Lions Foundation of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario Incorporated

What Lions Foundation of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario Incorporated does

Lions Foundation of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario Incorporated is a federally registered Canadian non-profit charitable organization, established in 1981 under the Canada Corporation Act and operating continuously for 45 years across Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. The foundation delivers four core programs — KidSight (free vision screening for children aged 6 months to 18 years using specialized hands-free camera technology), Simply Sound/Hearing Program (hearing screenings, hearing aid recycling, and pediatric hearing aid loaner program partnered with Horizon Hearing Centres), Giving Glances (financial assistance for eyeglasses and adaptive technology, plus the Recycle for Sight eyeglass redistribution program that has distributed over 800,000 eyeglasses since 1996), and Helping Hands (financial assistance for medical expenses, mobility equipment, prosthetics, and rehabilitation not covered by provincial health plans). Serenity Suites, located at Lions Manor near major Winnipeg hospitals, provides financially subsidized furnished accommodations for northern and rural patients traveling for medical treatment. A 'Bringing Care Closer' mobile vision and hearing screening unit is scheduled to launch in September 2026.

The foundation operates a federated community-led go-to-market model: applications and services flow through a network of 78 Lions Clubs across three districts (5M10, 5M11, 5M13), supplemented by direct applications to the Winnipeg headquarters. Paid headcount is minimal — an Executive Director, Executive Assistant, and Fundraising/Marketing Coordinator — with a volunteer Board of Directors providing governance. Revenue is generated through donations from Lions Clubs and individuals, recurring raffles (Care That Counts monthly 50/50 and the Journey for Sight annual snowmobile fundraising raffle), community grants (Canada Post 2023, Red River Co-op 2023), planned giving and bequests, and small corporate contributions. The mobile outreach unit and a 45th Anniversary Gala planned for 2026 indicate a renewed capacity-expansion and fundraising cycle. There is no disclosed AI or proprietary software component; the technical edge rests on specialized medical screening hardware and a deeply embedded volunteer ecosystem.

Name

Lions Foundation of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario Incorporated

Legal name

Lions Foundation of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario Incorporated

Website

https://lionsfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lions Foundation of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario is a 45-year-old Canadian non-profit charity that provides free vision and hearing screenings, financial assistance for eyeglasses, hearing aids, prosthetics, and subsidized medical-travel accommodations across Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario, delivered through 78 Lions Clubs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Health and Social Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

Keywords

• Vision screening programs
• Hearing aid assistance
• Medical financial assistance
• Charitable foundation services
• Subsidized patient lodging

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnipeg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Financial support provided by Lions Clubs and their members, as well as community-minded individuals and organizations. The foundation conducts regular fundraising campaigns including raffles and events.
2. Raffle and Event Fundraising: Journey for Sight 50/50 Raffle (tickets available through local Lions Clubs and riders) and monthly Care That Counts 50/50 Raffle. Journey for Sight is an annual snowmobile fundraising event.
3. Grant Funding: Received grants from organizations such as Canada Post (2023 Community Grant) and Red River Co-op (2023 Community Grant) for the Kidsight Vision Program.
4. Planned Giving and Legacy Donations: Accepts bequests through wills, life insurance gifts, RRSP/RRIF beneficiary designations, securities donations, and endowment funds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Lions Foundation of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario delivers free community health programs including vision and hearing screenings for children, financial assistance for eyeglasses, hearing aids, prosthetics, and mobility equipment not covered by provincial healthcare, subsidized accommodations for medical travelers at Serenity Suites, and eyeglass/hearing aid recycling programs. Services are delivered through a network of 78 Lions Clubs across Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario with the support of specialized screening cameras and a mobile outreach unit.

