Harvest Project (Change the World Foundation)

What Harvest Project (Change the World Foundation) does

Harvest Project (legal name: Change The World Foundation, Registered Canadian Charity #BN140525205RR0001) is a community-based non-profit organization founded in 1993 by the late David Foster and Emiko Nicol and headquartered at 1073 Roosevelt Crescent, North Vancouver, BC. The organization delivers an integrated suite of social-service programs to North Shore residents of Metro Vancouver (spanning Deep Cove to Horseshoe Bay) who are experiencing family trauma, illness, job loss, or poverty. Core programs include one-to-one Client Care coaching with goal-setting and referrals, a monthly Grocery Support / Nutrition depot, a Food Recovery program (developed with Vancouver Coastal Health), an Emergency Food Program distributed via partner churches, the North Shore Rent Bank (interest-free loans up to $2,500 individual / $3,500 family, operated under the BC Rent Bank / Vancity Community Foundation umbrella), and Clothes For Change - a dual-purpose social-enterprise thrift boutique providing free clothing to clients and generating retail revenue for programs. The organization is supported by 8 full-time and 10 part-time staff, a volunteer base of 130+ weekly contributors plus 53 organized groups contributing 19,000+ annual volunteer hours, and a volunteer Board of Directors chaired by Dave Lucas (retired President, Canadian Region of SSA Marine).

The business model is a hybrid donation-and-social-enterprise construct with no fee-for-service. Approximately 100% of operating support is provided through individual, household, corporate, foundation, religious, service-club and government donations - including monthly giving, planned giving, vehicle and securities donations - supplemented by retail revenue from the Clothes For Change thrift store and flow-through funding from the BC Rent Bank. Volunteer labor provides the bulk of in-kind program delivery capacity. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: the annual Seasons of Hope campaign, the Waterfront Gala (2026 beneficiary), the Dundarave Hoedown, the Play for Purpose fitness fundraisers, school and corporate volunteering, and a multi-channel presence across email newsletter, Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn and earned media (North Shore News, Global TV).

The latest disclosed program year records 432 clients and dependents supported through Client Care, Grocery and Clothing services; 413 Emergency Food Program clients served; 99 people kept housed via $88,258 of Rent Bank loans; $642,708 in grocery / gift-card value shared; $36,124 in Emergency Food bags; 3,665 total service sessions; and 13,604 volunteer hours. The leadership team is Executive Director Gary Ansell and Chief Development Officer Kevin J. Lee; day-to-day operations are supported by specialized coordinators (Client Care, Mental Health, Grants, Financial Case Work, Development and Volunteer Management). Annual financial statements are independently audited (FY2023-FY2025) and the organization has won the North Shore News 'Favourite Non-Profit Organization' Platinum Award for five consecutive years through 2026.

Name

Harvest Project (Change the World Foundation)

Legal name

Change The World Foundation

Website

https://harvestproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Harvest Project is a registered Canadian charity, founded in 1993 and headquartered in North Vancouver, BC, delivering an integrated suite of social-service programs - Client Care coaching, Grocery Support, Emergency Food, Clothes For Change thrift boutique, and the North Shore Rent Bank - to low-income residents across Metro Vancouver's North Shore, funded entirely through donations plus a social-enterprise thrift store.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit Community Social Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Income Support & Cash Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAE), Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

Keywords

• Community social services
• Food bank assistance
• Charitable thrift retail
• Interest-free rent loans
• Poverty relief programs

Headquarters

HQ city

North Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual and Household Donations: 100% of funding comes from individuals, households, businesses, foundations, religious organizations, service clubs, governments, and other organizations. Accepts online donations, monthly giving, eTransfers, in-person/mail, phone donations, and planned giving including life insurance and bequests.
2. Clothes For Change Thrift Store Revenue: Social enterprise retail operation selling donated clothing. All revenues support Harvest Project programs.
3. North Shore Rent Bank Loans: Provides no-interest loans to at-risk residents. Maximum loan: $2,500 for individuals, $3,500 for families. Supported by BC Rent Bank program of Vancity Community Foundation, Province of BC and private donors.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Harvest Project provides free direct social services to North Shore (Metro Vancouver) residents experiencing hardship, including one-to-one Client Care coaching with monthly goal-setting, a monthly grocery depot, an Emergency Food Program at partner church locations, a Clothing Support/Thrift boutique (Clothes For Change), and the North Shore Rent Bank offering no-interest loans (up to $2,500 for individuals, $3,500 for families) to prevent eviction or utility disconnection. Programs are funded entirely by community donations, foundation grants, government funding, and thrift-store revenue, with services delivered through a North Vancouver hub and partner church locations.

