Canadian Federation of Students-Services

Name

Canadian Federation of Students-Services

Legal name

Canadian Federation of Students-Services

Website

https://cfs-fcee.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Advocacy and Member Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

International Student Advising & Resource Centers (Wraparound Support) (EDAIAKAJ)

Keywords

• Student advocacy services
• Student union federation
• Education policy campaigns
• Member benefit programs
• Student discount services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

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. Membership Fees: The federation operates as a non-profit organization representing student unions across Canada. Revenue is derived from membership fees collected from member local student unions (63 students' unions representing over 530,000 members). Member benefits include health insurance plans, ethical purchasing programs, and discount services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Canadian Federation of Students-Services is the national post-secondary student union federation of Canada, representing more than 530,000 members across 63 students' unions. It bundles representation and government advocacy (federal, provincial, and lobby campaigns such as Fight the Fees, Free Education for All, ReconciliAction) with member benefit services including the International Student Identity Card (ISIC), group health and dental insurance through Student Shield, free tax filing via UFile, and an Ethical Purchasing Network providing student discounts.

Product overview

Canadian Federation of Students-Services is a national student advocacy organization representing over 530,000 members across 63 student unions in Canada. The organization operates as a platform offering member benefits services (including ISIC cards, health insurance through Student Shield, tax filing via UFile, and ethical purchasing programs) combined with an advocacy portfolio of campaigns addressing student financial issues (Fight the Fees, Free Education for All), social justice (Mental Health Matters, ReconciliAction, United for Equity, Trans Healthcare, Sexualized Gender-Based Violence, No More Stolen Siblings), international student fairness, democratic participation (Our Vote Ignited), and policy lobbying services. The core offering consists of member services layered with student advocacy campaigns and political organizing resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Our Vote Ignited: Federal election voter mobilization campaign
• One Voice United
• ISIC Canada

Products and services

• International Student Identity Card (ISIC) Free membership identity card for full-time students providing worldwide access to discounts, benefits, and identity verification services; available for $20 to non-members and high school students 12 years or older.
• Health and Dental Benefits Group health and dental insurance benefit program providing essential cost-saving coverage for CFS members through Student Shield.
• UFile Tax Filing Service Free online tax filing service available to CFS members through ufile.ca and impôtexpert.ca using special offer code CFS1981.
• Student Shield Health Insurance Portal Health insurance information portal where members can access plan details and opt-in or opt-out of group coverage.
• Ethical Purchasing Network Discount program providing members with access to ethical purchasing options and cost-saving services including up to 60% off Adobe Creative Cloud.
• Our Vote Ignited Federal Election Voter Guide Non-partisan voter information initiative providing federal election resources, campaign materials, and organizing guides for student political engagement.
• Fight the Fees Campaign Multi-province advocacy campaign calling on federal and provincial governments to create strategies reducing and eliminating tuition fees, student loans, interest, and investing in public education.
• Mental Health Matters Campaign Campaign advocating for more funding and access to diverse mental health services on post-secondary campuses, creating awareness about student mental health issues.
• ReconciliAction Campaign Campaign calling for funding and resources for Indigenous language programs and increased funding for Indigenous supports on college and university campuses, aligned with Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations.
• Fairness for International Students Campaign Campaign advocating for regulation of international student tuition fees, public healthcare coverage, and fairer immigration pathways.
• Sexualized and Gender-Based Violence Campaign Campaign raising awareness about consent, sexual assault, and violence against women, advocating for safer campuses free from sexual and gender-based violence.
• Free Education for All Campaign Campaign highlighting the decline in public funding for education as a key factor in financial pressures for students and deterioration in academic quality, advocating for free and accessible post-secondary education.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lowered interest rates on federal student loans
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Universities Canada: National voice of Canadian universities, colleges, and graduate schools. Adjacent because it represents the institutional counterparty with which CFS negotiates on tuition and funding issues.
• ISIC (International Student Identity Card): Global student discount and identity verification program that CFS distributes to members. A partnership/administrative counterpart rather than direct competitor, but central to the membership value proposition.

Direct peers

• Union of Students in Ireland: National representative body of students across higher and further education in Ireland. Directly analogous in membership-federation structure and national lobbying function.
• National Union of Students Australia: Australian peak student representative body that advocates on tuition, welfare, and equity issues at the national level. Closely parallels CFS in mission, scale, and advocacy portfolio.
• United States Student Association: National U.S. student advocacy organization that lobbies on higher education affordability, student debt, and equity. Comparable in national federation structure and policy advocacy focus.
• European Students' Union: Umbrella federation of 46 national student unions across Europe. Direct peer in the structure of being a meta-federation representing national student bodies on policy and rights issues.
• National Union of Students UK: National federation of students' unions in the United Kingdom with a comparable mandate of student advocacy, representation, and member benefits. Highly analogous governance and campaign model.
• Canadian Alliance of Student Associations: National Canadian student advocacy organization representing college and undergraduate students across Canada. Direct competitor for member student unions and government lobbying influence on post-secondary policy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/cfsfcee
• Facebookfacebook.com/cfsfcee
• Instagraminstagram.com/cfsfcee/?hl=fr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cfsfcee

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries5 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 Canadian Federation of Students-Services