YWCA St. John's
YWCA St. John's is a 100-year-old non-profit in Newfoundland and Labrador delivering social services — newcomer support, youth programs, LGBTQIA+ services, childcare, and gender-based violence response — funded through donations, memberships, government grants, and special-event fundraising.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1925
- HeadquartersSt. John's, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What YWCA St. John's does
YWCA St. John's is a registered charity and non-profit social-services organization headquartered in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Founded in 1925, it operates as part of the YWCA Canada network of 29 member associations and the global World YWCA (25 million members), entering its centennial operating year in 2025.
The organization delivers a multi-program portfolio spanning youth and family services, newcomer settlement and integration, LGBTQIA+ programming (including the LGBTQIA+ Newcomers Project launched in 2020), employment readiness and job-matching (Connextions Employment Program, launched 2022), licensed childcare, and gender-based violence response including a 24-hour support line. A Strategic Plan covering 2024-2027, released September 2024, formalizes its gender-equity mandate and organizational sustainability priorities. The executive director is Maria Gentle.
YWCA St. John's is funded through a non-profit revenue stack that includes individual and corporate donations, an individual membership fee of $20 per year, special-event fundraising anchored by the annual Circle of Distinction Awards gala (rebranded from Women of Distinction in 2023), and government grants including federal settlement funding. The organization employs 17 staff and relies on a governance board, volunteer committees, and community partnerships as its extended operating capacity. There are no disclosed revenue figures, fee-for-service commercial products, or technology platforms beyond basic administrative IT and virtual program delivery.
YWCA St. John's firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- YWCA St. John's
- Legal name
- YWCA St. John's Inc.
- Website
- https://ywcastjohns.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1925
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- YWCA St. John's is a 100-year-old non-profit in Newfoundland and Labrador delivering social services — newcomer support, youth programs, LGBTQIA+ services, childcare, and gender-based violence response — funded through donations, memberships, government grants, and special-event fundraising.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
YWCA St. John's industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Social Services
- NAICS
- Individual and Family Services (6241), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment (BPAGABAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD), Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAD), Peer Support, Mentoring & Student Leadership (SEL) (EDAKAMAO)
Keywords
Where YWCA St. John's is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- St. John's
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
YWCA St. John's business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization accepts charitable donations which are tax-deductible under CRA registration number 82035 6236 RR0001. Donations support ongoing programs and services for women and gender-diverse people.
- Membership Fees: Annual membership is available at $20 for all categories (Voting Member, Supporting Member, Organizational Member). Membership runs January 1 - December 31 annually.
- Event Fundraising - Circle of Distinction Awards: The Circle of Distinction Awards serves as the major annual fundraising event, with sponsorship opportunities available for businesses and organizations. Proceeds support youth programs, newcomer services, 2SLGBTQIA+ services, employment programs, and the emergency survivor support fund.
- Project Funding and Grants: YWCA St. John's receives project-specific funding from government and institutional funders such as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for programs like the Fostering Collaboration project for 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Individual Membership (Voting Member) - $20/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Supporting Membership (Non-Voting Member) - $20/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Organizational Membership (Non-Voting Member) - $20/year |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Youth Programs - Free |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | NESS Fund Grant - Up to $1,000 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
YWCA St. John's product offering
Product offeringCore offering
YWCA St. John's is a registered non-profit charitable organization that delivers community-based programs and services advancing gender equity for women and gender-diverse people in St. John's and Newfoundland and Labrador. Its core offerings include employment and skills training programs (LAUNCH, Connextions, Job Seeker Network, Workplace English), youth development and leadership programs (Creating Space, GirlSpace, Young Women's Leadership, Power of Being a Girl), newcomer settlement and mentorship, 2SLGBTQIA+ peer support, the National Emergency Survivors Support Fund for gender-based violence survivors, financial empowerment services, and childcare advocacy.
