Right to Play UofA
Right To Play is a Canadian-founded international nonprofit that uses play-based learning to protect, educate, and empower children affected by poverty, conflict, and inequality across 14 countries, reaching 2.3 million+ children and youth annually through donations, corporate partnerships, and government grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Right to Play UofA does
Right To Play International is a Canadian-registered nonprofit charity founded in 2000 by Olympic athlete Johann Olav Koss and headquartered in Toronto. The organization uses play-based learning — codified through a proprietary 'Reflect, Connect, Apply' methodology organized around four pillars (Quality Education, Gender Equality, Health & Well-being, and Child Protection) — to protect, educate, and empower children affected by poverty, conflict, displacement, and inequality. It operates programs in 14 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Canada, reaching more than 2.3 million children and youth annually, with notable initiatives including the PLAY program reaching 5,200+ Indigenous children weekly across 75+ Canadian Indigenous communities, the My Education My Future program for Burundian refugee girls in Tanzania, and Game Changers: Healing Through Sports for children in Lebanon.
The revenue model is donation-based across four primary streams: individual donations (including a monthly 'Playmakers' recurring giving program and event-based fundraising), corporate partnerships (RBC, Scotiabank, CIBC, TD, National Bank, Sun Life, GoodLife, PepsiCo, LEGO Foundation, Microsoft Foundation), government and institutional grants (Global Affairs Canada, Government of Norway, UK Aid, UNICEF, Olympic Refuge Foundation, Education Cannot Wait), and signature events (Heroes Gala, Quiz Night, Playmakers Golf Tournament, Gran Fondo). The organization reports an 86% program-spending ratio with 14% to administration and fundraising, and is recognized as a Charity Intelligence Top-Rated Charity. Distribution is delivered through co-designed partnerships with local governments, UN agencies, civil society organizations, and community mentors, with face-to-face donor recruitment handled by third-party partner Globalfaces Direct in major Canadian cities.
The organization is presently executing its 2021-2025 strategic plan under newly appointed President and CEO Jessie Thomson (October 2025), with several major initiatives underway including the Commonwealth Sport Canada partnership for the 2026 Glasgow Games, No Child On The Sidelines (backed by $5M from Global Affairs Canada), and the Game Changers Lebanon program ($1M Slaight Family Foundation grant). Day-to-day operations are led by an executive team including Chief Development Officer Lindsay Groves, CFO David Danylewich, Chief People and Culture Officer Elizabeth Boonman-Salgado, and national/country directors across each operating geography.
Right to Play UofA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Right to Play UofA
- Legal name
- Right To Play International
- Website
- https://righttoplay.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Right To Play is a Canadian-founded international nonprofit that uses play-based learning to protect, educate, and empower children affected by poverty, conflict, and inequality across 14 countries, reaching 2.3 million+ children and youth annually through donations, corporate partnerships, and government grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Right to Play UofA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Development and Humanitarian Nonprofits
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (624110), Child Care Services (6244), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Education Access & Quality (International Development) (BPAGABAE), Child Rights & Protection (BPADAGAG)
Keywords
Where Right to Play UofA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices19 records
Markets served
Right to Play UofA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters. Monthly giving program called Playmakers where donors commit to regular monthly contributions. Birthday and special occasion fundraising campaigns.
- Corporate Partnerships: Financial contributions from corporate partners including employee fundraising, volunteer efforts, and cause marketing. Partners include major Canadian banks (RBC, Scotiabank, CIBC, National Bank, TD), corporations (Sun Life, GoodLife, PepsiCo), and foundations (The LEGO Foundation, Slaight Family Foundation, Microsoft Foundation).
- Government and Institutional Grants: Funding from government agencies including Global Affairs Canada, Government of Canada, Government of Ontario, Government of Norway, UK Aid. Also receives funding from international organizations including UNICEF, Olympic Refuge Foundation, and various foundations.
- Event Fundraising: Revenue from signature events including Heroes Gala, Quiz Night, Playmakers Golf Tournament, Gran Fondo, and participation in Toronto Waterfront Marathon.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Right to Play UofA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Right To Play is a global international charity that delivers play-based learning programs to protect, educate, and empower children affected by poverty, conflict, disease, and inequality. Programs are delivered through local community partnerships in 14+ countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Canada, with a focus on four pillars: Quality Education, Gender Equality, Health & Well-being, and Child Protection. The organization funds this work through individual donations, corporate partnerships, and government/UN grants.
Product overview
Right To Play is an international charitable organization, not a technology product company. It does not offer software products, platforms, or modules. Its services consist of charitable programs and initiatives focused on using play to protect, educate, and empower children. Key programmatic offerings include the PLAY (Promoting Life-Skills in Aboriginal Youth) program for Indigenous communities in Canada, the My Education My Future (MEMF) initiative for Burundian refugee girls, the Game Changers: Healing Through Sports program for Lebanon, and the No Child On The Sidelines global initiative. The organization also operates fundraising events, volunteer programs, corporate partnerships, and ambassador programs. No technology products or SaaS offerings are described in the source material.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Promoting Life-Skills in Aboriginal Youth (PLAY) Program Play-based life skills program delivered through partnerships with 75+ Indigenous communities and urban organizations across Canada. Skills development training supports up to 240 Indigenous youth workers who lead the program, reaching more than 5,200 Indigenous children weekly.
