Canadian Spinal Research Organization

What Canadian Spinal Research Organization does

Canadian Spinal Research Organization (CSRO) is a registered Canadian charitable organization founded in 1984 and headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario, with a registered US counterpart, American Spinal Research Organization (ASRO; EIN 35-1981439), that operates the North American Spinal Cord Injury Consortium (NASCIC) in the United States. CSRO's mission is to fund targeted research aimed at curing paralysis caused by spinal cord injury (SCI) and to reduce SCI incidence through awareness and prevention programs. The organization serves SCI survivors, their families and caregivers, the research and medical community, and corporate partners, operating as a non-commercial, donation-funded body rather than a product company. Since inception, CSRO has raised nearly CAD $30 million for SCI research, funded clinical trials including the Up-LIFT trial in Toronto through Onward's research network, and partnered with Praxis Spinal Cord Institute, StopConcussions Foundation, endParalysis.org, AIA Canada, and corporate sponsors including 407 ETR, Uni-Select, Wawanesa Insurance, and Permobil.

CSRO's offerings are organized around three pillars: education and information resources (Journey to a Cure video series, CureCast podcast in partnership with Unite2FightParalysis, NASCIC SCI Research Advocacy Course, Advocacy Toolkit, and SCI Trials Vocabulary Acronym Chart); an information platform (SCITRIALS.ORG, a jointly developed clinical trial discovery website with endParalysis.org); and fundraising and awareness campaigns including Shoot for a Cure, Paving the Way for a Cure (road-safety and motor-vehicle-crash focus, $1M target), Resiliency in Motion 5K virtual race, the Spinal Tap Charity Curling Bonspiel (29-year tradition), MTO Reconnection/Charity Golf Tournament, P.I. Law Charity Hockey Challenge, and the fuelService mobile app partnership. CSRO does not develop proprietary technology and lists no patents, integrations, APIs, or AI/ML capabilities. It employs approximately 7 people and is led by Chief Development Officer Barry Munro, an SCI advocate of 38 years.

CSRO's business model is donation-driven: revenue is generated through individual giving, event registration fees (e.g., $200 individual / $1,500 corporate foursome golf entries, $250 individual / $3,500 team hockey entries, $25 5K registration), charitable gaming and 50/50 raffles, free-tier membership, corporate sponsorships, and grants channeled into research. The go-to-market is community-led, leveraging recurring events, social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube), a national mailing list, and ecosystem partnerships across North America to reach SCI survivors, families, advocates, and corporate CSR programs.

Name

Canadian Spinal Research Organization

Legal name

Canadian Spinal Research Organization

Website

https://csro.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Canadian Spinal Research Organization (CSRO) is a registered Canadian charity founded in 1984 that funds spinal cord injury cure research and advocacy. It serves SCI survivors, families, and researchers through education, the SCITRIALS.ORG clinical trial platform, awareness campaigns, and donation-funded community events across North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Spinal Cord Injury Research Advocacy

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro primary industry

Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Centers (HLAFAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Spinal cord injury research
• Medical research advocacy
• Nonprofit health charity
• SCI cure research
• Community fundraising events

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond Hill

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: CSRO operates as a registered Canadian charity (11915 9515 RR0001) and US 501(c)(3) organization (EIN 35-1981439). Revenue is generated through donations, event fundraising, charitable gaming (50/50 raffles), membership fees, and corporate sponsorships. The organization has raised nearly $30 million for spinal cord injury research since 1984.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Canadian Spinal Research Organization (CSRO) is a registered Canadian charity (and affiliated US 501(c)(3)) that funds targeted research into curing paralysis caused by spinal cord injury (SCI). It runs SCI cure advocacy, educational resources (Journey to a Cure video series, SCITRIALS.ORG clinical trial database, CureCast podcast), and community fundraising events and campaigns (golf and hockey tournaments, curling bonspiel, 5K race, Shoot for a Cure, Paving the Way for a Cure). CSRO also operates as the Canadian partner of NASCIC and the US-affiliated ASRO.

