What FearIsNotLove does

FearIsNotLove is a Calgary-based, registered Canadian charity (BN 129883443RR0001) that provides a comprehensive continuum of domestic violence and abuse services to individuals, families, and communities in Calgary and surrounding area. Founded in 1974 as the Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter and rebranded to FearIsNotLove in 2017, the organization operates an integrated service portfolio including a 24/7 crisis helpline (Connect Helpline), the Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter, child/youth and family therapy, court program navigation, community counselling, the Healthy Relationships Program, the Men's Counselling Service, and the Take a Stand bystander initiative. Digital products include the ShelterLink web app for real-time shelter bed availability across 13+ regional shelters, the Men & online resource platform in partnership with Forge Social Health, and an interactive Safety Planning Toolkit. The organization is led by CEO Kim Ruse and governed by an independent Board of Directors, with 44 employees and reach of approximately 20,000 individuals and families annually.

The business model is a non-profit charity model in which all services are provided free of charge to clients with no billing tier. Revenue is earned through three streams: (1) donations and charitable contributions from individuals, corporations, and communities, anchored by the annual Turning Points Gala (which raised over $650,000 in 2024) and the CTV Toy Mountain campaign ($1,184,682 in 2025-2026); (2) government funding from federal and provincial agencies for shelter operations, counselling, and community services; and (3) third-party fundraising partnerships including Rogers Birdies for Kids, United Way Donor Choice Program, Skip The Depot, Sponsor Energy, and Donate A Car Canada. Customer acquisition is community-led: a 24-hour emergency helpline (phone, text, email), a confidential physical shelter, courthouse-based court support, and referral networks with Calgary Police Service and partner agencies serve as the primary intake channels. Marketing relies on earned media, social channels (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn), and community events.

The technology backbone is described as standard non-profit case management and service delivery infrastructure with no proprietary AI/ML systems. Accreditations from Imagine Canada and the Canadian Accreditation Council certify governance, financial accountability, fundraising, staff management, and volunteer involvement. Strategic ecosystem partnerships include the Equally Safe coordinated community response (est. Jan 2020), the Men & partnership with Forge Social Health, the ShelterLink App partner network, and the Indigenous Advisory Council co-developed Cultural Helpers program.

Name

FearIsNotLove

Legal name

FearIsNotLove

Website

https://fearisnotlove.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FearIsNotLove is a Calgary-based registered charity (founded 1974) providing free domestic violence and abuse services—including a 24/7 helpline, emergency shelter, counselling, and prevention education—to approximately 20,000 individuals and families annually in Calgary and surrounding area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Domestic Violence Support Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Temporary Shelters (624221)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Protection, Child Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response (BPAGAAAG), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH)

Keywords

• Domestic violence services
• Crisis helpline support
• Emergency shelter services
• Family violence counselling
• Community prevention education

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: FearIsNotLove is a registered charity (Charitable Registration Number: 12988 3443 RR0001) that relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and community supporters. The organization hosts fundraising events including the annual Turning Points Gala and participates in programs like Rogers Birdies for Kids.
2. Government Funding: As a domestic violence shelter and service provider, FearIsNotLove receives government funding from federal and provincial agencies to support core shelter operations, counselling programs, and community services.
3. Third-Party Fundraising Partnerships: The organization benefits from third-party fundraising initiatives including Skip The Depot (bottle donations), Sponsor Energy utility donations, United Way Donor Choice Program, and vehicle donations through Donate A Car Canada.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

FearIsNotLove is a registered charity that provides a continuum of free domestic violence and abuse services to individuals, families, and communities in Calgary and surrounding areas. Core offerings include a 24/7 crisis helpline, a confidential emergency shelter for women and children, individual and group counselling, court system navigation, child and youth therapy, healthy relationships programming, men's behaviour change counselling, and community education and prevention initiatives. All services are provided at no cost to clients regardless of background or identity.

Product overview

FearIsNotLove is a domestic violence and abuse service organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and digital products. The core service offering consists of crisis response programs including the Connect Domestic Violence and Abuse Helpline (24/7 phone support) and the Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter. Additional therapeutic programs include Child Youth and Family Therapy, Court Program, Community Services Counselling, Healthy Relationships Program, and Men's Counselling Service. The organization also operates community education initiatives including Take a Stand and Men's Resource Line. Digital products include the Shelterlink App (real-time shelter bed availability tracking) and Men & online resource portal. All services are provided free of charge to individuals and families impacted by domestic violence and abuse in Calgary and surrounding areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Men &: An online resource platform offering trusted, accessible support, information and resources for men's mental and relational health challenges. Partnership between Forge Social Health and FearIsNotLove.
• ShelterLink App
• Cultural Helpers by Men &
• Take a Stand Initiative
• Equally Safe

Products and services

• Connect Domestic Violence and Abuse Helpline A 24/7 crisis helpline (403.234.7233) offering counselling, safety planning, and referrals for individuals experiencing domestic violence and abuse. Available by phone, toll-free, text, and email.
• Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter A safe haven and secure emergency shelter for adults who identify as women, with or without children, who are fleeing domestic violence and abuse. Location is confidential.
• Child, Youth and Family Therapy Program Therapeutic support and counselling services for children and their family members who have experienced family violence and abuse.
• Court Program Navigation support for the court system for individuals who have or are currently experiencing family violence and abuse.
• Community Services Counselling Program Short-term crisis-oriented support and longer-term counselling for individuals living in the community who are unable or choose not to enter the Emergency Shelter.
• Healthy Relationships Program Preventative programming focused on building healthier relationships through educational groups and individual therapy sessions for youth 12 and older.
• Men's Counselling Service Individual and group counselling services for adults interested in creating or enhancing safety in their close relationships.
• Take a Stand Initiative Community education and empowerment initiative that educates and empowers community members to effectively support victims of domestic violence and abuse.
• Shelterlink App Web-based application that helps women and children fleeing domestic violence access available shelter beds in real-time by connecting participating shelters that report bed availability.
• Men & Online resource platform partnered with Forge Social Health that connects men with free tools, resources, and support for mental and social health.
• Men's Resource Line 24/7 confidential helpline providing non-judgemental support from skilled and trained counsellors to help men explore concerns and access services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves approximately 20,000 individuals and families per year
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

