The Erika Legacy Foundation

What The Erika Legacy Foundation does

The Erika Legacy Foundation is a registered Canadian charity (registration number 76810 3897 RR0001) headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, focused on suicide prevention through education, research, and community outreach. Founded around 2015, the organization operates a three-pillar framework: Proactive (education initiatives), Predictive (research and technology investment), and Preventive (community-based tools). Its beneficiary populations include individuals at risk of suicide, families affected by suicide loss, and communities seeking mental health resources, with stated programmatic reach extending across North America (US and Canada), Australia, and parts of Europe (United Kingdom, Sweden, and Belgium).

The foundation's core product offerings include a "Find Help" directory of mental health and crisis resources, an online donation platform built on the Zeffy infrastructure, a volunteer program, fundraising support services, and a legacy giving program. The technology stack is limited to the Find Help directory and Zeffy-powered donation processing; the Predictive pillar signals intent to invest in research and digital technologies capable of providing feedback and personalized approaches to mental health, but no proprietary AI/ML technology, model, training pipeline, or in-house engineering capability is currently disclosed. There is no described software architecture, data asset, or research publication output referenced in the available material.

The revenue model is entirely donation-based: one-time and recurring gifts processed through Zeffy, proceeds from fundraising events, legacy/bequest giving, and volunteer-driven fundraising. There is no commercial pricing model, transactional revenue line, or contract-based income. The foundation has not disclosed audited financial figures, donation totals, employee headcount, or beneficiary counts in the available data; only one named executive, Executive Director Chris Maksylewicz, is identified, indicating a lean operational footprint for an organization with stated multi-continent reach.

Name

The Erika Legacy Foundation

Legal name

The Erika Legacy Foundation

Website

https://erikalegacy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Erika Legacy Foundation is a registered Canadian charity headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, focused on suicide prevention through education, research, and community outreach, serving at-risk individuals and bereaved families across North America, Australia, and parts of Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Suicide Prevention Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention Services (EDALAFAD), Community Health & Prevention Program Funding (HLAJALAF)

Keywords

• Suicide prevention services
• Mental health awareness
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Crisis resource directory
• Community mental health outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Edmonton

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: The foundation generates revenue through direct charitable donations from individuals. Donation options include one-time and monthly recurring contributions with preset amounts ($25, $50, $100, $200, $250) or custom amounts. Donations are processed through the Zeffy platform.
2. Fundraising Events: The organization raises funds through community events including office raffles, corporate breakfasts, auctions, and various community fundraisers. They provide application processes and endorsement for third-party fundraisers.
3. Legacy Giving: Charitable planned giving program where donors arrange legacy gifts during their lifetime to benefit the foundation through their estate. This represents deferred future revenue for the organization.
4. Volunteer Services: While volunteers donate their time, they represent an important contribution to organizational capacity. The foundation offers volunteer opportunities for adults and youth 16+ with minimum one-month commitments, including summer placements for students.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Erika Legacy Foundation is a registered Canadian charity that raises funds and provides financial support for suicide prevention programming, mental health research, and community resource outreach. It operates a global Find Help directory connecting individuals to crisis hotlines, local treatment resources, and support groups across North America, Australia, and Europe, and delivers educational programs through three pillars: Proactive (stigma elimination), Predictive (research and digital technology), and Preventive (community tools for at-risk persons and survivors).

