Back Door Mission
Back Door Mission is a registered Canadian charity in Oshawa, Ontario that operates the Mission United HUB—a collaborative service center co-locating 11+ partner agencies to deliver food, housing, mental-health, and social-service support to food-insecure and vulnerable residents across the Durham Region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersOshawa, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Back Door Mission does
Back Door Mission is a Canadian charitable non-profit organization headquartered in Oshawa, Ontario, dedicated to addressing food insecurity, poverty, and homelessness within the Durham Region. Originally founded in 1998 as a small outreach program under a host church, the organization formally incorporated as an independent registered charity (#82933 4770 RR0001) in 2014 and has since scaled into a regional service hub. Its core operations revolve around direct aid distribution, including food hampers, meal programs, clothing, hygiene supplies, and seasonal gift-card campaigns, with the 2023 operational footprint encompassing 31,025 visits to its HUB and 56,671+ food-insecurity interactions. The organization does not develop proprietary technology or digital platforms; its delivery model is anchored in in-person service and a large volunteer base that contributed 3,637+ shifts in 2023.
The organization's defining structural asset is the Mission United HUB, launched in April 2020 as a co-located collaborative service center hosting 11+ partner agencies, including CMHA Durham, Lakeridge Health, Pinewood, Ontario Works, and ODSP. This ecosystem model allows beneficiaries to access multiple social, mental-health, and employment services through a single point of entry, generating strong referral stickiness and integrated case management. Back Door Mission employs 11-50 staff, led by Executive Director Nathan Gardner, with operational and financial support delivered through a combination of volunteer labor, in-kind donation drives, and partner-agency secondments.
Back Door Mission's revenue model is characteristic of a community non-profit: it relies on a mix of government grants (most notably a $1.1 million one-time provincial funding commitment received in June 2023), individual and corporate donations, in-kind contributions, and event-based fundraising. Its flagship recurring fundraiser is the annual Professors of Funk Christmas Special, which has cumulatively raised over $100,000 since 2014, including approximately $25,000 raised in 2025. The organization operates within a single geography (Oshawa and Durham Region) and does not appear to pursue digital or geographic expansion beyond this footprint, with growth instead driven by deeper integration with public-sector and health-system partners.
Back Door Mission firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Back Door Mission
- Legal name
- Back Door Mission for the Relief of Poverty
- Website
- https://backdoormission.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Back Door Mission is a registered Canadian charity in Oshawa, Ontario that operates the Mission United HUB—a collaborative service center co-locating 11+ partner agencies to deliver food, housing, mental-health, and social-service support to food-insecure and vulnerable residents across the Durham Region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Back Door Mission industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social Services (Non-Profit)
- NAICS
- Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Financial Assistance & Benefits Navigation Services (BPAGAEAK)
Keywords
Where Back Door Mission is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oshawa
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Back Door Mission business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Individual and Corporate Donations: Charitable donations from individuals, businesses, and community groups, including monthly recurring donations. Donors receive charitable tax receipts (Registration #82933 4770 RR0001).
- Provincial Government Funding: One-year funding commitment from the Ontario provincial government. Received $1.1 million in June 2023.
- Event Fundraising: Annual benefit concerts and fundraising events. The Professors of Funk Christmas Special has raised over $100,000 since 2014.
- Gift Card and In-Kind Donations: Gift cards from retailers (Costco, Walmart, No Frills) and in-kind donations of food, clothing, and supplies.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Back Door Mission product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Back Door Mission facilitates Mission United, a collaborative social and health services hub providing in-the-moment, wrap-around support services to individuals in Durham Region experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity, mental health and addiction concerns, and food access challenges. Through a singular access point and a partnership model with 11+ agencies, the organization delivers free services including meals, food pantry, medical care, addiction counselling, housing/shelter referrals, harm reduction, mental health supports, peer support, and income assistance.
Product overview
Back Door Mission for the Relief of Poverty is a non-profit social services organization that operates primarily through its core initiative, Mission United, a collaborative social and health services hub. The organization provides a comprehensive suite of wrap-around services including the Lunch Program, Food Pantry, Safe Sleep Area, Medical Clinic, Addiction Counselling Supports, Housing Supports & Shelter Referral, Mental Health Supports, Harm Reduction and Supplies, Peer Support and Outreach, Financial and Social Assistance, and Community Programs. These services are designed to support individuals experiencing homelessness, poverty, and marginalization in Oshawa and Durham Region, offering both immediate necessities and longer-term stabilization supports through a low-barrier, person-centred approach.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Mission United: A collaborative social and health services hub providing in-the-moment, wrap-around support services to individuals in Durham Region dealing with homelessness, housing insecurity, mental health and addiction concerns, and food access challenges.
Products and services
- Mission United A collaborative social and health services hub providing in-the-moment, wrap-around support services to individuals in Durham Region experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity, mental health and addiction concerns, and food access challenges; operationalized through a singular access point at 66 Simcoe Street South.
- Lunch Program Fresh meals served indoors on weekdays (Monday-Friday, 10am-1pm) to individuals experiencing food insecurity in Durham Region.
- Food Pantry
- Safe Sleep Area
- Medical Clinic
- Addiction Counselling Supports
- Housing Supports & Shelter Referral
- Mental Health Supports
- Harm Reduction and Supplies
- Peer Support and Outreach
- Financial and Social Assistance
- Community Programs
- Washrooms and Showers
Quantifiable outcome
- 31,025 visits to the HUB in 2023
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Back Door Mission
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Back Door Mission technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Back Door Mission partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Canadian Mental Health Association DurhamcoreMission United partner providing mental health crisis support and referrals to community resources. Services available Monday-Friday 10am-3pm as part of the collaborative hub model.