Product overview

Canadian Spinal Research Organization operates as a research advocacy and fundraising organization rather than a product company. Its offerings consist of educational resources, information platforms, and awareness campaigns focused on spinal cord injury cure research. Core offerings include the CureCast podcast series (audio content with researchers), The Journey to a Cure video series (educational content), SCITRIALS.ORG clinical trials database, the fuelService mobile app for disabled drivers, the NASCIC SCI Research Advocacy Course, an advocacy toolkit, and several fundraising campaigns including Shoot for a Cure and Paving the Way for a Cure. These products serve the SCI community through education, research connectivity, fundraising, and advocacy support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Shoot for a Cure (SFAC): A joint initiative with the StopConcussions Foundation to fund research into cure for brain and spinal cord injuries and raise awareness for prevention in contact sports, including the Safe4Sports program.
• Paving the Way for a Cure
• Resiliency in Motion 5K (R5K+)
• fuelService
• SCITRIALS.ORG

Products and services

• SCITRIALS.ORG Online clinical trials database platform that enables people with spinal cord injuries to search for and connect with SCI-specific clinical trials worldwide, with email alerts for new trials matching user preferences. Joint initiative with endParalysis.org under NASCIC.
• fuelService Mobile App Mobile application helping drivers with disabilities find gas stations with assistants available to refuel them, coordinating refueling through smartphone calls and SMS. Canadian proceeds are donated to CSRO for SCI research.
• Charity Golf Tournament (formerly MTO Reconnection) Annual fundraising golf tournament held at Richmond Hill Golf Club bringing together medical rehab, road builders, and financial services partners. Individual golfer fee $200–$300; foursome options $1,200–$1,500 including hole sponsorship.
• P.I. Law Charity Hockey Challenge Annual hockey tournament supporting the Shoot for a Cure campaign. $250 per player; $3,500 per team registration.
• Spinal Tap Charity Curling Bonspiel

