Le Filon

What Le Filon does

Le Filon is a non-profit social innovation organization (OBNL) headquartered at 4577 boul. Guillaume Couture, Lévis, Quebec, Canada. Its stated mission is to "support sustainable collective initiatives to improve living conditions" and build a "solidarity-based, creative, and just community" in Lévis. The organization operates a unified portfolio of interconnected community programs rather than discrete products: food access (solidarity grocery "Épicerie solidaire," mobile market with 8 city points, weekly vegetable baskets, shared-fridge circuit, emergency food support), community spaces (the "Tiers lieu" welcoming hub, "Oasis citoyennes" circuit of animated open spaces, four community gardens, solidarity garden "FilonSème"), shared-resource services (the "Atelier de Bricologe" community workshop and tool library), collective meals (community kitchen and Monday/Friday dinners at $0–$5 on a sliding scale), and community events ("Donnerie" free object exchange, "Fabriquerie" maker event, art hives). No proprietary technology stack is built or claimed; operations are community-driven using third-party tools (Airtable for membership, Zeffy for donations, Facebook/Twitter for outreach).

The business model is a hybrid of earned revenue, donations, and institutional grants. Earned revenue is intentionally nominal — market baskets ($17 small / $22 large), collective meals ($0–$5), and solidarity grocery sales — designed for accessibility rather than margin. Suggested donations of $20 or more are accepted via Zeffy with tax receipts. The primary funding backbone is described as "regular partners including governments, programs, and foundations," supplemented by a broad coalition of corporate sponsors (Desjardins Entreprises, Groupe concessionnaires de Lévis, Groupe Garneau, IMAFA.COM, Valero, Remax Avantages, and others) underwriting specific campaigns such as the annual "Pâtés pour s'aider." Membership is free and acquired through an Airtable form.

The go-to-market motion is community-led: members are recruited via the website, social media (Facebook, Twitter), and word-of-mouth, and engaged through volunteer activities, collective projects, and recurring events. Target segments are horizontally defined — primarily the citizens of Lévis (geographic segment) with a secondary focus on vulnerable populations facing economic hardship or social exclusion (persona segment). Distribution is physical and place-based: a fixed headquarters operating as the unconditional welcome space, the solidarity grocery storefront, eight seasonal mobile market points, four garden locations, and periodic pop-up events. The operating footprint is single-country, single-city (Lévis), with no claim of broader geographic reach.

Name

Le Filon

Legal name

Le Filon

Website

https://filon.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Le Filon is a Lévis, Quebec-based non-profit social innovation organization running an interconnected portfolio of food-access, community-space, and mutual-aid programs for residents, funded by donations, government and foundation grants, and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

Keywords

• Community social services
• Food security programs
• Solidarity grocery
• Mutual aid services
• Community gardens

Headquarters

HQ city

Lévis

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Le Filon accepts donations from the public, with a suggested donation of $20 or more that provides a tax receipt. Donations are collected through the Zeffy platform.
2. Government and Foundation Funding: Regular partners including governments, programs, and foundations provide financial support enabling the organization to pursue its social innovation mission and community actions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Le Filon is a non-profit social innovation organization (OBNL) operating in Lévis, Quebec that delivers a unified portfolio of community programs addressing food insecurity, social isolation, and collective well-being. Its offerings span food access services (solidarity grocery, mobile market, weekly vegetable baskets, shared fridges, emergency food support), community spaces (third-place welcome hub, citizen oases, community and collective gardens), shared-resource services (community workshop with tool library, zero-waste initiative), collective meals, community events, and mutual-aid service exchange.

