Caldwell Family Centre

What Caldwell Family Centre does

Caldwell Family Centre is a registered Canadian charity (Charitable Registration Number 10689 7747 RR0001) and Ontario not-for-profit corporation founded in 1986 in Ottawa, serving residents of the K1Y, K2A, K2G, K2C, and K1Z postal code areas who are impacted by poverty. The organization operates a coordinated suite of community social services across multiple Ottawa locations, including a food bank distributing 135-150 boxes daily (Tuesday through Friday), a Meals Program serving 350-500 breakfasts and lunches each weekday, a Clothing Assistance Program and Hidden Gems Boutique, a free Computer Café, and employment readiness programming such as Stitch and Style Society, Computer Basics Training, and Retail Training. Support programs include school supplies, $1,000 scholarships, Christmas grocery assistance, the Baby Depot, the My Little Library, and wraparound services. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors led by Chair Lianne Wright and Executive Director Eugene Williams, supported by 30 staff and a broader volunteer base spanning roughly four decades of continuous operation.

The organization does not use proprietary technology platforms; technology is limited to standard web presence, social media (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook), and a free public computer and internet access point for clients. Its economic model is a hybrid of four streams: individual and corporate financial donations (including a recurring GEM monthly giving program), in-kind donations of food, clothing, and household goods, government grants from the City of Ottawa (Day Program) and federal sources (language classes), and modest retail revenue from the Hidden Gems Boutique selling donated goods at deeply discounted prices. Most client services are delivered free of charge; the Boutique operates at low unit pricing with no publicly disclosed fee schedule. Service delivery is handled through direct drop-in visits at the Caldwell Avenue and Epworth Avenue sites, off-site meal delivery to four Ottawa Community Housing buildings, and referrals from social workers and partner agencies.

Name

Caldwell Family Centre

Legal name

Caldwell Family Centre Inc.

Website

https://caldwellfamilycentre.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Caldwell Family Centre is a registered Ottawa charity founded in 1986 that delivers food bank, daily meals, clothing, computer access, and employment readiness programming to low-income residents, newcomers, seniors, and people experiencing homelessness in five Ottawa postal codes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Community Food Services (62421), Child and Youth Services (62411), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Child Care Services (6244)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH), Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC), Drop-In / Flexible Childcare Centers (EDACAAAC)

Keywords

• Community social services
• Food bank services
• Poverty relief
• Clothing assistance
• Employment readiness

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Financial Gifts: The organization accepts financial donations from individuals and organizations, providing charitable receipts for tax purposes (charitable registration number 10689 7747 RR0001). Monthly GEM (Giving Every Month) recurring donation program available.
2. Item Donations: Accepts donated food, clothing, baby supplies, household items, and other goods that are distributed to families in need or sold at the Hidden Gems Boutique at deeply discounted prices.
3. Government Grants: The organization receives funding from government grants, including from the City of Ottawa to run the Day Program, and federal funding for language classes.
4. Retail Sales (Hidden Gems Boutique): Revenue generated from sale of donated clothing, toys, and household items at deeply discounted prices at the Hidden Gems Boutique.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Caldwell Family Centre is a registered Canadian charitable non-profit that provides direct social services to low-income individuals and families in Ottawa. Its core offerings include a food bank, hot community meals, clothing and household goods assistance, public computer/internet access, and employment readiness training and case management, all delivered through a drop-in neighbourhood centre model.

