Say Somaali
Say Somaali is a Black youth-led, grassroots nonprofit in the Greater Toronto Area providing culturally responsive mentorship programs (Juniors, Dreamers, Leaders) and a community scholarship fund for Somali youth in middle school, high school, and post-secondary education.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Say Somaali does
Say Somaali is a Black youth-led, grassroots nonprofit organization founded in 2019 and based in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada. It was established after a 2019 panel and small-group mentoring event with the University of Toronto Somali Students Association surfaced significant unmet demand for mentorship from Somali mentors. The organization addresses educational barriers, discriminatory practices in schools, and the lack of culturally aligned support structures for Somali youth.
Its core offerings are three age-tiered mentorship and leadership development programs: the Juniors Program (Middle School), the Dreamers Program (High School), and the Leaders Program (Post-Secondary). Each cohort is staffed by Somali coordinators and facilitators and delivers mentorship, leadership development, personal growth, and community connection through application-based enrollment. In 2023, Say Somaali launched the Community Scholarship Fund, administered in partnership with the Somali Centre for Culture & Recreation, which has since raised $58,000 CAD and funded 35 GTA-based Somali post-secondary students, with 100% of donations passed through to tuition, textbooks, and registration. The organization supplements its programs with named legacy scholarships, an external scholarships resource page, and a partnership network of 25+ community, foundation, government, and media supporters.
The revenue model is donation-based and entirely non-commercial: named scholarships start at $1,500 CAD, sponsored scholarships start at $3,500 CAD, and general contributions are accepted at any amount. There is no disclosed fee-for-service revenue. Operational funding is sourced from a mix of community donations, foundation grants (Ontario Trillium Foundation, Foundation for Black Communities, Wealth Simple Foundation, PS43 Foundation, Justice Fund, Litera), municipal grants (City of Toronto, City of Mississauga), and corporate sponsorships (Tridel). Distribution is direct and community-based, relying on grassroots outreach and partner referrals, with no mobile app or digital product layer beyond a Squarespace website and email newsletter.
Say Somaali firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Say Somaali
- Legal name
- Say Somaali
- Website
- https://saysomaali.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Say Somaali is a Black youth-led, grassroots nonprofit in the Greater Toronto Area providing culturally responsive mentorship programs (Juniors, Dreamers, Leaders) and a community scholarship fund for Somali youth in middle school, high school, and post-secondary education.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Say Somaali industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Mentorship and Community Education Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC), Student Mentoring & Peer Support Programs (EDAJALAL)
Keywords
Where Say Somaali is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Say Somaali business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Named scholarship donation - $1,500+ |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Sponsored scholarship donation - $3,500+ |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | General contribution - Any amount |
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Say Somaali product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Say Somaali delivers culturally responsive mentorship, leadership, and development programming for Somali youth in the Greater Toronto Area through three age-tiered cohorts — Juniors (Middle School), Dreamers (High School), and Leaders (Post-Secondary) — paired with the Say Somaali Community Scholarship Fund, launched in 2023, which channels donated funds directly to students' tuition, textbooks, and registration costs. The organization is Black youth-led, community-funded, and partners with a network of 25+ local organizations to deliver programming and scholarships.
Product overview
Say Somaali is a Black youth-led, grassroots organization offering a culturally responsive mentorship, leadership, and development program portfolio for Somali youth. The core offerings consist of three age-tiered programs: the Juniors Program (Middle School), Dreamers Program (High School), and Leaders Program (Post-Secondary). These programs provide mentorship from experienced Somali community members, safe spaces for building connection based on shared identity, and opportunities for personal growth. Additionally, the organization operates the Say Somaali Community Scholarship Fund (launched 2023) which provides direct financial support to post-secondary students, alongside named scholarships sponsored by partners and families, and an external scholarships resource listing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Juniors Program (Middle School) A mentorship and leadership development program for middle school Somali youth in the Greater Toronto Area, providing mentorship from experienced Somali community members, safe spaces for building belonging, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Dreamers Program (High School) A mentorship and leadership development program for high school Somali youth in the Greater Toronto Area, designed to help youth overcome barriers in education and pursue their aspirations.
- Leaders Program (Post-Secondary) A mentorship and leadership development program for post-secondary Somali youth in the Greater Toronto Area, supporting students through mentorship and community connection.
- Say Somaali Community Scholarship Fund A community-funded scholarship program launched in 2023 to support Somali students across the GTA pursuing higher education, with 100% of donations going directly to students for tuition, textbooks, and registration costs. Has funded 35 students totaling $58k raised as of 2025.
Quantifiable outcome
- 35 students funded through Community Scholarship Fund since 2023
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Say Somaali
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Say Somaali technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Say Somaali partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Arab Community Centre of TorontocoreCommunity partner providing youth services and programs to the Arab community in Toronto.
