The Circle for Change Initiative

What The Circle for Change Initiative does

The Circle for Change Initiative is a Canadian charitable not-for-profit that delivers nature-based social assistance programs to at-risk individuals and families. Founded in 2013 by Shore Charnoe in response to funding cuts affecting Indigenous children in Ontario's foster care system, and formally incorporated as a non-profit in 2023, the organization operates primarily from Manitoulin Eco Park on Manitoulin Island, Ontario, with claimed global reach. Its service portfolio spans five program buckets — Homeless Support, Poverty Relief and Job Skill Development, Land Protection and Education, Family Strengthening, and Mentoring/Workshops/Group Presentations — serving five persona segments: families at risk, at-risk youth (including Indigenous and foster-care children), elders, individuals with disabilities (autism, FASD, neurodivergence), and individuals experiencing homelessness or crisis.

The organization's underlying methodology integrates Indigenous traditional knowledge (drawn from founder Shore Charnoe's 10+ years of study under Odawa Medewin Elder Eddie King and 20+ Elders total), trauma-informed counseling, and nature-based healing practices, delivered through in-person mentoring, group workshops, family camps, and wilderness skills programs. No digital platform, app, or AI technology underpins the model; service delivery is analog and human-led. Revenue mechanics consist entirely of charitable fundraising — individual donations across six tiers ($25–$1,000 CAD), GoFundMe campaigns, and event/program contributions — with an active $950,000 CAD capital campaign targeting land acquisition and a land-based sanctuary with transitional housing, therapy programs, a community kitchen, and crisis support infrastructure.

The organization is founder-led with a Board of Directors (Shore Charnoe as President, Janet Marley, Jackie McMillan) and an Elders Council (Andrew Sproul), operating as an independent entity with no parent company. Strategic priorities center on completing the capital campaign, operationalizing the proposed sanctuary, and expanding program offerings across partner venues.

Name

The Circle for Change Initiative

Legal name

Circle for Change Initiative

Website

https://thecircleforchange.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Circle for Change Initiative is a Canadian non-profit that delivers nature-based mentoring, family programs, and crisis support to at-risk youth, elders, families, and individuals with disabilities, operating primarily from Manitoulin Eco Park, Ontario.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Assistance Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)

Keywords

• Nature-based healing programs
• Social assistance services
• Youth mentoring programs
• Family support services
• Community wellness workshops

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization raises funds through individual donations, donation tiers with varying recognition levels, and GoFundMe campaigns to build transitional housing, wellness programs, and land-based sanctuary infrastructure.
2. Program Contributions: Charitable and not-for-profit programming that may include participant contributions for workshops, events, and mentorship services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Circle for Change Initiative delivers nature-based social assistance programs for at-risk individuals and families, including one-on-one mentoring for adults and children, workshops (drum and moccasin making, ancestral skills), group presentations on peacemaking and Indigenous practices, and specialized support programs addressing homelessness, poverty relief, land protection, and family strengthening. Signature programs include Family Camp and Empowering Ancient Ways, delivered in-person at Manitoulin Eco Park.

Product overview

The Circle for Change Initiative is a charitable grassroots organization offering a unified portfolio of social support programs focused on nature connection, healing, and community empowerment. The core offerings include one-on-one and group mentoring services for adults and children, educational workshops on traditional crafts and ancestral skills, and group presentations on indigenous practices. These are complemented by specialized support programs addressing homelessness, poverty relief, land protection, and family strengthening. The organization also runs signature programs including Family Camp and Empowering Ancient Ways wilderness program, all delivered at Manitoulin Eco Park.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Homeless Support Program Program addressing and preventing homelessness for youth, elders, and families at risk, providing direct support for those in need.
• Poverty Relief and Job Skill Development Programs that cultivate job skill sets to relieve poverty and provide a blueprint for financial stability and sustainable relationships, offered to elders, families, and at-risk youth.
• Land Protection and Education Educational programs teaching elders, families, and at-risk youth essential skills for caring for the environment, growing their own food, and fostering a deep connection to nature.
• Family Strengthening Program Support services for families at risk to strengthen their bonds while connecting deeply to nature, themselves, and each other.
• One-on-One Mentoring for Adults Personalized sessions employing sacred listening, science-based techniques, and educational tools for adult healing and personal growth.
• Mentoring for Children Tailored skill-building and educational opportunities for children, emphasizing nature connections and traditional crafts.
• Workshops Diverse workshops including drum and moccasin making, ancestral skills, and nature connection activities that foster experiential learning.
• Group Presentations Presentations on peacemaking, grief resolution, mentorship models, indigenous practices, and the healing benefits of nature connections, led by Shore Charnoe.
• Family Camp A 5-day family camp held at Manitoulin Eco Park and DarkSky, designed to help families reconnect to the wonders of nature and create lasting memories together.
• Empowering Ancient Ways A 6-day wilderness living skills program at Manitoulin Eco Park providing skills enrichment for wilderness guides, wildlife biologists, professionals, and anyone seeking an introduction to wilderness living skills.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 children helped foster, raise, and mentor by founder Shore Charnoe
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Manitoulin Eco ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary venue partner for nature connection programs, family camps, and wilderness skills workshops. The Eco Park hosts multiple Circle for Change programs including Empowering Ancient Ways and Family Camp events. Deep operational partnership with shared mission of environmental education and nature-based healing.
• DarkSkycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Dark Sky events at Manitoulin Eco Park. Circle for Change participates in second year of family camp programming at DarkSky designated location, combining stargazing experiences with nature connection programming.
• Sheguiandah First NationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity connection through Ron Bunston who serves as Head Veteran for the First Nation's Powwow. Represents cultural integration and indigenous community partnership in Circle for Change programming.
• Sticks and Stones Wilderness SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization delivering Empowering Ancient Ways program at Manitoulin Eco Park. Circle for Change hosts this wilderness living skills program focused on nature connection and ancestral teachings.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• YMCA Canada: Established Canadian community-services nonprofit delivering youth, family, and wellness programming nationwide — comparable in serving multiple at-risk populations across community-based programming.
• Habitat for Humanity Canada: Large-scale Canadian affordable housing nonprofit — relevant comparable for the planned transitional housing / shelter infrastructure component of the sanctuary build-out.

Direct peers

• Outward Bound Canada: Canadian wilderness-based experiential education provider serving at-risk youth, families, and individuals seeking outdoor therapeutic outcomes — directly comparable model to Circle for Change's nature-connection programming.
• Indspire: National Indigenous-led nonprofit funding Indigenous education, skills training, and youth well-being in Canada — comparable mission around Indigenous youth empowerment and culturally grounded programming.
• Covenant House Toronto: Major Canadian nonprofit providing housing, crisis support, and wraparound services to at-risk youth — comparable target population and trauma-informed service model, though operating at urban scale.
• Sticks and Stones Wilderness School: Program partner delivering the Empowering Ancient Ways wilderness living-skills curriculum at Manitoulin Eco Park. Comparable as a Canadian wilderness-skills education provider serving overlapping nature-connection audiences.

Emerging players

• Kids Help Phone: Canadian youth mental-health and crisis intervention organization — comparable in serving at-risk youth with counselling and well-being support, though delivered digitally rather than through nature-based programs.

Others

• Aboriginal Healing Foundation (legacy): Historically significant Canadian Indigenous-led organization funding trauma-healing programs — relevant as a comparable for Indigenous-knowledge-based, trauma-informed healing service models.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 The Circle for Change Initiative