Start Me Up Niagara

What Start Me Up Niagara does

Start Me Up Niagara (SMUN) is a registered Canadian charity (Charity Registration Number 896011715RR0001) founded in 1998 by Susan Venditti and headquartered at 203 Church Street in St. Catharines, Ontario, with a satellite location in Niagara Falls. The organization delivers wraparound social services — drop-in resource access, employment support, clothing, food, transportation, healthcare referrals, and creative-arts programming — to individuals and families in the Niagara Region facing poverty, homelessness, unemployment, disabilities, addictions, and mental health challenges. Core service lines include the Resource Centre (drop-in five days a week plus weekend door service), the Work Action Centre (employment services for job seekers, employers, and entrepreneurs), Bike Me Up Niagara (donated-bike repair and resale), and Niagara's Mobile Closet (mobile clothing and hygiene distribution via 31 partner-hosted mini closets). Supporting programs comprise a Kitchen Program, a two-acre Community Garden at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Art Me Up Niagara, a seasonal Warming Centre operated with Silver Spire United Church, and a Pay-What-You-Can Market partnership with Westview Christian Fellowship.

Operating as a non-profit, SMUN does not have proprietary technology, using instead standard nonprofit infrastructure: a website (startmeupniagara.ca), Facebook/Instagram/YouTube social channels, donor management systems, and direct outreach. The business model is community-led and donation-funded, with five interconnected revenue streams: individual and corporate donations (including Coldest Night of the Year annual walk, which raised $170,300 in 2021); government grants (Ontario Trillium Foundation $75,000 in 2020; Niagara Region funding for warming-centre operations); social-enterprise revenue (repaired-bike sales via Bike Me Up, community-garden produce for meal programs, and forthcoming Pay-What-You-Can Market); third-party event revenue (Delta Bingo sessions, Kits for a Cause corporate volunteering); and in-kind donations of goods and services. All participant-facing services are free of charge; there are no customer segments in the commercial sense, no enterprise sales motion, and no pricing tiers — the "customers" are program beneficiaries (multipersona: homeless individuals, unemployed, food-insecure, mental-health/addictions, disabled) while the "paying counterparties" are donors, government funders, and corporate sponsors.

SMUN is governed by a Board of Directors (currently chaired by Rev. Dr. Paul Miller) and has seen three Executive Directors across its history: founder Susan Venditti (1998-2020), Laura Dumas (2020-2025), and Kelly-Ann Salerno (since October 2025). The organization reports 11-50 employees, has no parent company, is not private-equity backed, and discloses no parent-subsidiary structure. It has been recognized with consecutive St. Catharines Standard Readers' Choice Awards for Best Employment Agency (2025 and 2026) and the 2021 T. Roy Adams Humanitarian Award.

Name

Start Me Up Niagara

Legal name

Start Me Up Niagara

Website

https://startmeupniagara.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Start Me Up Niagara is a St. Catharines, Ontario-based registered charity founded in 1998 that delivers free wraparound social services — drop-in support, employment, clothing, food, transportation, and healthcare access — to people in the Niagara Region facing poverty, homelessness, unemployment, disabilities, addictions, and mental health challenges.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food Services (62421), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ), Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Financial Assistance & Benefits Navigation Services (BPAGAEAK)

Keywords

• Community social services
• Homelessness support programs
• Employment assistance services
• Mobile clothing distribution
• Food security programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Catharines

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Relies on financial donations from individuals, corporate sponsors, and community supporters. Accepts one-time gifts, monthly recurring donations, memorial donations, and securities donations. Major annual fundraising event is Coldest Night of the Year walk.
2. Government Grants: Receives grant funding from government bodies including Ontario Trillium Foundation ($75,000 grant for volunteer program feasibility study) and Niagara Region (funding for warming centre operations).
3. Social Enterprise Revenue: Bike Me Up Niagara sells repaired bicycles at low cost. Community garden produces vegetables for meal programs and heirloom beans sold at farmers market. Pay-what-you-can market initiative planned as social enterprise.
4. Third-Party Event Revenue: Delta Bingo sessions generate grants for the organization. Corporate sponsorships for events like Coldest Night of the Year. Kits for a Cause program generates revenue through care kit assembly partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Start Me Up Niagara operates a coordinated multi-service community hub delivering wraparound social services to individuals facing poverty, homelessness, unemployment, disabilities, addictions, and mental health challenges in the Niagara Region. Core offerings include a Drop-In Resource Centre, employment services through the Work Action Centre, Niagara's Mobile Closet (mobile clothing distribution), Bike Me Up Niagara (bicycle repair and resale social enterprise), community meals and a community garden, the Art Me Up creative arts program, and seasonal warming and satellite drop-in services. All services are provided free of charge to participants, with select social enterprise items (bicycles, garden produce) offered at low cost.