Product overview

Harvest Project is a community-based non-profit organization (operating as Change The World Foundation) offering a portfolio of interconnected social service programs focused on poverty relief and community support on Vancouver's North Shore. The core offerings include the Client Care Program (one-to-one coaching and goal-setting), the Grocery Support Program (monthly food assistance), Clothes For Change (dual-purpose thrift boutique providing free clothing to clients and generating program revenue through retail sales), and the North Shore Rent Bank (interest-free loans to prevent eviction). Supporting programs include an Emergency Food Program, Food Recovery Program, and the Play for Purpose fundraising initiative. All programs are designed to 'extend a hand up' to help North Shore residents facing challenging life circumstances regain stability and health.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Client Care Program One-to-one coaching and counseling program where participants meet monthly with Client Care Partners to set goals, receive emotional and spiritual support, and get connected to additional resources and community programs. Designed for North Shore residents experiencing family trauma, illness, job loss, or poverty.
• Grocery Support Program Monthly onsite grocery depot where clients can shop at no charge for groceries and personal-care items, providing household food-budget assistance and food-security support for North Shore residents facing financial hardship.
• North Shore Rent Bank Interest-free loan program providing short-term financial assistance of up to $2,500 for individuals or $3,500 for families for rent, utilities, and security deposits, helping prevent eviction or utility disconnection for North Shore residents in temporary financial crisis. Operated under BC Rent Bank / Vancity Community Foundation.
• Clothes For Change Social-enterprise thrift boutique that serves clients at no charge with appropriate interview/work clothing and also generates revenue through retail sales of second-hand adult clothing and shoes to the public, with all revenues supporting Harvest Project programs.
• Emergency Food Program Partnership with St. Andrews United Church and The Way Church providing pre-packed bags of free groceries weekly to North Shore residents needing immediate food assistance, including those waiting to join Client Care or in transition.
• Food Recovery Program Program that collects and redistributes donated perishable and non-perishable food from retailers, businesses, and community groups, developed in partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health North Shore to safely handle, transport, and store perishable foods.

Quantifiable outcome

• 432 clients and dependents supported through Client Care, Grocery, Clothing services
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 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 major, minor and core.

• North Shore Waterfront Gala (Fibreco, Neptune, Pembina, Seaspan, SSA Marine)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2026Harvest Project named as beneficiary of North Shore Waterfront Gala, an initiative led by five major waterfront terminals and supporting businesses. Major fundraising event for the organization.
• Simon Fraser University (SFU)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2024Collaboration for Poverty-Simulation event on April 7, helping community members gain understanding of poverty and social issues to be part of positive social change.
• David Foster (Co-founder)coreOthers · 1 January 1993Co-founder David Foster established Harvest Project in 1993 after experiencing homelessness and receiving assistance from local churches. His vision to 'extend a hand up, not a hand out' continues to guide the organization's mission.
• St. Andrews United Church (St. Andrews)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide Emergency Food Program at St. Andrews United Church location at 1044 St. Georges Avenue, North Vancouver. Pre-packed bags of food provided every Tuesday 10:00-11:00am for residents needing immediate help, those waiting to join Client-Care Program, and clients in transition.
• The Way ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with The Way Church to operate Emergency Food Program at their location, providing pre-packed bags of food for residents needing immediate help.
• North Vancouver School DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with School District's Work Experience Program providing volunteering opportunities for students with special needs. Includes work experience placements at Harvest Project.
• Vancouver Coastal HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorked closely with Vancouver Coastal Health North Shore to develop food recovery program and protocols for safely handling, transporting, and storing perishable foods.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Vancity Community Foundation: Foundational partner and BC Rent Bank program operator that funds Harvest Project's North Shore Rent Bank. Comparable as a community-foundation grantmaker in the same ecosystem, channeling philanthropic capital into poverty-relief programs serving overlapping populations.
• Greater Vancouver Community Assistance Foundation: Major foundation supporter of Harvest Project's North Shore programs. Comparable as a regional grantmaking organization funding community-based poverty, food security, and social service initiatives across Metro Vancouver.

Direct peers

• Greater Vancouver Food Bank: Regional food bank serving Metro Vancouver including food distribution, grocery support, and food recovery programs. Directly comparable as a community-based food assistance organization in the same geographic region as Harvest Project, though operating at materially larger scale.
• Sources BC: North Shore-based community resources society offering food, counselling, housing, and support services. Directly comparable geographic and service overlap with Harvest Project, including food bank, Rent Bank-style housing support, and counselling services in the same catchment area.
• Union Gospel Mission: Christian-based nonprofit in Metro Vancouver providing meals, shelter, addiction recovery, and outreach to people experiencing poverty and homelessness. Comparable mission and integrated service model (food, housing, recovery, training) targeting the same vulnerable populations on Vancouver's North Shore periphery.
• Lookout Housing + Health Society: Nonprofit providing housing, shelter, and health services to vulnerable populations across Metro Vancouver and BC. Operates emergency shelters and supportive housing directly comparable to Harvest Project's Rent Bank and emergency food programming for at-risk residents.
• Quest Outreach Society: Non-profit society serving marginalized populations in Metro Vancouver with food, harm reduction, and outreach services. Comparable community-based service delivery model targeting similar vulnerable populations in adjacent geography to Harvest Project's North Shore catchment.
• North Shore Crisis Services Society: North Vancouver-based nonprofit providing crisis intervention, counselling, and victim services to North Shore residents. Comparable regional nonprofit serving overlapping vulnerable populations in the same geographic catchment area as Harvest Project.

Broad incumbents

• The Salvation Army (British Columbia): Large international nonprofit operating food banks, shelters, rent banks, and community services across BC including the North Shore. Comparable programs (food assistance, housing support, thrift stores) but operates at much broader geographic scale and as a more generalist social services provider.
• Food Banks Canada: National umbrella organization coordinating Canada's food bank network and providing funding, research, and programming support. Indirectly comparable as the national-level governing and funding body for regional food banks including Harvest Project's grocery support programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HarvestProject
• Facebookfacebook.com/harvestproject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/harvest-project
• Instagraminstagram.com/harvestprojectnorthshore

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Harvest Project (Change the World Foundation)