Product overview

Lions Foundation of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario is a registered non-profit charitable organization established in 1981 that offers a portfolio of community health and support programs. The core programs include KidSight (vision screening for children), Simply Sound/Hearing Program (hearing support and hearing aid recycling), Giving Glances (vision financial assistance and eyeglass recycling), Helping Hands (medical expense financial assistance), and Serenity Suites (subsidized accommodations for medical travelers). The organization also recently announced the launch of 'Bringing Care Closer,' a mobile vision and hearing screening unit planned for September 2026. These programs work together to provide comprehensive support for individuals and families facing vision, hearing, and mobility challenges across Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KidSight Free vision screening program for children aged 6 months to 18 years using specialized hands-free camera technology. Delivered in partnership with regional Lions Clubs at schools, daycares, and community events across Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario.
• Simply Sound Hearing Program Hearing program supporting individuals affected by hearing loss, including the Kids Hear Program for children aged 6 months to 18 years, hearing aid recycling, and the pediatric hearing aid loaner program. Partners with Horizon Hearing Centres for follow-up care and hearing aid fitting.
• Helping Hands Financial assistance program easing the burden for families dealing with medical issues not covered by Provincial Health Care, including out-of-town medical travel, mobility equipment, prosthetics, medical appliances, and physical rehabilitation therapy. Applications are submitted through community Lions Clubs or directly to the Foundation office.
• Serenity Suites Financially subsidized fully furnished accommodations for adults and children from northern and rural Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario who must travel to Winnipeg for medical treatment. Located at Lions Manor near Health Sciences Centre, Children's Hospital, CancerCare Manitoba, Misericordia Health Centre, and St. Boniface Hospital, with kitchens, cable TV, internet, laundry, on-site hair salon, cafeteria, and ATM.
• Giving Glances Vision programs providing financial assistance for eyeglasses and adaptive technology, and operating the Recycle for Sight program that has distributed over 800,000 eyeglasses to children and adults in developing countries since 1996.
• Bringing Care Closer Mobile vision and hearing screening initiative launching September 2026 that brings free on-the-spot screenings directly to children through a fully equipped mobile outreach unit with advanced optometry and audiology devices, capable of reaching up to 40,000 children per year at schools, daycares, community centres, and public events across Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 800,000 eyeglasses distributed since 1996 through Recycle for Sight program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Canada PostcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 October 2023Canada Post awarded Lions Foundation a 2023 Community Grant in recognition of the Kidsight Vision Program. This partnership supports the foundation's vision screening initiative for children.
• Red River Co-opcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 October 2023Red River Co-op awarded Lions Foundation a 2023 Community Grant Fund in recognition of the Kidsight Vision Program. Partnership supports children's vision care.
• Horizon Hearing CentrescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLions Foundation partners with Horizon Hearing Centres to make hearing aids available to those in need. Successful hearing program applicants are referred to Horizon Hearing Centres for follow-up care.
• Manitoba OptometristsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting the Bringing Care Closer mobile vision and hearing screening initiative.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• March of Dimes Canada: National disability-services nonprofit offering assistive devices, mobility programs, and post-rehabilitation support. Directly comparable to Lions Foundation's 'Helping Hands' financial-assistance and mobility-equipment mandate and similar donor/funder base.
• Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB): National Canadian charity delivering vision-loss rehabilitation, assistive tech, and advocacy. Directly comparable to Lions Foundation's 'Giving Glances' vision program, eyeglass recycling, and children's screening, but operating at a national scale rather than within a single region.
• The War Amps: Canadian charity funding prosthetic limbs, assistive devices, and financial assistance for amputees. Mirrors the Lions Foundation's financial-assistance model for medical equipment not covered by public healthcare and its community-led donation framework.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities Manitoba: Regional charitable operator of subsidized lodging for families traveling for pediatric medical treatment. Directly comparable to Lions Foundation's 'Serenity Suites' accommodation program in service model and target population.
• Canadian Hearing Services: National Canadian charity providing hearing healthcare, hearing aid access, and communication support services. Closely matches Lions Foundation's 'Simply Sound' program, hearing-aid recycling, and pediatric Kids Hear screening in mission and service mix.

Broad incumbents

• United Way Winnipeg: Regional community foundation aggregating workplace giving and distributing funds to health/social-service agencies. Comparable as a Manitoba-based community-led fundraising model with overlapping donor pool and social-services mandate.
• Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF): Global charitable arm of the Lions Clubs movement that funds large-scale humanitarian grants. Analogous organizational structure to Lions Foundation of Manitoba & NW Ontario, but operating across all districts with broader international reach.
• Rick Hansen Foundation: Canadian disability-focused charity funding spinal cord injury research, accessibility, and inclusion programs. Comparable mission to Lions Foundation's disability-and-mobility support, but at a national scale with broader programming.

Regional players

• Health Sciences Centre Foundation: Regional hospital foundation raising funds for equipment, research, and patient care at Manitoba's largest hospital. Same Winnipeg healthcare-fundraising ecosystem as Lions Foundation, sharing corporate sponsors and donor prospects.
• Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba: Regional healthcare foundation raising funds to support pediatric care at HSC Children's Hospital. Operates in the same Winnipeg pediatric-health ecosystem that Serenity Suites serves, and shares a pediatric donor base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/JourneyForSight

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Lions Foundation of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario Incorporated