Centraide Bas-Saint-Laurent

What Centraide Bas-Saint-Laurent does

Centraide Bas-Saint-Laurent is a regional non-profit charitable foundation headquartered in Rimouski, Quebec, operating as part of the national Centraide Canada federation (85+ member organizations). Founded in 1982, with regional roots dating to 1955, it runs annual fundraising campaigns that collect and redistribute funds to approximately 50 community agencies addressing social exclusion, food insecurity, mental health, domestic violence, and youth support. Its 2025 campaign raised $1,392,984 CAD, of which $1,151,054 was deployed to community organizations; the organization reports reaching approximately 1 in 5 residents of the Bas-Saint-Laurent territory. The entity operates with a lean team of 10 permanent employees and 17 board members, supported by 5,000 volunteers.

The core operating model is a workplace-giving platform: 90+ corporate partners host employee payroll-deduction campaigns, supplemented by individual donor programs structured around giving tiers (Cercle des dons majeurs at $1,200+ annually; Cercle 1955 for $10,000+ legacy donors). Underlying technology consists of standardized digital platforms (Clicdon for donations, ClicDemande for grant applications), augmented by the DATAide digital transformation initiative with the Quebec government. The business model is donation-funded: revenue is functionally equivalent to annual campaign receipts plus ancillary income from planned-giving vehicles (bequests, life insurance, securities, retirement accounts), endowment returns via Fondation Québec Philanthrope/Beneva partnerships, and merchandise (Tissu Social apparel line with Arseno, where 100% of profits flow to community causes).

Strategic positioning is built on multi-decade brand trust in the Centraide/United Way name, a national federation providing shared credibility and research capabilities (notably the Léger-conducted Indice d'Humanité), and deep integration with a local agency ecosystem that depends on Centraide as a primary institutional funder. The organization uses research partnerships (Léger) and major-donor cultivation as extensions of its core fundraising engine rather than as standalone revenue lines.

Name

Centraide Bas-Saint-Laurent

Legal name

Centraide Québec, Chaudière-Appalaches et Bas-Saint-Laurent

Website

https://centraide-bsl.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Centraide Bas-Saint-Laurent is a regional non-profit foundation in Rimouski, Quebec, that raises funds through workplace campaigns and individual donations to redistribute to 50 community agencies addressing poverty, health, and social exclusion across the Bas-Saint-Laurent region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Foundation / Community Philanthropy

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB)

Keywords

• Community fundraising
• Workplace giving
• Planned giving
• Charitable foundation
• Social investment

Headquarters

HQ city

Rimouski

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Annual Fundraising Campaign: Primary revenue source through annual campaign raising funds from individual donors, workplace campaigns, and corporate contributions. Campaign 2025 raised $1,392,984.
2. Major Donor Program (Cercle des dons majeurs): Recognition program for donors contributing $1,200+ annually with tiered benefits. Includes Circle 1955 for $10,000+ donors and Honorary members for $50,000+.
3. Planned Giving: Deferred giving options including testamentary bequests, life insurance donations, endowment funds (Fonds Postérité), stock donations, and retirement account beneficiary designations.
4. Workplace Campaign Partnerships: Corporate workplace giving programs where employers organize campaigns among employees, often with matching corporate contributions. Over 90 local enterprises participate.
5. Tissu Social Social Apparel: Clothing collection where 100% of profits support community organizations. Partnership with Arseno for Quebec-made apparel.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Centraide Bas-Saint-Laurent is a public charitable foundation that raises funds through annual campaigns, workplace giving programs, major donor circles (Cercle des dons majeurs starting at $1,200/year), and planned giving instruments (bequests, life insurance, endowment funds). Approximately 85% of collected donations are redistributed to 50 community organizations in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region that address poverty, food insecurity, youth perseverance, mental health, and social exclusion.

Product overview

Centraide Bas-Saint-Laurent is a public foundation that adopts a holistic approach to philanthropic and social development. Rather than a traditional technology product, it offers a suite of community programs and services including annual fundraising campaigns supporting 50 community organizations, workplace giving programs, planned giving options (bequests, life insurance, stock donations), and the Tissu Social clothing initiative. Digital platforms include Clicdon for donation management and ClicDemande for grant applications. The organization also publishes educational materials including the book 'Du plomb dans les ailes' and the 'La voix sociale' newsletter to raise awareness about social inequalities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tissu social: A clothing collection initiative where profits support community organizations, created in partnership with Arseno.
• Cercle des dons majeurs
• Cercle des générations
• La voix sociale

Products and services

• Annual Fundraising Campaign
• Workplace Giving Campaigns
• Major Donor Program (Cercle des dons majeurs)
• Planned Giving Program
• Tissu Social Apparel Collection
• Clicdon
• ClicDemande
• Du plomb dans les ailes (Book)
• La voix sociale Newsletter