Product overview

Le Filon is a non-profit social innovation organization in Lévis, Quebec, operating as a unified community offering rather than a platform-plus-modules structure. The organization provides a diverse portfolio of interconnected community programs including food access services (solidarity grocery, mobile market, market baskets, shared fridges, emergency food support), community spaces (third-place hub, citizen oases, community gardens), shared-resource services (community workshop with tool library, food waste prevention), collective meals (community kitchens and dinners), and community events (free exchange events, maker faire, art hives). These programs collectively serve the organization's mission of supporting sustainable collective initiatives to improve community living conditions and foster solidarity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Oasis citoyennes A circuit of animated open spaces aimed at breaking isolation, reducing pandemic fatigue, and improving population resilience through a cross-cutting approach for Lévis citizens.
• Le Tiers lieu du Filon An unconditional welcoming space offering comfort, refreshments, listening services, emergency psychosocial intervention, and referrals for citizens facing various life challenges; open Monday to Friday 9:00-15:00 (closed Tuesdays).
• Atelier de Bricologe communautaire A shared workshop, tool library, and recovered materials warehouse offering community members access to tools and repurposed building materials.
• Cuisine collective Group gatherings several times per month to prepare nutritious, economical meals together as a community.
• Diner collectif Community-cooked and offered meals available on Mondays and Fridays, costing $0 to $5 depending on the participant's financial means.
• Jardins communautaires et collectifs Personal and collective garden plots available in four gardens across the city of Lévis.
• Épicerie solidaire A citizen involvement space and food product sales outlet offering bulk, fresh, fruits, vegetables, and monthly bulk orders; open Wednesday to Friday from 11:00 to 17:00.
• Marché populaire mobile A mobile market with 8 sales points throughout the city of Lévis operating from July to September.
• Paniers du marché Weekly fresh and economical vegetable baskets priced at $22 for a small family and $17 for an individual or couple.
• Jardin Solidaire FilonSème Community involvement garden producing collective fruits and vegetables for participants and organizational activities.
• Escouade zero-Gaspi A zero-waste initiative focused on reducing food waste and promoting sustainable practices within the community.
• Circuit des Frigos partagés A network of shared refrigerators allowing community members to share and access food resources.
• La Banque à piton A service exchange system between community members, enabling bartering and mutual support.
• Soutien alimentaire d'urgence Emergency food assistance provided to community members in urgent need.
• Donnerie A community event enabling participants to share thousands of objects free of charge, preventing items from accumulating or going to waste.
• Fabriquerie Annual outdoor DIY-themed event featuring workshops and booths promoting knowledge sharing and autonomy development in areas such as mechanics, crafts, and computing.
• Les ruches d'ART Art hives offering community members opportunities for artistic expression and cultural engagement.
• Campagne des Pâtés pour s'aider Annual community campaign producing meat and vegetarian pies with citizen participation, with over 2,800 pies made by nearly 400 involved citizens in 2024.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,800+ pies produced and 400 citizens involved in one campaign
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Journal de LéviscampaignGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal media partner supporting the Pâtés pour s'aider campaign through coverage and promotion.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Centre d'action bénévole de Lévis: Volunteer center in Lévis coordinating citizen engagement, mutual aid, and community services. Comparable to Le Filon's community-led model, volunteer mobilization, and member-driven associative life.
• Société de Saint-Vincent de Paul de Lévis: Local chapter of a long-standing charitable network providing direct food assistance, household support, and emergency aid to people in need. Closest direct peer to Le Filon's emergency food support and solidarity grocery in the same Lévis geography.
• Moisson Québec: Major Quebec City-area food bank that collects and redistributes food to community organizations, including those serving low-income populations. Directly comparable to Le Filon's solidarity grocery, mobile market, and emergency food support functions, though operating at significantly larger scale across a broader region.
• Lauberivière: Lévis-based community organization offering shelter, food assistance, and psychosocial support to people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Operates in the same geography as Le Filon with overlapping mission around food access, social inclusion, and unconditional reception.
• Maison de la famille de Lévis: Family services organization in Lévis providing food assistance, community kitchens, and support activities for vulnerable families. Overlaps with Le Filon's collective kitchens, food baskets, and family-focused community programs.

Others

• Banques alimentaires du Québec:

Broad incumbents

• YMCA Québec: Established community services organization offering community spaces, food programs, and social inclusion initiatives across Quebec. Comparable in offering welcoming spaces and community engagement programs, though at much larger scale and broader scope than Le Filon.
• Centraide Québec et Chaudière-Appalaches: Regional United Way affiliate funding and coordinating dozens of community organizations across the Lévis/Quebec region. Functions partly as a peer (community support mission) and partly as a potential funder/integrator for organizations like Le Filon.

Regional players

• Moisson Beauce: Regional food bank serving the Beauce area south of Lévis with food collection and redistribution. Comparable food-bank model to Le Filon's solidarity grocery and emergency food support, though operating in an adjacent region rather than Lévis itself.
• Caritas Québec: Faith-based social services network in Quebec providing emergency food aid, shelter referrals, and community support. Comparable mission to Le Filon's emergency food support and unconditional reception model, though rooted in institutional religious infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/filonca
• Facebookfacebook.com/lefilonlevis
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/le-filon-levis

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Le Filon