ARK - Accessibility Renovations for Kids

What ARK - Accessibility Renovations for Kids does

ARK (Accessibility Renovations for Kids) is a Calgary, Alberta-based registered charity (charity #787024686RR0001) founded in 2016 by Sue Trefry and Cindy Eberth that delivers home accessibility renovations for children with mobility challenges. Service offerings include wheelchair-accessible bathrooms, ramps, stair lifts, and broader home modifications, with each bathroom renovation typically costing approximately $30,000. ARK has completed 13+ renovation projects to date and maintains a 100% volunteer-driven operating model with no paid staff.

The business model is a pure donation-funded non-profit with no revenue from direct service billing. Funding sources span individual donations, corporate sponsorship and in-kind contributions, government and foundation grants (including the Government of Alberta RAMP program and Calgary Children's Foundation), and event-based fundraising anchored by the annual 'Reshape Their World' Gala. Approximately 95% of funds flow directly to projects versus 5% administration, structurally differentiating ARK from paid-staff non-profits. Donation matching of up to 50% is delivered through the Rogers Birdies for Kids program, and trade execution is delivered through partners including SHIFT Projects (general contracting) and 101 Mobility (equipment in-kind).

Go-to-market is community- and referral-driven: eligible families are typically referred by pediatric healthcare providers, social workers, and partner foundations, and application intake is via the ARK website. Geographic reach is currently limited to Calgary, with no paid staff, no expansion beyond Alberta disclosed, and no technology platform evident beyond basic web presence. The organization's scale, volunteer-only model, and pediatric-specific focus together represent both its differentiation and its principal capacity ceiling.

Name

ARK - Accessibility Renovations for Kids

Legal name

ARK Society

Website

https://arksociety.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ARK is a Calgary-based registered charity that delivers home accessibility renovations — including wheelchair-accessible bathrooms, ramps, and stair lifts — for children with mobility challenges, operating on a 100% volunteer model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Accessibility Home Renovation Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Home Accessibility Assessment & Design (HSAPANAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Pediatric Rehabilitation & Mobility DME (Adaptive Seating, Pediatric Mobility) (HLAHAMAI)

Keywords

• Home accessibility renovations
• Mobility impairment modifications
• Barrier-free construction
• Wheelchair home modifications
• Disability home adaptations

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute cash donations through online platforms (ATBCares, CanadaHelps) and direct mail/contact. Donation tiers include preset amounts of $10, $25, $50, $100, and $250, as well as custom amounts. Around 95% of costs go directly to renovation projects.
2. Corporate Sponsorship & In-Kind Donations: Companies in the construction and trades industries provide financial sponsorships, materials, labour, and professional services for specific ARK renovation projects. Sponsors receive recognition and the Purple Seal award. In-kind donations of materials and services are a significant revenue source.
3. Government & Foundation Grants: ARK receives grants such as the RAMP Grant (Residential Access Modification Program) and AGLC Casino Fundraising proceeds. Partnerships with foundations like Calgary Children's Foundation and the Bailie Family Foundation provide designated funding.
4. Event-Based Fundraising: ARK organizes and hosts fundraising events including an annual gala, silent auctions, casino nights, speaker series webinars, and seasonal artisan markets. Proceeds from these events support ARK Home Accessibility Renovations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ARK is a Calgary-based registered charity that provides home accessibility renovations for children (up to age 25) with mobility challenges. The organization manages the full renovation lifecycle from family nomination and assessment through planning, permitting, fundraising, certified contractor work, and installation of accessibility equipment such as wheelchair ramps, stair lifts, vertical platform lifts, ceiling track lifts, and barrier-free bathrooms.