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

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SOAR (Supporting Survivors of Abuse and Brain Injury through Research)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026SOAR is a partnership for the Moving Ahead workshop on recognizing and responding to brain injury from intimate partner violence. SOAR co-founders Karen Mason and Dr. Paul van Donkelaar are expert presenters providing knowledge on trauma-informed approaches and adapted screening tools for frontline professionals.
• Calgary Shaw Charity Classic FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2026Rogers Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink is a non-profit program under the Calgary Shaw Charity Classic Foundation designed to help raise new funds for local charities. Donations directed to participating charities are matched up to 50% through the Foundation matching pool. All administrative costs are covered by the tournament.
• Men & (Forge Social Health Partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Men & is a partnership between Forge Social Health and FearIsNotLove that connects men with free tools, resources, and support for mental and social health. The program offers the Men's Resource Line (1-833-327-MENS) providing free, confidential, non-judgmental support 24/7. The partnership aims to reach men where they are with compassionate, dignity-based support.
• Equally Safe PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Equally Safe is a coordinated community response partnership established in January 2020 between Calgary Police Service, YW Calgary, Niitoiyis Family Support Society (formerly Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society), FearIsNotLove, and Calgary Immigrant Women's Association. The partnership provides focused interventions and community referrals for victims and perpetrators of domestic violence to increase safety and reduce harm. Members provide supports through Early Intervention Outreach Program (EIOP) and Domestic Conflict Response Team (DCRT).
• ShelterLink App Partner ShelterscoreTechnology or IntegrationShelterLink is a web-based application developed to help women and children fleeing domestic violence access available shelter beds. The app hosts thirteen women's emergency, transitional, and second stage shelters (primarily in Calgary and surrounding area). Participating shelters report bed availability in real time, enabling women to find shelter without making multiple calls.
• Indigenous Advisory Council (Cultural Helpers Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural Helpers program was created in partnership with an Indigenous Advisory Council with the goal of establishing restorative and Land Based programming for men. The program respects Indigenous cultural practices and history, offering alternatives to mainstream therapeutic support. It focuses on helping men rediscover positive roles as Father, Husband, Brother, Partner, and Son.
• Shift, YWCA Calgary, Turner Strategies (Shelter 2.0)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShelter 2.0 was developed in partnership with Shift, YWCA Calgary, and Turner Strategies to strategize on enhancing the impact of women's shelters to help end violence. The discussion paper proposes a new paradigm for women's shelter operations, focusing on shelter objectives, service models, policies and practices.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: US-based 24/7 crisis line for domestic violence with similar technology-enabled chat/phone/SMS channels and trained-counsellor model. Thematically aligned reference point for FearIsNotLove's Connect Helpline operating design, though it operates in a different country.

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Women's Foundation: National foundation that funds DV shelters, prevention programs, and gender-based violence response across Canada. Comparable mission; FearIsNotLove is a potential grantee and sits within the foundation's funded shelter ecosystem.
• BC Society of Transition Houses (BCSTH): Provincial membership association coordinating transition houses and DV service providers across British Columbia. Comparable mission and shelter sector expertise, but acts as a network/voice rather than direct service provider.
• Alberta Council of Women's Shelters (ACWS): Provincial umbrella and capacity-building body for member shelters across Alberta. Comparable mission and sector expertise, but operates as a coordinating/training body rather than as a direct service provider like FearIsNotLove.
• Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses (OAITH): Provincial membership association for Ontario shelters and transition houses serving women and children fleeing violence. Mirrors the role ACWS plays in Alberta; comparable sector-coordination function.

Direct peers

• Vancouver Battered Women's Support Services (BWSS): Long-standing BC nonprofit offering crisis lines, counselling, advocacy, and prevention programming for women experiencing violence. Closely mirrors FearIsNotLove's continuum-from-crisis-to-counselling service model and 24/7 access points.
• Assaulted Women's Helpline: Ontario-based 24/7 multilingual crisis line and resource service for women experiencing abuse. Comparable crisis-intervention operating model and similar reliance on trained counsellor rosters and referral networks.
• Awo Taan Native Women's Shelter Society: Calgary-based Indigenous women's emergency shelter offering culturally grounded support. Partner in Equally Safe; comparable emergency shelter model serving overlapping vulnerable populations in the same city.
• YW Calgary: Calgary-based nonprofit providing shelter, housing, and support services for women and families fleeing violence. Direct partner alongside FearIsNotLove in the Equally Safe coordinated community response; operates overlapping DV services in the same Calgary geography.

Regional players

• Calgary Immigrant Women's Association (CIWA): Calgary-based nonprofit serving immigrant women and families with counselling, settlement, and crisis support. Equally Safe partner; comparable support service delivery but specialized on immigrant populations in the same regional market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/fearisnotlove
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fearisnotlove
• Instagraminstagram.com/fear_isnotlove

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 FearIsNotLove