Together Against Poverty Society

What Together Against Poverty Society does

Together Against Poverty Society (TAPS) is a registered Canadian non-profit society and charity founded in 1989 and headquartered in Victoria, British Columbia, operating on the traditional territories of the Lekwungen (Songhees and Esquimalt), Snuneymuxw, Snaw-naw-as, and Stz'uminus peoples. The organization provides rights-based legal advocacy and public education services to low-income residents of Vancouver Island, serving over 7,000 people annually through two physical offices in Victoria (walk-in) and Nanaimo (appointment-only). Its core services include income assistance legal advocacy (MSDPR file reviews, reconsiderations, and Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal appeals), residential tenancy advocacy, Volunteer Disability Advocacy Project (PWD/CPP-D application assistance), free year-round income tax filing through CRA's Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, and public legal education sessions for community groups. The organization also publishes the Taproot seasonal newsletter (since 1991) and runs systemic advocacy campaigns including Vacancy Control Now.

TAPS does not develop proprietary technology; its operational stack is limited to Squarespace for website management and CRA's auto-fill system for tax preparation, with service delivery relying on trained staff and volunteers. The organization's business model is grant-funded: all services are provided free of charge to clients, with operating revenue derived from a diversified portfolio of institutional funders including the Province of British Columbia, The Law Foundation of British Columbia, Vancouver Foundation, Victoria Foundation, United Way of Southern Vancouver Island, Health Sciences Association, BC General Employees Union, Disability Alliance BC, individual donations (including the annual Tapas for TAPS fundraiser), and membership fees. TAPS staff are unionized under CUPE Local 374, and the organization is governed by a board of directors overseeing the Executive Director and Director of Operations.

TAPS is one of the largest anti-poverty organizations on Vancouver Island and combines direct client services with systemic advocacy targeting root causes of poverty, including housing affordability. Its competitive position rests on 35+ years of accumulated regulatory expertise in BC social assistance and tenancy law, an embedded community referral ecosystem, a trained volunteer workforce, and durable brand recognition through the long-running Taproot newsletter.

Name

Together Against Poverty Society

Legal name

Together Against Poverty Society

Website

https://tapsbc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Together Against Poverty Society is a Vancouver Island non-profit founded in 1989 providing free legal advocacy in income assistance, residential tenancy, and disability benefits, plus free tax filing, to over 7,000 low-income residents annually via Victoria and Nanaimo offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Legal Advocacy Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Assistance (624), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Financial Assistance & Benefits Navigation Services (BPAGAEAK), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

Keywords

• Legal advocacy services
• Poverty law assistance
• Income assistance advocacy
• Tenancy rights advocacy
• Disability application assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Victoria

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: TAPS receives operational funding from the Province of British Columbia, which appears to be a primary funding source for the non-profit organization's legal advocacy programs.
2. Foundation Grants: TAPS receives grants from multiple foundations including The Law Foundation of British Columbia, Vancouver Foundation, Victoria Foundation, and Disability Alliance BC.
3. Union Support: TAPS receives support from labor organizations including the Health Sciences Association (HSA) and BC General Employees Union (BCGEU).
4. United Way Funding: TAPS receives funding from United Way of Southern Vancouver Island.
5. Individual Donations: TAPS receives donations from individual supporters. The organization hosts fundraising events including the annual 'Tapas for TAPS' fundraiser at Heron Rock Bistro.
6. Membership Fees: TAPS offers organizational membership, allowing individuals and groups concerned with social justice and poverty eradication to support the organization's mission.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

TAPS provides free, rights-based legal advocacy and public education to people living in poverty on Vancouver Island. Its core services include income assistance legal advocacy (MSDPR file reviews, reconsiderations, and EAAT appeals), residential tenancy advocacy, the Volunteer Disability Advocacy Project (PWD/CPP-D applications), free year-round income tax filing through the CRA CVITP program, and public legal education delivered to community groups.