- Somali Centre for Culture & RecreationcoreCRA registered charity that issues tax receipts for Say Somaali donations. Administers the Community Scholarship Fund.
- Grow with GoogleminorGoogle initiative providing resources and support for digital skills and education.
- Electronic Recycling AssociationminorNonprofit that recycles electronics and donates to charities, supporting organizational needs.
- Civic ActionminorCommunity organization focused on civic engagement and youth leadership.
- National Council of Canadian MuslimsminorMuslim advocacy organization providing community support.
- Urban Alliance on Race RelationsminorOrganization focused on race relations and supporting racialized communities.
- Penny Appeal CanadaminorCharitable organization supporting community causes.
- CTV NewsminorMedia partner providing earned media coverage and visibility.
- Toronto International Film FestivalminorMajor cultural institution providing film and media programming partnerships.
- Somali ScholarsminorOrganization supporting Somali students with educational opportunities.
- HalftimeminorYouth services program under Arab Community Centre of Toronto focused on youth support.
- Visions of ScienceminorOrganization supporting science education and engagement for youth.
- Sky's the Limit Youth OrganizationminorYouth organization providing programs and support for young people.
- 1919 MagazineminorMedia publication providing coverage and visibility for Somali community stories.
- Shoot for PeaceminorOrganization focused on using photography and media for peace and community building.
- Hidaayah HouseminorCommunity organization providing support services.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Say Somaali competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Shoot for Peace: Toronto-based nonprofit using media and creative programming to engage youth in community building; a Say Somaali partner with a comparable grassroots, GTA-focused youth development approach.
- Somali Scholars: Organization explicitly supporting Somali students with educational opportunities; listed as a Say Somaali partner and the closest direct peer in mission and beneficiary population.
- Arab Community Centre of Toronto (ACCT): Toronto-area nonprofit delivering culturally specific youth and community programming; listed as a core Say Somaali partner and operates a near-identical grassroots, identity-based youth-services model.
- Visions of Science Network for Learning: Toronto-based nonprofit advancing STEM educational equity for underrepresented youth; Say Somaali lists it as an active partner and the two share a comparable youth-development/educational-equity model in the GTA.
- Sky's the Limit Youth Organization: GTA-based youth services nonprofit listed as a Say Somaali partner with overlapping grassroots youth-development programming in the Toronto area.
Broad incumbents
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada: National youth-development organization providing after-school programming, mentorship, and leadership pathways; overlaps with Say Somaali's tiered youth programming but at national scale and without cultural specificity.
- Foundation for Black Communities: Canadian philanthropic foundation funding Black-led community organizations; functions as both a Say Somaali funder and a structural peer in the Black-community-empowerment ecosystem.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada: National youth-mentorship nonprofit delivering one-to-one mentoring at scale; comparable in core service (mentorship) but operates as a much larger, general-population incumbent versus Say Somaali's culturally specific model.
Others
- Urban Alliance on Race Relations: Toronto-based organization focused on race relations and supporting racialized communities; listed as a Say Somaali partner and operates in the same ecosystem supporting equity-seeking youth populations.
Regional players
- Halftime (under ACCT): GTA youth-services program under the Arab Community Centre of Toronto; a directly comparable regionally focused, identity-based youth program in the same city.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Say Somaali social profiles
Digital presenceSay Somaali financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Say Somaali leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
Say Somaali funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Say Somaali 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 Say Somaali
What does Say Somaali do?
Say Somaali delivers culturally responsive mentorship, leadership, and development programming for Somali youth in the Greater Toronto Area through three age-tiered cohorts — Juniors (Middle School), Dreamers (High School), and Leaders (Post-Secondary) — paired with the Say Somaali Community Scholarship Fund, launched in 2023, which channels donated funds directly to students' tuition, textbooks, and registration costs. The organization is Black youth-led, community-funded, and partners with a network of 25+ local organizations to deliver programming and scholarships.
Is Say Somaali a public or private company?
Say Somaali is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Say Somaali founded?
Say Somaali was founded in -1.
Where is Say Somaali based?
Say Somaali is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
Who are Say Somaali's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Shoot for Peace, Somali Scholars, Arab Community Centre of Toronto (ACCT), Visions of Science Network for Learning and Sky's the Limit Youth Organization. Broad incumbents are Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada, Foundation for Black Communities and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada. Urban Alliance on Race Relations is listed as an others. Halftime (under ACCT) is listed as a regional player.
Does Say Somaali have an API?
No public API is recorded for Say Somaali.
What industry is Say Somaali in?
Say Somaali's product category is Youth Mentorship and Community Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAD, Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits, with a secondary code of BPAGADAE, College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.