- Lakeridge Health - Durham Mental Health ServicescorePartner managing the daytime safe sleep area in the chapel with eight cots. Provides mental health supports and housing help for unsheltered individuals.
- Pinewood Addiction ServicescoreOnsite addiction counselling and anti-withdrawal medications available Monday and Thursday 10am-12pm as part of Mission United.
- Ontario WorkscoreOnsite financial and social assistance MWF 10am-3pm including benefits questions, file updates, applications for financial income, referrals, and case management.
- Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)coreOnsite ODSP services available TTH 10am-3pm for individuals with disabilities requiring additional support.
- Primary Care Outreach Program (PCOP) - Durham RegioncoreOutreach services in Durham Region 8am-4pm Monday to Friday in collaboration with Mission United. Provides community-based primary care access.
- Community Development Council DurhamcoreMission United partner providing community development and social planning support services.
- John Howard Society of Durham RegioncoreHarm reduction and supplies services available Monday & Friday 10am-3pm as part of the collaborative service model.
- Community Care DurhamcoreHarm reduction and supplies services available Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10am-3pm.
- Durham Community Health CentrecoreHealthcare partner providing medical clinic services 10am-3pm with doctor and nurse practitioner for physical and mental health concerns.
- Brain Injury Association of Durham RegioncoreMission United partner providing specialized support for individuals with brain injuries who are experiencing homelessness or poverty.
- Amazon Wish ListminorAmazon.ca wish list for donors to purchase and ship needed items including non-perishables, toiletries, and clothing.
- FlipGiveminorGift card purchase platform enabling supporters to buy gift cards that are then donated to the mission.
- No Frills (Simcoe & Beatrice, Oshawa)minorRetail donation drop-off location with a cart just inside the store exit for non-perishable food donations.
- Simcoe Street United ChurchcoreFounding faith community and ongoing supporter. Back Door Mission originated as an outreach program of the church in 1998 and continues to operate from their facility at 66 Simcoe St S. The mission remains an affiliate of the United Church of Canada.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Back Door Mission competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fred Victor: Toronto social services charitable organization focused on homelessness, housing, mental health, and poverty reduction with co-located multi-service programs. Directly comparable integrated service hub model.
- Union Gospel Mission: Christian-affiliated charitable organization providing meals, shelter, addiction recovery, and outreach programs to people experiencing homelessness. Comparable faith-based roots and integrated service approach.
- Yonge Street Mission: Toronto-based Christian-affiliated charity providing wrap-around supports (meals, housing, youth and family programs) to people experiencing poverty and homelessness. Highly comparable operating model, urban Ontario footprint, and faith-community roots.
- Good Shepherd Centres: Hamilton-based charitable organization operating emergency shelters, housing, food programs, and health/harm reduction services. Comparable comprehensive social services portfolio across Southern Ontario.
- Scott Mission: Toronto-based charity offering food, clothing, shelter, and community programs to people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Comparable faith-affiliated governance, service mix, and reliance on donations plus government grants.
- St. Felix Centre: Toronto-based charity offering food, shelter, clothing, and drop-in services to people experiencing homelessness, poverty, and mental health challenges. Comparable low-barrier drop-in model and urban Ontario geography.
- The Mustard Seed: Calgary-based charity providing shelter, meals, housing, and community support for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Comparable operating model at a similar organizational scale.
Broad incumbents
- Salvation Army Canada: National faith-based charitable organization providing shelter, food, addiction recovery, and community services across Canada. Far larger scale but directly overlapping service categories and funding model.
Others
- Community Development Council Durham: Durham Region social planning and community development organization that is also a Mission United partner. Comparable regional footprint and adjacent mandate (housing stability, benefits navigation, community planning).
Regional players
- A Woman's Place (Durham Region): Durham Region-based shelter and support services for women and children fleeing abuse. Directly comparable regional geography and social services mandate with overlapping referral pathways.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Back Door Mission social profiles
Digital presenceBack Door Mission financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Back Door Mission leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Back Door Mission funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Back Door Mission 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 Back Door Mission
What does Back Door Mission do?
Back Door Mission facilitates Mission United, a collaborative social and health services hub providing in-the-moment, wrap-around support services to individuals in Durham Region experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity, mental health and addiction concerns, and food access challenges. Through a singular access point and a partnership model with 11+ agencies, the organization delivers free services including meals, food pantry, medical care, addiction counselling, housing/shelter referrals, harm reduction, mental health supports, peer support, and income assistance.
Is Back Door Mission a public or private company?
Back Door Mission is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Back Door Mission founded?
Back Door Mission was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Back Door Mission based?
Back Door Mission is headquartered in Oshawa, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Back Door Mission make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual and Corporate Donations are the primary driver. The others are provincial Government Funding, event Fundraising and gift Card and In-Kind Donations.
Who are Back Door Mission's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fred Victor, Union Gospel Mission, Yonge Street Mission, Good Shepherd Centres, Scott Mission, St. Felix Centre and The Mustard Seed. Salvation Army Canada is listed as a broad incumbent. Community Development Council Durham is listed as an others. A Woman's Place (Durham Region) is listed as a regional player.
Does Back Door Mission have an API?
No public API is recorded for Back Door Mission.
What industry is Back Door Mission in?
Back Door Mission's product category is Social Services (Non-Profit). Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAB, Housing Assistance & Homeless Services, with a secondary code of BPAIANAC, Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services. Its NAICS code is 62422 and its SIC code is 8300.