Product overview
YWCA St. John's is a non-profit organization providing a comprehensive suite of community programs and services focused on advancing gender equity. The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected programs including employment services (LAUNCH Employment Program, Connextions, Job Seeker Network, Workplace English), youth development (Creating Space, Young Women's Leadership Program, GirlSpace, Power of Being a Girl, Strength in Being a Boy), newcomer support (Peer Support, Settle Mates Mentorship, English Conversation Practice Circle), LGBTQIA+ services (Peer Support Group, Mentorship), gender-based violence survivor support (NESS Fund), financial empowerment, and childcare advocacy. The major annual fundraising event is the Circle of Distinction Awards. The organization is affiliated with YWCA Canada and World YWCA, serving the St. John's metro region and expanding services across Newfoundland and Labrador.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Circle of Distinction Awards: Annual awards program celebrating achievements of women and gender-diverse people, formerly called Women of Distinction Awards, relaunched in 2023
- Connextions Employment Program
- Creating Space
- LAUNCH Employment Program
- NESS Fund
- Job Seeker Network
- Settle Mates
- Power of Being a Girl
- Strength in Being a Boy
- GirlSpace
- Young Women's Leadership Program
- Child Care at Work
Products and services
- LAUNCH Employment Program
- Connextions Employment Program
- Creating Space
- GirlSpace
- Young Women's Leadership Program
- LGBTQIA+ Newcomer Peer Support Group
- Settle Mates Mentorship Program
- National Emergency Survivors Support Fund (NESS Fund)
- Financial Empowerment Services
- Childcare Programs
- Circle of Distinction Awards
- Membership Program
Quantifiable outcome
- NESS Fund provides grants of up to $1,000 to gender-based violence survivors to help them establish safe, stable housing
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use YWCA St. John's
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
YWCA St. John's technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
YWCA St. John's partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Dr. Sulaimon Giwa / Memorial University School of Social WorkcoreResearch partnership for 'Fostering Collaboration of Services for 2SLGBTQIA+ Newcomers in Newfoundland and Labrador' project. Dr. Sulaimon Giwa serves as principal investigator while YWCA St. John's delivers programs. Project funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Includes research on LGBTQ+ newcomer settlement and integration, with $50 honorarium for research participants.
- YWCA CanadacoreYWCA St. John's operates in affiliation with YWCA Canada and other member associations. Part of a network of 29 YWCA's across Canada working together on national advocacy priorities including ending gender-based violence, implementing national child care, achieving economic equality, and ending homelessness for women and gender-diverse folks.
- McSheffrey Community CentreminorCommunity partnership hosting cultural celebrations and community integration events for YWCA program participants. Hosted Eid gathering welcoming LGBTQIA+ newcomer program participants and staff.
- ANC.nl (Association for New Canadians)minorPartnership for LGBTQIA+ Newcomer Peer Support Group programming, including collaborative reflective art activities exploring identities, strengths, and goals.
- How We RollminorCollaboration for 2SLGBTQIA+ History Walking tour as part of LGBTQIA+ Newcomer Peer Support Group activities.
- Child Care Now Newfoundland and LabradorcoreCoalition partner advocating for province-wide system of early learning and childcare that is affordable, high quality, inclusive, and available to all children in Newfoundland and Labrador. Also advocates for dignified working conditions and fair compensation for early childhood educators.
- Anti-Poverty NLcoreYWCA St. John's is part of Anti-Poverty NL, a coalition of organizations committed to reducing poverty in Newfoundland and Labrador. Coalition advocates for transformative change and stronger provincial action on poverty reduction.
- Multicultural Women's Organization of Newfoundland and Labrador (MWONL)minorPartnership hosting English Conversation Practice Circle sessions on Thursday evenings, aimed at empowering women and supporting participants in increasing leadership skills and reaching language goals.
- Perinatal Mental Health Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador (PMHANL)minorYWCA St. John's is a key partner in PMHANL, a community-university partnership addressing gaps in programs, supports, and services for mothers, infants, and families. YWCA serves as the agency under which alliance coordination contract is delivered.
