Opportunities for Employment

What Opportunities for Employment does

Opportunities for Employment (OFE) is a faith-based non-profit corporation founded in 1996 and headquartered at 294 Portage Avenue in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Its core function is operating a free, government-and-foundation-funded employment-services platform that connects Winnipeg job seekers facing barriers to employment — including EIA recipients, persons with disabilities, newcomers, individuals with criminal records, and underrepresented demographics — with Manitoba employers. The organization serves both sides of the labour market through three service lines: Job Seeker Services, Employer Services, and Referral Services, supplemented by a structured catalogue of more than fifteen training modules organized into Employment Development, Skill Development, and Job Search Preparation tracks, plus specialized programs such as the Employer Partnership Program (with Canada Goose as flagship), the Employment Mentorship Program with paid placements, and the Community Employment Support Program for individuals with criminal records.

OFE's operational technology stack centers on an ISTEDYCloud web-based intake and registration portal, an Articulate 360/Rise 360-powered Learning Management System exporting SCORM/xAPI/cmi5 packages, and conventional customer support tooling (live chat, chatbot, helpdesk). The organization's methodological core is a proprietary application of the Stages of Change Model (originally from health psychology) combined with Motivational Interviewing, tested across a three-year research study with over 2,000 participants and validated by research partner Social Research Demonstration Corporation (SRDC). This methodology is reinforced by a milestone-based outcomes measurement system tracking participants across nine stages and a demand-led programming model that aligns training with employer demand in sectors including Manufacturing, Health Services Support, Retail & Hospitality, Customer Service/Contact Centre, Child Care, and Administrative/Office.

OFE generates no fee-based revenue; all services are provided free of charge. The organization is funded primarily through government contracts (Government of Canada, Manitoba Government), United Way of Winnipeg, and grants from corporate and foundation donors including IG Wealth Management, Assiniboine Credit Union, Richardson Foundation, The Winnipeg Foundation, and CLAC Foundation, supplemented by individual and corporate donations. Customer acquisition is hybrid: direct-to-consumer via online and walk-in intake, sales-led via employer forums and direct employer engagement, and community-led via referral partnerships with community agencies and EIA. The organization reports 37,000+ cumulative placements, 3,500+ job seekers served annually, 500+ active employer partners, and 5,000+ historically hiring partners, operating exclusively within Winnipeg with stated geographic restrictions outside the city.

Name

Opportunities for Employment

Legal name

Opportunities for Employment Inc.

Website

https://ofe.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Opportunities for Employment is a Winnipeg-based non-profit founded in 1996 that delivers free employment services connecting job seekers facing barriers (EIA recipients, newcomers, persons with disabilities, those with criminal records) with Manitoba employers, funded by government contracts, United Way, and corporate/foundation grants, and recognized for its proprietary Stages of Change methodology and Canada Goose manufacturing partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Employment Services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Employment Services (5613), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Support Services & Case Management (Coaching, Wraparound) (EDAAAOAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA), Workforce Development, Employment Readiness & Job Placement (BPADAKAE), Adult Learner Support Services (Advising, Case Management, Wraparound Supports) (EDAAABAJ), Special Populations ASE (Reentry/Corrections, Homeless, Refugee/Immigrant, Foster/Justice-Involved) (EDAAABAI), Workforce & Job-Seeker Services (Community-Based) (EDAAAFAM)

Keywords

• Employment services
• Job placement
• Workforce development
• Career counseling
• Employer recruitment

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnipeg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: OFE is a non-profit organization funded primarily by government sources including The Government of Canada and The Manitoba Government through funding agreements. Services are provided free of charge to job seekers and employers.
2. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Funding from foundations and corporate donors including United Way of Winnipeg, IG Wealth Management, Assiniboine Credit Union, Richardson Foundation, The Winnipeg Foundation, CLAC Foundation, and others.
3. Donations: Individual and corporate donations used to support program delivery, participant resources (bus tickets, protective footwear, hygiene kits, criminal record checks), and special initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Opportunities for Employment (OFE) is a non-profit organization founded in 1996 that delivers free employment services, connecting job seekers with employers in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The organization runs dedicated programs for individuals seeking work and for businesses seeking to recruit talent, including mentorship, online preparation courses, and community-based employment support.

