KidSport

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.

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

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

• Youth sport grants
• Charitable funding programs
• Community sports assistance
• Nonprofit youth services
• Sport registration funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnipeg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• Source for Sports / Sports Distributors of CanadamajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2025National 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)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 November 2023In-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)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2023In-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 ArmourcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2022Multi-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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/KidSport
• Facebookfacebook.com/kidsportcanada
• Instagraminstagram.com/kidsport.canada
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kidsport-bc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 KidSport