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly $30 million raised for spinal cord injury research since 1984
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• endParalysis.orgcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 November 2019Joint initiative partner with NASCIC for developing SCITRIALS.ORG platform connecting SCI community with clinical trials worldwide.
• AIA Canada (Automotive Industries Association)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 November 2018Partnership to address road safety through the Canadian Collision Industry Accreditation Program (CCIAP) as part of Paving the Way for a Cure campaign.
• PermobilmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 September 2018Longtime supporter and recipient of Fraser Burton Corporate Champion Award for exceptional commitment to finding a cure for spinal cord injury.
• Uni-SelectmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 August 2018Annual charity golf tournament sponsor that has donated $280,000 to date for spinal cord injury research. Their 16th Annual Charity Golf Tournament raised $15,000.
• NASCIC (North American Spinal Cord Injury Consortium)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSRO is the Canadian partner member of NASCIC through the ASRO sponsorship of U2FP organization. NASCIC is a national strategy to create a movement of SCI community activists with the goal of securing funding throughout North America for spinal cord injury cure research. NASCIC is a membership-based organization with Patron Members (individuals with lived SCI experience), Principal Members (SCI community organizations), and Partner Members (for-profit SCI organizations).
• ASRO (American Spinal Research Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASRO is the US counterpart and fundraising arm of NASCIC, operating as a registered US 501(c)(3) charity (EIN 35-1981439). ASRO does business as NASCIC in the USA. Together CSRO and ASRO form the North American voice for SCI research advocacy.
• Praxis Spinal Cord InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPraxis Spinal Cord Institute is a Canadian-based not-for-profit organization leading global collaboration in spinal cord injury research, innovation, and care. CSRO and Praxis have partnered on the MTO Reconnection Golf Tournament for fundraising to help people with spinal cord injuries.
• StopConcussions FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative partner for the Shoot for a Cure Campaign. StopConcussions Foundation's mission is to fund research into cure for brain and spinal cord injuries while raising awareness for prevention in contact sports. The partnership includes the Safe4Sports program for educating young athletes.
• 407 ETRmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPremiere sponsor of Paving the Way for a Cure campaign. 407 ETR has been a dedicated supporter of CSRO and the fight for a cure to paralysis caused by spinal cord injuries. Over half of traumatic spinal cord injuries occur on roadways, making this partnership important for awareness and cure research.
• Wawanesa InsurancemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of Paving the Way for a Cure campaign with $25,000 donation to sponsor one subject in epidural stimulation study.
• Arrow Schmidt Peterson MotorsportsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in Paving the Way for a Cure campaign and creator of SAM (Semi-Autonomous Motorcar) vehicle allowing drivers with paralysis to operate cars without use of legs.
• Ferrari & Associates Insurance & Financial ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated $5,000 to Paving the Way for a Cure campaign supporting Canadian Epidural Stimulation study.
• Durham Family Advisory BoardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization hosting the DFAB Golf Classic alongside CSRO's annual charity golf tournament.
• HD MutualminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional Sponsor for Resiliency in Motion R5K+ virtual race.
• Raz DesignminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional Sponsor for Resiliency in Motion R5K+ virtual race.
• fuelServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFuel service app for disabled drivers; development provider for SCITRIALS.ORG. All Canadian proceeds from fuelService donated to CSRO for spinal cord injury research.
• Onward (Research Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSRO funded the Up-LIFT trial in Toronto as part of Onward's research network and participated in the trial announcement.
• Johnson & Johnson (Donate a Photo)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonate a Photo campaign where Johnson & Johnson donates $1 for every photo uploaded to support Shoot for a Cure campaign, potentially raising up to $15,000.
• Niagara Paramedic AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost of annual EMS Hockey Tournament supporting CSRO's Shoot for a Cure campaign.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Unite2FightParalysis (U2FP): US SCI cure-advocacy nonprofit that partners with CSRO/ASRO on NASCIC and produces the CureCast podcast hosted on CSRO's site. Operates in the same cure-advocacy and policy space.
• American Spinal Research Organization (ASRO): US 501(c)(3) counterpart of CSRO, jointly operating under the NASCIC umbrella. Functions as CSRO's US fundraising arm and DBA for NASCIC, making it the closest structural peer.
• Praxis Spinal Cord Institute: Canadian-based not-for-profit leading SCI research, innovation, and care globally. CSRO and Praxis co-host the MTO Reconnection Golf Tournament and operate in the same SCI cure-research funding space in Canada.
• North American Spinal Cord Injury Consortium (NASCIC): Continental SCI consortium that CSRO and ASRO operate under. Directly comparable mission of connecting SCI community organizations across North America to drive cure research.
• endParalysis.org: European SCI cure-advocacy nonprofit and CSRO's co-developer of SCITRIALS.ORG. Directly comparable mission of advancing SCI cure research and patient trial access.
• Spinal Cord Injury Ontario (SCIO): Ontario SCI community organization partnering with CSRO on the Spinal Tap Bonspiel; SCIO focuses on services, advocacy, and support for people with SCI, directly mirroring CSRO's community advocacy mission in the same province.
• StopConcussions Foundation: Canadian foundation co-running CSRO's Shoot for a Cure campaign and Safe4Sports program. Shares the dual brain-and-spinal-cord-injury prevention and cure research mandate.

Broad incumbents

• Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation: Large US-based nonprofit funding SCI cure research and supporting the SCI community through advocacy, resources, and the Reeve Foundation NeuroRecovery Network. Comparable mission and broader scale than CSRO.
• Wings for Life: Global non-profit funding SCI research with large-scale events (Wings for Life World Run) and a broad scientific grant portfolio. Comparable SCI cure-research funding mandate at significantly larger scale.
• Rick Hansen Foundation: Canadian foundation created after the Man In Motion World Tour, funding SCI research, accessibility, and awareness. Operates a much larger program portfolio but shares the same SCI cure-and-advocacy mandate in Canada.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/canadian_spinal
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-jrYEAdbkh4t23q97aoDdw?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/CSROASRO
• Instagraminstagram.com/csrocanada
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/canadian-spinal-research-organization

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Canadian Spinal Research Organization