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% of donations redistributed to community annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• ArsenocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuebec-based clothing company that partnered with Centraide to create the Tissu Social collection. 100% of profits from clothing sales support community organizations. Arseno copropreneurs (Camille Arsenault, Jessica Côté, Sarah Couture) served as 2025 campaign co-chairs.
• LégercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership for the Indice d'Humanité (Humanity Index) measuring financial anxiety among Quebec residents. Conducted 6th measurement in 2026 showing 48% of Quebecers experiencing significant financial anxiety.
• Fondation Québec PhilanthropecoreTechnology or IntegrationManages endowment funds (Fonds Postérité) for Centraide with Beneva as investment manager. Policy targets 5% long-term returns with 0.5% administration fees.
• AlstomsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner in workplace giving campaign
• Banque NationalesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with multiple representatives including Anthony Chapados (CARO member), Marilyne Dumas (CARO member), Anick St-Laurent (CARO member), David-William Pelletier (CARO member)
• BMO (Bank of Montreal)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with employee Daniel Séguin recognized as Bénévole inspirant 2025
• CISSS Bas-Saint-LaurentsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner (health and social services integrated centre)
• DesjardinssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor financial partner with Vincent Gagnon (Dirigeant engagé 2025), multiple CARO members from various Caisses including Jeannot St-Onge (retired manager), François Paquet, Yvette Dumont
• Hydro-QuébecsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with employee Jil Hardy recognized as Directeur de campagne inspirant 2025 and Bénévole d'exception 2026
• iA Groupe financiersupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner represented by Normand Gervais on board and Renée Laflamme (VP Executive) and Yvon Charest (retired CEO) as major donors
• KB Rail CanadasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with Paul Cartier (Director General) serving on board
• MetrosupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner in grocery retail sector
• RBC (Royal Bank of Canada)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner with Asri Yves Ohin (Branch Manager) as 2024 campaign president and board member
• UniboardsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner in manufacturing sector
• UQAR (Université du Québec à Rimouski)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerAcademic partner with Vanessa Gouri (Business Analyst and board member)
• Croix-Rouge canadiennecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Fonds de relance des services communautaires (FRSC) pandemic recovery fund distribution
• Fondations communautaires du CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Fonds de relance des services communautaires (FRSC) pandemic recovery fund distribution
• Centraide United Way CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network partnership connecting 85+ Centraide and United Way organizations across Canada, providing international scale while maintaining local autonomy

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Beneva (formerly La Capitale/SSQ): Mutual insurance company that serves as investment manager for Centraide BSL's Fonds Postérité endowment and is represented on its board. Adjacent ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Centraide Outaouais: Another Quebec regional Centraide following the identical Centraide Canada playbook of workplace campaigns, major donor recognition, and grants to local community organizations. Highly comparable structure and scale tier.
• Centraide Québec et Chaudière-Appalaches: Sister organization that merged with Centraide Bas-Saint-Laurent in 2019 to form the unified Centraide Québec, Chaudière-Appalaches et Bas-Saint-Laurent legal entity; operates the same annual campaign, Clicdon, and CARO governance model in an adjacent Quebec region.
• Centraide du Grand Montréal: Largest Quebec Centraide, operating under the same national Centraide/United Way model with annual workplace campaigns, major donor circles, and community organization funding. Most directly comparable peer in terms of mission, fundraising mechanics, and Quebec regional context.
• Centraide Mauricie: Rural Quebec Centraide serving the Mauricie region with comparable annual fundraising campaigns, workplace giving partnerships, and community organization funding model. Closest sizing comparable to Centraide BSL.
• Centraide Estrie: Regional Quebec Centraide serving the Estrie region with comparable workplace-giving programs, donor recognition circles, and CARO-style independent funding allocation committees. Sized similarly to Centraide BSL.

Emerging players

• Fondation Lucie et André Chagnon: Large Quebec philanthropic foundation funding youth perseverance and social development initiatives, with whom Centraide BSL collaborates on Projet Réussite jeunesse. Operates in adjacent philanthropic space with grantmaking and partnership overlap.

Broad incumbents

• Centraide Canada: National federated network of ~85 Centraide and United Way organizations across Canada. Parent-like network to Centraide BSL, providing shared branding, advocacy, and best practices while member organizations retain local operational autonomy.
• United Way Greater Toronto: Largest Canadian United Way, also part of Centraide Canada network, with urban workplace campaign scale, multi-tier major donor programs, and community impact investing — same mission and nationally networked brand, but at much greater scale and complexity.
• Fondation du Grand Montréal: Quebec community foundation managing pooled endowment funds and distributing grants to local nonprofits — directly comparable business model of collecting donations, managing assets, and redistributing to community organizations, but at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centraide-bas-saint-laurent

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Centraide Bas-Saint-Laurent