Product overview

Together Against Poverty Society is a non-profit organization offering legal advocacy and public education services. The organization operates two offices (Victoria and Nanaimo) providing a coordinated suite of services including: Income Assistance Legal Advocacy (file reviews, reconsiderations, EAAT appeals), Tenant Legal Advocacy (eviction support, landlord conflicts), Volunteer Disability Advocacy Project (PWD application assistance), and year-round Income Tax Filing Services through CRA's CVITP program. Additional services include Public Legal Education presentations, the Taproot newsletter (published seasonally since 1991), and systemic advocacy campaigns such as Vacancy Control Now. The organization serves over 7,000 people annually across Vancouver Island.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Income Assistance Legal Advocacy Free legal advocacy for individuals seeking or receiving income assistance from the BC Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (MSDPR). Covers file reviews, reconsiderations of Ministry decisions, and appeals to the Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal (EAAT). Available at both the Victoria and Nanaimo offices.
• Residential Tenancy Legal Advocacy Free legal advocacy for tenants facing eviction notices, landlord conflicts, and other issues under the jurisdiction of the BC Residential Tenancy Branch. Provides information on tenancy rights and responsibilities and supports conflict resolution. Available through the Victoria and Nanaimo offices.
• Volunteer Disability Advocacy Project (VDAP) Free assistance applying for the provincial Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation and the federal Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPP-D) benefit. TAPS-trained volunteer advocates help clients complete applications, liaise with medical professionals, and review applications before submission.
• Free Income Tax Filing Services Free income tax preparation and filing for individuals and families with modest income and simple tax situations (employment, pension, benefits, RRSPs, scholarships, interest under $1,200), delivered through the CRA Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP). Available year-round at the Victoria office with extended turnaround during tax season.
• Public Legal Education Educational presentations and outreach on poverty-related legal topics for community groups, social agencies, and organizations on Vancouver Island, designed to empower groups to better advocate for themselves and their constituents.
• Taproot Newsletter Seasonal community newsletter published since 1991, containing educational and editorial articles on poverty-related legal issues, TAPS organizational updates, and reader-submitted content. Available via subscription and online archive.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 7,000 people annually across Vancouver Island
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTAPS participates in the CRA's Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP), enabling trained volunteers to prepare and file free income tax returns for individuals with modest incomes and simple tax situations.
• CUPE Local 374coreOthersTAPS staff are members of CUPE Local 374, demonstrating organizational commitment to worker rights and collective bargaining.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• West Coast LEAF: BC-based legal advocacy organization using litigation, law reform, and public education to advance gender equality. Direct peer in the BC non-profit legal advocacy sector, sharing the combination of direct services and systemic law reform work.
• Disability Alliance BC: Provincial advocacy organization supporting people with disabilities to access provincial and federal disability benefits. Direct peer to TAPS' VDAP disability advocacy program and an existing TAPS funder, serving the same PWD/CPP-D applicant population across BC.
• Pivot Legal Society: Vancouver-based non-profit legal advocacy organization focused on social justice for marginalized communities, including housing, poverty, and disability rights. Most directly comparable to TAPS as a BC-focused legal advocacy non-profit combining direct client services with systemic advocacy.
• Tenants Resource & Advisory Centre (TRAC): BC-wide non-profit providing tenant information, advice, and advocacy on residential tenancy issues. Direct peer to TAPS' residential tenancy program, with overlapping mission and target population across BC.
• BC Poverty Reduction Coalition: Provincial advocacy coalition working toward poverty elimination through policy change, public education, and grassroots organizing. Direct peer to TAPS in the BC anti-poverty ecosystem, with overlapping systemic advocacy mission and target population.
• Access Pro Bono Society of BC: Non-profit organization providing free legal services to people of limited means across British Columbia. Directly comparable as a BC-focused free legal services non-profit, though operating through volunteer lawyers rather than staff advocates.

Broad incumbents

• Legal Aid BC: Province-wide publicly funded legal aid provider offering legal services, information, and advocacy across multiple practice areas. Broad incumbent providing overlapping legal aid services to low-income British Columbians, though with broader scope and different funding model than TAPS.
• BC Civil Liberties Association: Established BC non-profit defending civil liberties through litigation, public education, and law reform. Comparable as a longer-standing BC advocacy non-profit, though with broader civil liberties scope rather than poverty-specific focus.

Regional players

• Lookout Housing and Health Society: Lower Mainland-based non-profit providing housing, health, and advocacy services to people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Comparable as a BC non-profit addressing poverty through combined direct services and advocacy, though primarily serving Metro Vancouver rather than Vancouver Island.

Emerging players

• Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives – BC Office: BC office of a national progressive think tank conducting research and policy advocacy on poverty, inequality, and social policy. Comparable as a BC organization combining poverty-focused research and policy advocacy, complementary to TAPS' direct services model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/tapsbc
• Xx.com/TAPSBC
• Facebookfacebook.com/tapsbc

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 Together Against Poverty Society