Gift of Sport holiday campaign. The organization operates through a network of 166-176 local and provincial/territorial chapters across Canada that administer grants at the community level.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- KidSport Grant Program Confidential financial grants that cover sport registration fees and equipment costs for children aged 18 and under from families facing financial barriers. Grants are administered through 176 local and provincial chapters across Canada via an online application portal (kidsport.smartsimple.ca). Annual grant amounts per child vary by chapter (e.g., BC: up to $400; Yorkton: up to $500; Wynyard: up to $750). The program distributes approximately $9 million annually.
- MOVE430 Challenge Annual virtual fitness event held every April in which participants commit to 30 minutes of daily activity for 30 consecutive days while fundraising for a KidSport chapter of their choice. Registration costs $30 per participant. Now in its 6th annual iteration and covering 6 provinces.
- Give the Gift of Sport Campaign Annual holiday fundraising campaign running November through January that encourages Canadians to donate so no child is left on the sidelines. The campaign has run since 2011/2012 and engages 165+ chapters nationwide.
- Local Chapter Network Service Operational service network of 166-176 local and provincial/territorial chapters across Canada that fundraise, accept grant applications, and distribute funds locally. Includes provincial offices in all 13 provinces and territories.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1 in 2 Canadian children kept out of organized sport due to cost
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use KidSport
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
KidSport technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
KidSport partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.
- Source for Sports / Sports Distributors of CanadamajorNational multi-year partnership beginning 2025 dedicated to breaking down financial barriers. 130+ independently owned stores with community roots. Partnership includes in-store fundraising, local events, and direct connections between stores and KidSport chapters.
- Dairyland (Saputo brand)minorIn-store fundraising campaign (Nov-Dec 2023) in Western Canada stores aiming to raise $20,000 and help 100+ kids across BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba.
- Baxter and Scotsburn Milk (Saputo brands)minorIn-store fundraising campaign (Sept-Nov 2023) in Atlantic Canada stores aiming to raise $35,000 and help 100+ kids in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
- Under ArmourcoreMulti-year partnership connecting UA consumers with KidSport through in-store events, 'round up' campaigns. Goal to cover registration fees for 5,000 children by spring 2025. Donates prizes for MOVE430 Challenge.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
KidSport competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities: Canadian Tire Jumpstart is the closest direct peer - a national charity helping kids from financially disadvantaged families participate in organized sport and recreation. Same beneficiary population, same grant model, and same national chapter structure across Canada.
- Right To Play: Right To Play is a Canadian-headquartered global charity that uses sport and play to educate and empower children facing adversity. Comparable in mission (sport as vehicle for child development) and in grantmaking/program delivery, though operating internationally.
- ParticipACTION: ParticipACTION is a Canadian not-for-profit focused on helping Canadians sit less and move more, with a long history of national sport participation programming. Shares KidSport's mission of increasing Canadian sport participation and operates as a national advocacy and program organization.
- True Sport Foundation: True Sport Foundation is a Canadian charity that supports programs delivering sport participation benefits to under-served populations, including direct grants. Most directly comparable on the grantmaking-for-sport-access model.
Emerging players
- MLSE Foundation: MLSE Foundation is the charitable arm of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment funding sport access for kids in Ontario. Comparable in sport-access mission and corporate-tied funding model, though narrower in geographic scope.
Others
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada: Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada is a national youth services charity serving children and youth in high-need communities with after-school programming, sport, and recreation. Comparable in operating community-based youth programming and fundraising model, but broader than sport-only.
- YMCA Canada: YMCA Canada is a national federation of charitable YMCAs delivering sport, recreation, and youth programs, often with financial assistance for low-income families. Comparable in community-based youth sport delivery and the financial-assistance-to-participants model.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada is a national youth mentoring charity that recruits adult mentors for at-risk children. Comparable as a national youth-services non-profit with corporate partner funding and chapter-based delivery.
- Sport Canada (Government of Canada): Sport Canada is the federal government agency that funds national and multi-sport organizations to increase sport participation. Comparable as a funder and policy counterpart in the Canadian sport ecosystem that distributes government grants for participation.
- United Way Canada: United Way Canada is a national federated fundraising and grantmaking organization supporting local programs in community need. Comparable as a national grantmaking/funder network, though operating across all social services rather than sport-specifically.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
KidSport social profiles
Digital presenceKidSport compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
KidSport financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KidSport leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
KidSport funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KidSport M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about KidSport
What does KidSport do?
KidSport provides confidential financial grants covering sport registration fees and equipment for children aged 18 and under from families facing financial barriers. Grants of up to $400-$750 per child per year (varies by chapter) are administered through 176 local and provincial chapters across Canada via an online application portal. The grant program is sustained through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, government funding, and two annual fundraising campaigns.
Is KidSport a public or private company?
KidSport is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was KidSport founded?
KidSport was founded in 1993. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is KidSport based?
KidSport is headquartered in Winnipeg, Canada, in the North America region.
How does KidSport make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships & Sponsorships, government Grants and event Fundraising.
Who are KidSport's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, Right To Play, ParticipACTION and True Sport Foundation. MLSE Foundation is listed as an emerging player. Others are Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada, YMCA Canada, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada, Sport Canada (Government of Canada) and United Way Canada.
Does KidSport have an API?
No public API is recorded for KidSport.
What industry is KidSport in?
KidSport's product category is Youth Sport Grants and Charitable Funding. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAOAB, Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors), with a secondary code of EDADAHAD, Grantmaking Agencies & Education Program Grants Administration. Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 8300.