Focus Foundation

What Focus Foundation does

Focus Foundation is a registered Canadian non-profit charity founded in 1975 in Langley, British Columbia, operating as the governing and fundraising body for Whytecliff Learning Centres — two dually accredited independent schools (one in Langley/Fraser Valley, one in Burnaby/Greater Vancouver) serving at-risk youth ages 13 to 19. The foundation holds BC Registered Charity #S-11439 and Federal Reg. # 118920305RR0001; its founder and Executive Director, Dr. Robert Kissner (B.A. Hons., M.A., Ph.D., R.S.W.), has led the organization since inception. Whytecliff maintains a staff-to-student ratio of approximately 1:8, combining BC Certified teachers with family and youth workers, and delivers individualized education plans alongside a Therapeutic Arts Program spanning drama, art, photography, and music.

The core offering is academic instruction integrated with mental-wellness programming. Whytecliff is accredited by the BC Ministry of Education as an independent school and by CARF as a Positive Mental Wellness Program — a dual status held by only 14 Ministry-recognized specialized schools in BC. Disclosed outcomes include a Grade 12 graduation rate above 95%, attendance above 80%, and course completion rates roughly double the provincial average. The foundation reports no proprietary technology platform; nearly all service delivery is in-person at the two physical campuses, supported by a website, blog, social media (Facebook, Twitter), video content, and printed and radio media coverage.

Revenue derives from three streams: tuition of $500 per student per month with a sliding scale, partial operating funding from the BC Ministry of Education as an accredited independent school, and charitable contributions from individuals, corporations, and named donor partners including Variety – The Children's Charity, CKNW Orphan's Fund, the TELUS Community Board, the Rotary Club of Langley Central, and the Amir and Yasmin Virani Family Foundation. A student sponsorship tier ($4,500 per year) lets donors fund specific scholarships and receive progress updates. Go-to-market is community- and referral-led, with continuous intake sourced from counselors, social workers, probation officers, parents, self-referrals through on-campus tours, and an online application. The organization was previously known as the Focus Foundation of British Columbia.

Name

Focus Foundation

Legal name

Focus Foundation

Website

https://focusfoundation.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Focus Foundation is a Canadian non-profit operating Whytecliff Learning Centres, dually accredited schools for at-risk youth ages 13-19 in British Columbia. It integrates individualized academics with therapeutic programming, funded by tuition, BC Ministry support, and charitable donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alternative Education / Special Education Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

Keywords

• Alternative education
• Therapeutic education programs
• At-risk youth services
• Special education schools
• Mental wellness programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Langley

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition: Whytecliff Centres charge tuition of $500 per month. A sliding scale is available for families who cannot afford full tuition, and scholarships and bursaries are offered through donor support. As an accredited independent school, partial funding is received from the BC Ministry of Education.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Focus Foundation relies on contributions from charitable organizations, corporations, and individuals to supplement partial government funding and sustain its broad spectrum of services. Tax receipts are issued for donations over $25. Registered charity in BC (#S-11439) and federally (#118920305RR0001).
3. Student Sponsorship Packages: One-year scholarship cost is $4,500, with payments structured over the school year. Sponsors receive student profiles and progress updates. Contributions are leveraged and matched by other foundation supports.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Focus Foundation operates as a non-profit charitable organization that governs and fundraises for Whytecliff Learning Centres, which deliver accredited alternative education combined with therapeutic support for at-risk youth ages 13–19 in British Columbia. The core service is an individualized education program integrating academics, social skills, personal counseling, and family engagement, with features such as a 1:8 staff-to-student ratio, continuous intake, and therapeutic arts programming.

Product overview

Focus Foundation operates as a single unified non-profit educational offering through its Whytecliff Learning Centres, which are dually accredited independent schools in British Columbia serving at-risk youth ages 13-19. The core product is the Whytecliff educational program combining individualized academics with therapeutic support. Supporting modules include the Student Sponsorship/Scholarship Program enabling direct donor support for individual students, and the Therapeutic Arts Program providing supplementary creative therapies (drama, art, photography, music). These components work together to address academics, social skills, personal issues, and family interactions through a holistic approach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Whytecliff Learning Centres: Provincially accredited independent schools for youth ages 13-19 with diverse learning and/or personal challenges. Operated by Focus Foundation.
• Whytecliff Centres

Products and services

• Whytecliff Learning Centres Provincially accredited independent schools for youth ages 13–19 with diverse learning and/or personal challenges, providing individualized education plans combined with therapeutic support. Students receive customized curriculum focused on strengths and talents to achieve high school graduation (BC Dogwood Diploma). Delivered at two locations in Langley (Fraser Valley) and Burnaby (Greater Vancouver).
• Student Sponsorship/Scholarship Program A contribution program enabling donors to directly support struggling or vulnerable youth with one-year scholarships costing $4,500, including progress updates to sponsors and payments structured over the school year. Funds are leveraged and matched by other foundation supports.
• Therapeutic Arts Program Therapeutic programming including drama, art, photography, and music that provides youth with positive ways to connect to their passions, develop interests, and pursue talents as part of emotional and behavioral support within the Whytecliff Learning Centres program.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 95% graduation rate for students entering Grade 12
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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.

• The Friends Langley Vineyard VenueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided venue support for Focus Foundation's first community concert on May 7, 2015, hosting over 100 friends, family, youth, and community members for the event.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Coast Mental Health (Coast Foundation Society): BC non-profit delivering mental-health and rehabilitation services including educational/vocational programs — comparable therapeutic-plus-education blend with CARF-aligned quality standards.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of British Columbia: BC youth-mentoring non-profit working with at-risk and vulnerable youth, overlapping referral pipelines (schools, social workers) and donor base.

Direct peers

• Pacific Community Resources Society: Lower Mainland non-profit offering counselling, alternative education, and youth justice programs — directly comparable service mix for at-risk youth in BC.
• PLEA Community Services: BC-based non-profit delivering community services, alternative education, and residential programs for at-risk youth and families — directly comparable mission, geography, and at-risk-youth focus.
• John Howard Society of British Columbia: BC non-profit providing programs for youth in conflict with the law and those at risk — comparable at-risk-youth focus and probation-officer referral channels.

Others

• Kids At Risk Action Group / Amir & Yasmin Virani Family Foundation: BC family foundation funding programs for at-risk youth, including scholarships to Whytecliff — a thematic ally and capital partner in the same social-services ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA BC: Established BC charity delivering youth programs, alternative education (e.g., YMCA Youth Alternative Program), and community services — overlapping mission on at-risk and alternative-education youth.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of British Columbia: Federated network of youth-focused community clubs across BC offering after-school, mentorship, and youth development programming — a broader incumbent operating in the same youth-services space.

Regional players

• Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver: Greater Vancouver charity providing support, housing, and educational programming for vulnerable youth and adults in the justice system — comparable at-risk-population mission.
• Family Services of Greater Vancouver: Greater Vancouver charitable organization providing counselling, youth programs, and family support — overlapping regional clientele and therapeutic programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/focusfoundationBC
• Xx.com/focusofbc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/focus-foundation-of-bc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Focus Foundation