Product overview

The Erika Legacy Foundation operates as a non-profit mental health organization with a three-pillar programmatic approach: Proactive (education and stigma elimination), Predictive (research and digital technology investment), and Preventive (community tools and resources). Its primary service offerings include a Find Help resource directory covering mental health resources across North America, Australia, and Europe; an online donation platform; and volunteer and fundraising support programs. The organization functions as a bridge connecting individuals to mental health resources rather than providing direct mental health services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Find Help Resource Directory A comprehensive, globally accessible directory of mental health resources organized by geographic location (US cities, Canada provinces, Australia, and Europe), providing crisis hotlines, local treatment resources, and support groups for individuals experiencing suicidal ideation, survivors of suicide loss, and those seeking mental health support.
• Online Donation Platform Online donation functionality enabling one-time and monthly recurring contributions, with preset amounts ($25, $50, $100, $200, $250) and custom options, processed through the Zeffy platform for supporters of the foundation's suicide prevention mission.
• Proactive Initiative Educational program that expands conversations through education and personal narratives to eliminate the stigma associated with suicide and suicidal thoughts, targeting communities and individuals seeking mental health awareness.
• Predictive Initiative Research and technology investment program that supports the scientific research behind suicide and explores digital technologies that can provide feedback and personalized approaches to better mental health outcomes.
• Preventive Initiative Community education program that provides information and tools to educate communities in identifying and supporting both at-risk persons and survivors, introducing proven technologies that help save lives.
• Fundraising Support Service Resources and guidelines for organizing third-party fundraisers, including a Donor Event Guide with fundraising ideas and a formal application process for community members and organizations to host endorsed events.
• Volunteer Program Structured volunteer opportunities for adults and youth 16+ with a minimum one-month commitment, including summer placements for students, offering administrative and interactive roles with application, reference, and police records checks.
• Legacy Giving Program Planned giving program allowing donors to arrange charitable contributions within their estate planning documents, continuing their giving legacy to benefit the foundation through their estate.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Leave a Legacy (Canadian Association of Gift Planners)supportiveGTM or Marketing PartnerThe foundation references Leave a Legacy as a recommended resource for legacy giving information, positioning the program as a trusted external partner for planned giving education. This partnership provides legitimacy and resources for the foundation's legacy giving program.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Mental Health Foundation: UK-based public health charity funding research, conducting public campaigns, and providing resources for mental health. Comparable in research-investing and community education mandate, with overlapping European footprint relevant to the foundation's directory coverage.
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Foundation: The fundraising arm of Canada's largest mental health teaching hospital, funding research, education, and clinical care. Comparable in Canadian mental health research investment mission, but operates with hospital-level institutional scale and government partnership.
• Canadian Mental Health Association: National Canadian federation with 70+ years of operation providing mental health advocacy, education, and community support. Overlaps with Erika Legacy's stigma-elimination and resource navigation mandate but operates at significantly larger scale with government and institutional funding.

Emerging players

• Crisis Text Line: US-based nonprofit providing 24/7 crisis support via text messaging. Comparable in operating model (donor-funded, digital-first mental health crisis intervention) and overlaps with the foundation's Predictive (digital technology) and Preventive (crisis support) pillars.
• Movember Foundation: Global men's health charity funding mental health and suicide prevention programs alongside physical health causes. Comparable in donor-driven event-based fundraising model (community events, recurring giving, merchandise) and overlapping men's mental health/suicide prevention focus.

Direct peers

• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: The largest US-based suicide prevention nonprofit, funding research, education programs, and advocacy for suicide prevention. Directly comparable mission, similar donor-driven revenue model, and overlapping three-pillar program structure (research, education, loss survivors).
• The Trevor Project: US nonprofit providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for LGBTQ+ young people. Comparable in donor-driven nonprofit model, crisis intervention focus, and digital-first service delivery; operates at significantly larger scale.
• The Jed Foundation: US nonprofit focused on protecting emotional health and preventing suicide among teens and young adults through campus programming and public education. Shares the prevention education and community outreach mandate with similar donor and partnership model.
• Jack.org: Canadian youth mental health foundation training young leaders and funding mental health programs. Closely comparable in size, Canadian origin, and youth-focused suicide prevention/mental health education mission.

Regional players

• Samaritans (UK): UK-based registered charity operating a 24/7 helpline and suicide prevention education. Comparable in mission and volunteer-driven operating model, but geographically distinct; serves as a UK regional benchmark for the foundation's European resource directory coverage.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses6 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/erikalegacy
• Facebookfacebook.com/ErikaLegacyFoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/erikalegacy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-erika-legacy-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Erika Legacy Foundation