Product overview

Opportunities for Employment (OFE) is a faith-based non-profit employment services organization offering a comprehensive suite of free programs and modules. The portfolio centers on three core service lines: Job Seeker Services (connecting individuals with employment opportunities), Employer Services (free recruitment and screening for Manitoba businesses), and Referral Services (pathways for community partners). These are supported by structured educational modules organized into three categories: Employment Development (foundational work readiness), Skill Development (industry-specific training including computer skills, CPR, customer service, and health services), and Job Search Preparation (career exploration, digital job search, and interview skills). OFE also offers specialized programs including the Employer Partnership Program with milestone-based outcomes, the Employment Mentorship Program with paid placements, and research-based initiatives like the Stages of Change Model. All services are free to eligible Winnipeg residents, funded by government and foundation partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Job Seeker Services
• Employer Services
• Referral Services
• Employer Partnership Program
• Employment Mentorship Program
• Employment Preparation Online Courses
• Community Home Services Program (CHSP)
• Community Employment Support Program (CESP)

Quantifiable outcome

• 87% post-employment retention rate at 6 months for Canada Goose partnership
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, founding and minor.

• Canada GooseflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Major manufacturing partner in OFE's Employer Partnership Program. Partnership began in 2015 when Canada Goose was expanding to Winnipeg. OFE helped train 188 new employees, filling their second plant and enabling consideration of a third. Currently, OFE participants represent over 40% of the entire Canada Goose Manitoba workforce with over 1200 people hired total. Partnership continues with ongoing training center access expanded from 7 to 20 participants per month.
• Social Research Demonstration Corporation (SRDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in multiple studies including Employer Partnership Program and Employment Mentorship Program. SRDC defines the milestone approach and conducts external evaluation of program outcomes. Partnered on research to test innovative employment development models.
• Eden Health Care ServicesfoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner from OFE's establishment in 1996. Supported the initial development of OFE based on the America Works model.
• Mennonite Central Committee (MCC Manitoba)foundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner instrumental in establishing OFE in 1996. Helped bring the America Works incentive-based employment model to Manitoba.
• Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA)foundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner from Winnipeg Chapter that helped establish OFE in 1996.
• Dress for Success WinnipegminorOthersDonation partner providing professional attire for OFE job seekers preparing for employment.
• Aveda Institute & Academy Salon WinnipegminorOthersGifts-in-kind donation partner providing services for OFE job seekers.
• Rady JCCminorOthersDonation and gifts-in-kind partner supporting OFE programs.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MOSAIC: Vancouver-based non-profit providing immigrant settlement and employment services including job search support, training, and employer connections — closely comparable to OFE's newcomer programming and dual-customer model.
• ACCES Employment: Toronto-based non-profit providing free employment services to job seekers, including newcomers and those facing barriers, with a strong employer-matching model — directly comparable to OFE in mission, services, and dual-customer approach, though operating at much larger scale.
• America Works: U.S.-based non-profit that pioneered the incentive-based employment model which OFE's founders adapted for Manitoba in 1996 — a structural peer sharing OFE's origin methodology and barrier-population mission.
• COSTI Immigrant Services: Ontario non-profit offering settlement and employment services primarily for newcomers, including job search support, training, and employer connections — closely comparable to OFE's newcomer-focused programming and free-service delivery model.
• JVS Toronto: Jewish non-profit employment and vocational services provider offering career counselling, training, and employer connections for diverse populations — directly comparable to OFE in faith-based non-profit structure, case-managed employment services, and barrier-population focus.
• Bredin Institute: Edmonton-based non-profit delivering employment services, skills training, and career development for job seekers facing barriers — directly comparable in offering free programs funded by government grants and serving underrepresented groups.
• Goodwill Industries of Manitoba: Local Goodwill affiliate providing employment services and training to individuals facing barriers, including persons with disabilities — directly comparable as a Manitoba-based non-profit serving similar populations with employer-matching and training programs.

Broad incumbents

• ManpowerGroup: Global staffing and workforce solutions firm with significant Canadian operations — comparable in employer-matching and workforce development services, though operating as a for-profit at vastly larger scale and with different client economics.
• YMCA Employment Services: Larger national organization delivering employment and newcomer services across multiple Canadian cities — comparable in service mix (job search, training, employer matching) and free, government-funded delivery model, with much broader geographic footprint.

Others

• Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC): Canadian non-profit research organization partnered with OFE on program evaluation and the milestone measurement framework — comparable as an ecosystem participant and research partner shaping OFE's evidence-based programming rather than as a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFStLLrBnl-2F3I9PSzI5cQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/OpportunitiesforEmployment
• Instagraminstagram.com/opportunitiesforemployment

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Opportunities for Employment