You Do You Foundation

Name

You Do You Foundation

Legal name

YOU DO YOU FOUNDATION

Website

https://youdoyoufoundation.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-profit Music Artist Mentorship Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

Keywords

• Music mentorship program
• Non-profit arts foundation
• LGBTQ musician support
• Music industry development
• Creative arts charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donations from supporters who want to help struggling 2SLGBTQIA+/QBIPOC music artists. Donations fund studio time, equipment, and professional services.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors provide funding and resources to support the foundation's programs. TD Bank Group is a major corporate sponsor supporting the mentorship program.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of You Do You Foundation branded merchandise including apparel. Proceeds from merchandise sales support foundation programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

You Do You Foundation is a non-profit organization that delivers a 6-month You Do You Mentorship Program supporting six emerging 2SLGBTQIA+ and QBIPOC music artists per year with professional development workshops, original music creation alongside producers, songwriters, and videographers, life-skills training, and grant writing support. The foundation also runs the Fierce and Fabulous Expo pride event and sells branded merchandise, with all artist-facing services provided at no cost funded by donations and corporate sponsorships such as TD Bank Group.

Product overview

You Do You Foundation operates as a non-profit organization offering a single integrated program portfolio centered on its core Mentorship Program for 2SLGBTQIA+ and QBIPOC music artists. The foundation's offerings include the You Do You Mentorship Program (a 6-month professional development program providing workshops in music production, songwriting, grant writing, and life skills), the annual Fierce and Fabulous Expo pride event, and merchandise sales. The organization connects artists with music producers, songwriters, and videographers, and facilitates connections to mental health, addiction, housing, and physical wellbeing resources. Funding comes through private and corporate donations, sponsorships, and merchandise proceeds.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• You Do You Mentorship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 60% of program graduates return as mentors
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Fierce and Fabulous ExpominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Drag culture event that the foundation is associated with and promotes to reach its target audience of drag artists and performers interested in music careers.
• So Fierce MusiccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Music production company founded by Oceane Aqua-Black (program graduate) that partners with the foundation to support artist music creation. Provides production services, recording opportunities, and industry connections for foundation mentees. Oliver Klozoff partnered with So Fierce Music on a second single.
• Rainbow RailroadminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Organization that helped Brayo Bryans escape persecution in Uganda and resettle in Canada. Co-presented at Pride Ball fundraiser in 2023. Provides support services for LGBTQ+ individuals fleeing persecution.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MusiCounts: Canadian non-profit focused on music education and supporting emerging musicians through instrument donations, scholarships, and grants. Closest domestic peer to YDYF given its Canadian base, non-profit structure, and mission to remove financial barriers for emerging music creators.
• The 519: Toronto-based LGBTQ+ community centre offering programs including arts, culture, and community supports. Comparable to YDYF as a Toronto-rooted 2SLGBTQIA+ service organization with creative/arts programming for marginalized community members.
• She Is The Music: Non-profit increasing representation of women and non-binary creators across the music industry through mentorship, networking, and education programs. Direct functional peer to YDYF given the shared mentorship-for-marginalized-musicians model.
• Rainbow Railroad: Canadian non-profit helping LGBTQ+ individuals escape persecution and resettle safely. Existing YDYF partner; functionally comparable as a 2SLGBTQIA+ focused Canadian non-profit serving vulnerable community members through wraparound supports.
• Black Music Action Coalition: Non-profit coalition addressing racial inequity in the music industry through advocacy, grants, and direct artist support. Highly comparable to YDYF's QBIPOC-focused programming and similar mix of industry advocacy plus direct services.
• Unison Fund: Canadian charity providing financial assistance and counselling to music industry professionals in times of crisis. Directly comparable to YDYF's wraparound approach of addressing mental health, addiction, and financial hardship within the music community.

Broad incumbents

• MusiCares (Recording Academy): Established U.S. non-profit providing health, financial, and rehabilitation services to music professionals in need. A scaled incumbent version of YDYF's wraparound human-services-for-musicians model, operating with significantly larger resources and brand reach.
• Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA): National trade association advocating for and supporting Canada's independent music sector. Comparable to YDYF in serving the Canadian music ecosystem, though functioning as an industry association rather than a direct-service charity.

Regional players

• QMUNITY: British Columbia's queer, trans, and Two-Spirit resource centre offering community programs and supports. Comparable to YDYF as a Canadian 2SLGBTQIA+ service organization, though broader in mandate and regionally focused on BC rather than Ontario.
• Help Musicians: UK charity providing holistic health, welfare, and career support to musicians. Highly comparable operating model to YDYF (mental health + financial + professional development), but operating in the UK rather than Canada.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/youdoyouworld

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 You Do You Foundation