Product overview

ARK (Accessibility Renovations for Kids) is a Calgary-based registered charity that operates as a single-service organization providing home accessibility renovations for children with mobility challenges. The core offering is the ARK Home Accessibility Renovation, which encompasses the full lifecycle of modifying homes to be barrier-free—from family nomination and assessment through fundraising, permitting, construction, and final walkthrough. The renovation service installs accessibility equipment including wheelchair ramps, stair lifts, chair lifts, vertical platform lifts, and modified bathrooms with roll-in showers, grab bars, and widened doorways. ARK also operates the Purple Seal Program, a recognition initiative that honors construction industry professionals who contribute to ARK renovation projects. Around 95% of costs go directly to projects, with approximately 5% for administration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ARK Home Accessibility Renovation Comprehensive home modification service that provides accessibility renovations for children with mobility challenges in Calgary. Includes family nomination and assessment, planning, drafting, permitting, certified contractor work, and installation of accessibility equipment such as wheelchair ramps, stair lifts, chair lifts, vertical platform lifts, ceiling track lifts, and barrier-free bathrooms with roll-in showers, grab bars, and widened doorways.
• Purple Seal Recognition Program Recognition program awarding Purple Seals to licensed companies and tradespersons who contribute to ARK home accessibility renovation projects through on-site work, administrative duties, or financial/material donations. Each seal displays ARK's name and the year of the project.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of costs go directly to renovation projects; 5% to administration
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Calgary technical institution whose work skills and construction trades program students participated in building Kholbey's wheelchair ramp alongside McBride Career Group, enabling rapid completion.
• SHIFT Projects / Shift Accessibility Contractors Ltd.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contracting company specializing in accessible and universal construction for homes and businesses in Calgary. Co-founders Josh Peill (Red Seal Carpenter, Civil Engineering Technologist) and Griffin Simony (Civil Engineering Graduate) lead ARK's construction partner on most projects. In 2018 they recognized a need for accessibility experts in construction and developed a mission to create inclusive environments. SHIFT has been involved in Andrea's, Soha's, Ashley's, Olivia's, and other ARK projects.
• McBride Career GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with SAIT to provide student volunteers for rapid ramp construction for Kholbey's project. Contributed career development students to complete the renovation in record time. Active sponsor on Jaydon's project as well.
• Skip The DepotminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor company providing in-kind or financial support to ARK's renovation projects.
• Rusch Design BuildminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSponsor company providing design and build services for ARK renovation projects, including Teigan's bathroom renovation.
• 101 MobilitycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMobility equipment provider offering lifts, ramps, and residential elevators throughout the Greater Calgary area. Owners Vanessa Matthews and Ashlyn Eggum personally committed to helping families with mobility challenges. Provided chair lifts for Andrea's project (with a generous discount) and stair lifts for other ARK projects.
• Lindsay O CreativecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFull-service boutique interior design studio in Calgary involved with ARK since the very first project. Successfully reimagined bathrooms for Caleb and Andrea to create accessible, fashionable, and functional spaces. Awarded one of the very first Purple Seals. Guided to ARK through a mutual friend of a founding member.
• ATBCares / CanadaHelpsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline donation processing platforms through which ARK accepts cash donations from individual donors.
• 4-Star ElectricminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerElectrical contractor that provided in-kind electrical services for Jaydon's project and George's project.
• Godden & Sons Drywall Ltd.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDrywall contractor that provided in-kind services for Jaydon's and Andrea's renovation projects. Recipient of Purple Seal recognition.
• CDL Carpet & Floor CentreminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTile and flooring installation provider, also operating as Daltile supplier, that provided in-kind installation for Andrea's project. Purple Seal recipient.
• HueyCraft (Peter Huey)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMillwork and cabinetry provider that contributed to Andrea's and Jessica's projects. Purple Seal recipient for millwork and cabinetry.
• Dauter Stone Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCountertop supplier that provided materials for Andrea's and Amen & Ushria's projects. Purple Seal recipient.
• Sirs Plumbing and HeatingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPlumbing contractor and materials provider that contributed to Jaydon's, Andrea's, and Amen & Ushria's projects. Purple Seal recipient for plumbing.
• Jennifer Carr PaintingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPainting contractor that provided in-kind painting services for Caleb's and Jaydon's projects. Purple Seal recipient.
• Concrete Cutting GeeksminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConcrete cutting contractor that provided discounted services for Ashley's and Andrea's projects. Purple Seal recipient.
• Centurion ConcreteminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConcrete contractor that contributed to Amen and Ushria's exterior ramp project.
• Uppercut Elevators and LiftsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerElevator and lift equipment provider that contributed to Jessica's and Olivia's projects.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Muscular Dystrophy Canada: Canadian health charity supporting people affected by neuromuscular disorders, including children with mobility impairments. Comparable to ARK in serving the pediatric mobility-challenged population in Canada, though broader in scope (research, equipment, support services).
• Kids Mobility Network: US nonprofit providing mobility equipment and home modifications for children with disabilities. Closely comparable to ARK in mission and service model, though operates in the Denver, Colorado area and focuses more on equipment provision than full renovations.
• Easter Seals Canada: Canadian disability charity providing programs, services, and equipment funding for children and youth with physical disabilities. Most directly comparable to ARK in serving children with mobility challenges, though operates a broader national portfolio of disability programs.
• March of Dimes Canada: National Canadian nonprofit serving people with disabilities, including programs for children. Comparable to ARK's mission of supporting individuals with mobility challenges, though broader in scope including employment services and post-stroke rehabilitation.
• Variety - the Children's Charity of Canada: Canadian charity focused on children with special needs, funding mobility equipment and accessibility needs. Closely aligned with ARK's mission of supporting children with mobility challenges and provides grants for accessibility equipment.

Broad incumbents

• Rick Hansen Foundation: Canadian organization dedicated to accessibility and disability inclusion, with programs addressing spinal cord injury and accessibility in communities. Comparable to ARK's accessibility mission though operates at a much larger scale with broader scope including schools and public spaces.
• Habitat for Humanity Canada: National nonprofit that coordinates volunteer-driven home construction and renovations for families in need. Comparable to ARK in its reliance on volunteer tradespeople, in-kind material donations, and community sponsorship model, though broader in scope (not disability-focused).
• Rebuilding Together: US-based nonprofit that provides free home repairs and modifications for low-income homeowners, including accessibility modifications. Operates a volunteer-driven model similar to ARK but on a much larger national scale across the United States.

Regional players

• Starlight Children's Foundation Canada: Canadian charity serving children with serious illnesses and their families. Comparable to ARK as a national children's health charity but focused on hospitalization and entertainment programs rather than home accessibility renovations.

Others

• Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada: National Canadian charity serving families of seriously ill children, providing housing and support near hospitals. Tangentially related as a major children's health charity in Canada with similar event-driven fundraising model, though focused on accommodation rather than home modifications.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ARKcalgary
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9FLpanYqGsmxEEbN3mDvqw
• Facebookfacebook.com/ARKcalgary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ark-accessibility-renovations-for-kids
• Instagraminstagram.com/ARKcalgary

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 ARK - Accessibility Renovations for Kids