- My Education My Future (MEMF) Program Program improving access to education for refugee girls and children with disabilities in Tanzania refugee camps and Burundi return communities through play-based learning, designed to benefit 48,000 Burundian refugee girls.
- Game Changers: Healing Through Sports Program Program helping children and youth in Lebanon recover from trauma of conflict, displacement, and economic crisis through sport and play, backed by a $1 million two-year grant from The Slaight Family Foundation.
- No Child On The Sidelines Global Initiative Global initiative to expand access to sport and play for children in underserved communities. Supported by $5 million from Global Affairs Canada and led in partnership with Global Citizen, aligned with the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. Will support approximately 15 grassroots organizations through grants, technical support, and peer learning.
Quantifiable outcome
- 2.3 million+ children reached annually across 14 countries
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Right to Play UofA
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Right to Play UofA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Right to Play UofA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Commonwealth Sport CanadacorePartnership for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. Team Canada will display Right To Play logo on select non-competition apparel. Partnership includes storytelling initiatives, awareness and fundraising opportunities, and engagement with Right To Play Ambassadors who are Canadian Commonwealth Games athletes.
- UNICEFcoreGlobal partnership for child-focused emergency support and development programming. Right To Play co-Chairs the Canadian International Education Policy Working Group (CIEPWG) with UNICEF Canada.
- Norwegian Refugee CouncilcorePartnership for Mon éducation, mon futur (My Education, My Future) program improving access to education for Burundian refugee girls in Tanzania.
- Olympic Refuge FoundationcoreGlobal partner supporting sport and play programs for refugee children and youth.
- GoodLife FitnesscoreDecade-long partnership celebrating movement and play, with 'Moving Together' initiative honoring truth and reconciliation.
- PepsiCo Canada (Rise Group)corePartnership building bridges through play and honoring truth and reconciliation with PepsiCo Canada's Rise Group.
- ASICScoreGlobal partner supporting sport and play initiatives.
- Global CitizencorePartnership for 'No Child On The Sidelines' initiative aligned with FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Right to Play UofA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Mary's Meals: International charity providing school meals in low-income countries; UK's National Director was previously at Mary's Meals (11 years). Comparable funding model and donor base, though focused on school feeding rather than play-based learning.
- World Vision: One of the largest INGOs globally, with child-focused community development programming across 100+ countries. Broad overlap in child welfare, education, and emergency response; many Right To Play senior leaders (Country Directors Ethiopia, Burundi, West Africa) came from World Vision.
- UNICEF: UN agency for children's rights and welfare; a core strategic partner of Right To Play. While vastly larger and government-funded, it is the natural system leader and frequently co-implements Right To Play's programs in refugee and emergency contexts.
Direct peers
- Save the Children: Major international child-focused NGO delivering education, health, and protection programs globally. Comparable in scale, geographic breadth, and donor mix (institutional, corporate, individual); co-chairs Canadian International Education Policy Working Group with Right To Play via UNICEF Canada.
- Plan International: Global INGO focused on children's rights, education, and gender equality across 80+ countries. Highly comparable mission and beneficiary base, with similar corporate and individual donor fundraising models and government grant reliance.
- Laureus Sport for Good Foundation: Foundation using sport to address social issues facing youth globally. Direct competitor in the sport-for-development niche, with overlapping funder pool (sporting brands, foundations) and program methodology.
- ChildFund International: INGO focused on children's wellbeing, education, and protection across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Similar sponsorship-based individual donor model and community-partnership program delivery approach.
- Children Believe: Canadian INGO supporting children's rights, education, and wellbeing in developing countries. Highly comparable in Canadian donor base, fundraising model, and program focus; the Director of Marketing previously led campaigns here.
- War Child Alliance: INGO focused on children affected by war, using play and creative methods for psychosocial support. Direct overlap in methodology (play-based learning) and beneficiary group (children in conflict zones including Lebanon and Palestinian Territories).
Emerging players
- Action Against Hunger: INGO addressing child hunger and malnutrition; the Canadian Director of Marketing has prior tenure. Comparable funding channels and donor base, though focused on nutrition rather than play-based learning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Right to Play UofA social profiles
Digital presenceRight to Play UofA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Right to Play UofA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Right to Play UofA subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries19 records
Right to Play UofA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Right to Play UofA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Right to Play UofA
What does Right to Play UofA do?
Right To Play is a global international charity that delivers play-based learning programs to protect, educate, and empower children affected by poverty, conflict, disease, and inequality. Programs are delivered through local community partnerships in 14+ countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Canada, with a focus on four pillars: Quality Education, Gender Equality, Health & Well-being, and Child Protection. The organization funds this work through individual donations, corporate partnerships, and government/UN grants.
Is Right to Play UofA a public or private company?
Right to Play UofA is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Right to Play UofA founded?
Right to Play UofA was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Right to Play UofA based?
Right to Play UofA is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Right to Play UofA make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships, government and Institutional Grants and event Fundraising.
Who are Right to Play UofA's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Mary's Meals, World Vision and UNICEF. Direct peers are Save the Children, Plan International, Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, ChildFund International, Children Believe and War Child Alliance. Action Against Hunger is listed as an emerging player.
Does Right to Play UofA have an API?
No public API is recorded for Right to Play UofA.
What industry is Right to Play UofA in?
Right to Play UofA's product category is International Development and Humanitarian Nonprofits. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGABAG, Child Protection & Child Rights, with a secondary code of BPAGABAE, Education Access & Quality (International Development). Its NAICS code is 624110 and its SIC code is 8300.