Product overview

The Caldwell Family Centre is a community-based non-profit organization offering a coordinated suite of social support services in Ottawa. The core offerings include a Food Bank serving 135-150 families daily with healthy food boxes, a Meals Program providing 350-500 breakfasts and lunches on weekdays, and a Clothing Program through the Hidden Gems Boutique and free Clothing Assistance. Additional services include a Computer Café for free internet access, employment readiness programs (Stitch and Style Society, Computer Basics, Retail Training), and support programs including school supplies, scholarships, Christmas assistance, Baby Depot, My Little Library, and wraparound social services. These programs operate together from multiple locations to provide holistic support reducing the impact of poverty in Ottawa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food Bank

Quantifiable outcome

• Supports over 5,400 people annually including 1,800 adults and 1,000 children through food bank monthly
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Congregation of St. Paul's United Church in Carp OntariominorOthers · 1 January 2024Members made a very generous cash donation as well as food and clothing as part of a 2024 Lenten Project.
• City View United ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023City View United Church generously offered space in their building to house the Food Bank in summer 2023. This temporary move provided a much better environment for staff and clients with more spacious collection areas and easier storage access.
• Ottawa Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Caldwell Family Centre is a member of the Ottawa Food Bank network. As a member, they receive food supplies for distribution to community members in their service area. Clients must reside in the CFC service area to access food bank services.
• Ottawa Community Housing (OCH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOttawa Community Housing is the landlord for the Bellevue Community Centre location where CFC operates its Day Program. OCH provides space support and CFC has been operating out of OCH townhouses since the mid-1980s. CFC also delivers off-site meals to four OCH apartment buildings.
• Roman Catholic Parishes of St. Bonaventure and St. ElizabethminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical partnership from the early 1980s when the parishes assisted the Sisters of the Sacred Heart in meeting residents' needs for food and clothing.
• Catholic School BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical partnership for English as a Second Language sewing classes, helping adult new Canadians learn English and adapt to their new environment.
• Bellevue Community CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister Thelma began morning cooking classes in the Bellevue Community Centre in the early 1980s. The Centre continues to be the primary location for CFC programs with modernization plans underway.
• Algonquin CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClients like Angelina took classes at Algonquin College to improve English language skills and pursue Early Childhood Education certification.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Ottawa Mission: One of Ottawa's largest multi-service organizations serving people impacted by homelessness and poverty through meals, food programs, clothing, and social services. Large-scale counterpart to Caldwell's integrated food + clothing + social service model.
• Shepherds of Good Hope: Ottawa multi-service organization providing meals, drop-in services, shelter, and clothing for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Strong direct overlap with Caldwell's meals program, drop-in centre, and clothing assistance for vulnerable populations.
• South-East Ottawa Community Health Centre: Ottawa community health centre offering food programs, newcomer services, social support, and community programming. Directly comparable to Caldwell in combining food, social, and community programming under one umbrella.
• Centretown Community Health Centre: Ottawa-based multi-service community organization providing food programs, social services, newcomer supports, and health services. Comparable to Caldwell in combining food, social, and community programming under one umbrella.
• Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre: Western Ottawa community health centre operating food and social support programs, newcomer services, and community programs. Comparable mix of integrated health, food, and social services for low-income residents.
• Parkdale Food Centre: Ottawa community food centre providing food bank, meal programs, clothing/seasonal supports, and wraparound social services. Closest direct peer operationally — combines food rescue, community meals, and poverty-reduction programming similar to Caldwell.
• Carlington Community Health Centre: Community health and resource centre in Ottawa offering food security, newcomer services, social support, and community programming. Directly comparable to Caldwell's integrated health-and-social-service delivery to vulnerable populations in Ottawa.
• Rideau Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre: Ottawa-based multi-service community resource centre offering food support, newcomer services, employment programs, and social services to low-income residents. Directly comparable to Caldwell's wraparound, neighbourhood-based service model in the same city.

Broad incumbents

• Ottawa Food Bank: Regional food bank network that distributes food to member agencies including Caldwell Family Centre. A larger, broader-incumbent in the same food-security space, providing a channel and partner rather than competing directly for end clients.

Regional players

• Daily Bread Food Bank: Toronto-area food bank operating meal programs, food distribution, and member agency network. Comparable to Caldwell's food bank operations in scale and complexity but serves a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CaldwellOttawa
• Facebookfacebook.com/CaldwellFamilyCentre
• Instagraminstagram.com/caldwellfamilycentre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/caldwell-family-centre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Caldwell Family Centre