Product overview

Start Me Up Niagara is a not-for-profit charitable organization offering a coordinated portfolio of community support services to individuals facing significant life challenges (poverty, homelessness, unemployment, disabilities, addictions, mental health issues). The organization operates a multi-service hub model centered on the Drop-In Resource Centre in St. Catharines, supplemented by satellite locations. Core services include the Work Action Centre (employment services and self-employment support), Bike Me Up Niagara (bike repair/reuse program), Niagara's Mobile Closet (mobile clothing distribution), Kitchen Program with community meals, Art Me Up Niagara (creative arts program), and a Community Garden (food security initiative). Additional offerings include seasonal Warming Centre, a Niagara Falls Resource Drop-In Centre, and emerging Pay-What-You-Can Market initiative. The organization does not operate as a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bike Me Up Niagara: A fully functional bike shop that repairs and reconditions donated bikes, offering them at low cost to participants and lower-income families.
• Niagara's Mobile Closet
• Work Action Centre
• Art Me Up Niagara

Quantifiable outcome

• 185 participants supported with employment services, 56 successfully secured employment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

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

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Niagara Falls Community Health CentreminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnered to support trans and gender-diverse youth through school involvement at Mobile Closet events.
• Westview Christian FellowshipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Joint venture for pay-what-you-can market at 124 Queenston St. to address food desert conditions. Westview provides facility space, SMUN provides coordination and leadership.
• Niagara Regional PoliceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022NRP participates in Niagara's Mobile Closet events providing community engagement activities and support for clients.
• Silver Spire United ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Warming centre partnership opened January 2022 providing safe warm space for vulnerable individuals. Located at 366 St. Paul Street, open 7 days/week 12pm-6pm through April 15, 2022.
• General MotorscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2016Lead sponsor of Coldest Night of the Year walk since 2016. GM team named 'Powertrain Walkers' has raised additional funds. Six years of partnership providing ongoing sponsorship support.
• Niagara Community FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipates in Mobile Closet events, documenting program impact through photography.
• United Way NiagaracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeriod Promise campaign partnership providing free period products to those in need. SMUN serves as drop-off location for donations and distribution point for individuals requiring products.
• Kits for a CauseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate and group volunteering program assembling essential kits for clients experiencing homelessness.
• Bethlehem PlaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner host location for Niagara's Mobile Closet events serving 73 clients at event.
• Beyond the StreetsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization collaborating at Mobile Closet events for community outreach.
• Community HousingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization at Mobile Closet events providing housing resources.
• John Howard SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization at Mobile Closet events providing advocacy and support services.
• Out of the Cold St. CatharinesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCold-weather partnership hosting Mobile Closet events for unsheltered individuals.
• St. Catharines LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing craft stations and activities at Mobile Closet events.
• Community LivingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization welcomed at cold-weather Mobile Closet event.
• Vineland Research and Innovation CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides two-acre community farm space at no cost for over 10 years. Space used to grow food for meal programs, offer community garden, and social enterprise activities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• United Way Niagara: Regional funder and service coordinator that funds many of the same Niagara social service agencies. Comparable as a regional ecosystem actor and as a partner (SMUN partners with United Way Niagara on Period Promise).
• Goodwill Industries Ontario: National nonprofit operating employment services and social enterprise (retail thrift) across Ontario. Most directly comparable to SMUN's Work Action Centre and Bike Me Up Niagara — both are employment-focused social enterprises — though at much larger scale.
• The Salvation Army Niagara: National charitable organization operating shelter, food, and housing programs in Niagara. Overlapping service lines (warming, food, clothing) but a much larger footprint and reserves, making it the dominant incumbent in the same space.

Regional players

• John Howard Society of Niagara: Regional branch of the John Howard Society providing reintegration, housing, and advocacy services. Already a Mobile Closet partner, with overlapping beneficiary populations (people experiencing homelessness, poverty, and justice involvement).
• Habitat for Humanity Niagara: Regional nonprofit focused on affordable housing in Niagara. Comparable mission overlap (housing stability for low-income residents) and beneficiary base, though it concentrates on home-building rather than wraparound services.

Direct peers

• Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Niagara: Regional branch of CMHA delivering mental health, addiction, and housing support services in Niagara. Comparable in target population (including SMUN's mental health and addiction segment) and geographic scope.
• Community Support Services of Niagara: Niagara-based nonprofit providing community support services to vulnerable populations. Directly comparable mission and is the former employer of SMUN's previous Executive Director (Laura Dumas), indicating sectoral overlap.
• Hope Centre (Welland): Welland-based faith-affiliated nonprofit serving homeless and low-income populations across the Niagara Region. Direct overlap in services (housing, food, drop-in, harm reduction) and geography.
• YWCA Niagara: Regional nonprofit delivering wraparound services (housing, employment, food security, women's support) across the Niagara Region. Directly comparable in geography, mission scope, and the multi-service hub model SMUN operates.

Emerging players

• Dress for Success (Niagara affiliate): Nonprofit providing professional attire, employment coaching, and job-readiness support — overlapping specifically with SMUN's Work Action Centre on employment outcomes for low-income and disadvantaged job seekers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdBWtOTKr2LOhi79vusBKxQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/startmeupniagara
• Instagraminstagram.com/startmeupniagara
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/start-me-up-niagara

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Start Me Up Niagara