- Newfoundland and Labrador Feminist Organizations CoalitioncoreCoalition formed during 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence to strengthen collective advocacy among provincial organizations, linking local and global struggles for justice and urging provincial leaders to speak out against violence and oppression.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
YWCA St. John's competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- YWCA Toronto: A larger Canadian YWCA chapter delivering the same portfolio of gender-equity programming (employment, newcomer, youth, GBV, childcare) under the same national YWCA Canada umbrella, making it the closest operational peer.
- Stella's Circle: St. John's-based social services organization delivering employment, housing, and community programs to vulnerable populations — directly comparable on community-services delivery model, geography, and beneficiary groups.
- YWCA Halifax: Another Atlantic Canadian YWCA chapter serving a similar regional market; provides a directly comparable regional peer for program design, fundraising, and community-services delivery.
- Association for New Canadians (ANC NL): Newfoundland's primary settlement agency, an active delivery partner on YWCA St. John's LGBTQIA+ Newcomer Peer Support Group and the Workplace English program; directly comparable on newcomer service offerings in the same city.
- End Violence Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (EVANL): Provincial coalition coordinating sexual violence and GBV prevention and response in NL; closely comparable on gender-based violence survivor support that YWCA addresses through the NESS Fund and Creating Space advocacy training.
- Multicultural Women's Organization of Newfoundland and Labrador (MWONL): Partner organization hosting the English Conversation Practice Circle with YWCA; serves a closely overlapping population (newcomer women) in the same geography with peer-support and language programming.
Broad incumbents
- YWCA Canada: National umbrella of 29 YWCA associations; not a program-delivery competitor but the policy and advocacy layer YWCA St. John's plugs into, including shared national advocacy priorities like national child care and ending GBV.
- Egale Canada: Canada's largest 2SLGBTQI organization advancing human rights through research, advocacy, and litigation; comparable on the LGBTQIA+ advocacy and rights-based programming that YWCA St. John's delivers locally.
- Canadian Women's Foundation: National grantmaking and advocacy organization focused on gender equity, including GBV and economic security — overlaps YWCA St. John's advocacy and grant-funded program agenda at a national scale.
Emerging players
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Newfoundland and Labrador: Youth mentorship organization with overlapping programming in settlement mentorship, youth leadership, and peer support that intersects with YWCA's Settle Mates and youth leadership programs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
YWCA St. John's social profiles
Digital presenceYWCA St. John's compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
YWCA St. John's financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
YWCA St. John's leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
YWCA St. John's funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
YWCA St. John's 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 YWCA St. John's
What does YWCA St. John's do?
YWCA St. John's is a registered non-profit charitable organization that delivers community-based programs and services advancing gender equity for women and gender-diverse people in St. John's and Newfoundland and Labrador. Its core offerings include employment and skills training programs (LAUNCH, Connextions, Job Seeker Network, Workplace English), youth development and leadership programs (Creating Space, GirlSpace, Young Women's Leadership, Power of Being a Girl), newcomer settlement and mentorship, 2SLGBTQIA+ peer support, the National Emergency Survivors Support Fund for gender-based violence survivors, financial empowerment services, and childcare advocacy.
Is YWCA St. John's a public or private company?
YWCA St. John's is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was YWCA St. John's founded?
YWCA St. John's was founded in 1925. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is YWCA St. John's based?
YWCA St. John's is headquartered in St. John's, Canada, in the North America region.
How does YWCA St. John's make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are membership Fees, event Fundraising - Circle of Distinction Awards and project Funding and Grants.
Who are YWCA St. John's's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are YWCA Toronto, Stella's Circle, YWCA Halifax, Association for New Canadians (ANC NL), End Violence Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (EVANL) and Multicultural Women's Organization of Newfoundland and Labrador (MWONL). Broad incumbents are YWCA Canada, Egale Canada and Canadian Women's Foundation. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Newfoundland and Labrador is listed as an emerging player.
Does YWCA St. John's have an API?
No public API is recorded for YWCA St. John's.
What industry is YWCA St. John's in?
YWCA St. John's's product category is Community Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGABAF, Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment, with a secondary code of BPAGAEAD, Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services. Its NAICS code is 6241 and its SIC code is 8300.