The Arusha Centre

What The Arusha Centre does

The Arusha Centre is a Calgary-based non-profit society (Arusha Centre Society) founded in 1972 that operates an integrated portfolio of community economic development, circular-economy, and climate-action programs. Its core offerings include Calgary Dollars (C$), a complementary currency platform; Repair Exchange Calgary, a free community repair-event program modeled on Repair Cafés; Take Action Grants, a grant program funding community climate and social-justice projects; and Arusha Climate, a capacity-building program covering food security, energy, waste, transportation, and Indigenous reconciliation. The organization is collectively run by a staff collective of approximately 9 members and a volunteer board of around 10 directors, governed under a member-supported non-profit structure.

The Arusha Centre's technology footprint is modest and primarily physical/educational: proprietary experiential tools such as the Pedal Power Tower (a 300-watt pedaling challenge station), the Wheel of Wisdoms (an interactive climate-education tool), pedal-powered sound systems, and bike generators. These are used both internally and monetized externally through an event-rentals catalogue for corporate, educational, and community events. The Calgary Dollars platform (calgarydollars.ca) is a self-serve web product that supports complementary-currency account creation, vendor listings, and grant distribution.

Revenue is derived from a mix of charitable donations (via CanadaHelps), grant funding from the City of Calgary and Alberta Ecotrust, and a smaller transactional stream from event-equipment rentals. Repair Exchange events are free to attend, with participants covering parts only. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, leveraging partnerships with 10+ Calgary community associations, the Calgary Public Library, and the University of Calgary as venues and distribution channels. The organization operates exclusively within Calgary, Canada, with no disclosed plans for geographic expansion.

Name

The Arusha Centre

Legal name

Arusha Centre Society

Website

https://arusha.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Arusha Centre is a Calgary-based non-profit society operating Calgary Dollars (a complementary currency), Repair Exchange Calgary (free community repair events), Take Action Grants, and the Arusha Climate program. It serves Calgary residents, community associations, and corporate event clients through a collectively-run, grant-funded model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Economic Development

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE), Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

Keywords

• Community economic development
• Circular economy programs
• Complementary currency
• Community repair services
• Climate action education

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Giving: The Arusha Centre accepts donations through CanadaHelps.org, functioning as a registered charity. Donations support all programs including Repair Exchange, Calgary Dollars, Take Action Grants, and Climate initiatives.
2. Event Equipment Rentals: Revenue generated through renting eco-event equipment including pedal-powered sound systems, bike generators, LED light shows, tents, button makers, and interactive games like the Pedal Power Tower and Wheel of Wisdoms to corporations, community groups, and event organizers.
3. Funded Programs (Grants): Programs are supported through grants and funding from the City of Calgary, Alberta Ecotrust, and other community funders. Includes Take Action Grants and Climate Grants distributed to community members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Arusha Centre is a collectively-run, member-supported non-profit society based in Calgary that delivers community programs spanning complementary currency, free community repair events, climate action education, community grants, and pedal-powered equipment rentals. Its core offerings include the Calgary Dollars local complementary currency, Repair Exchange Calgary free repair events, Take Action Grants supporting community-led projects, and the Arusha Climate Program focused on climate education and action.

Product overview

The Arusha Centre is a collectively-run, member-supported community organization in Calgary that provides resources and initiatives on social justice and environmental issues. The organization operates several interconnected programs forming a circular economy ecosystem: Calgary Dollars (C$) serves as the complementary currency platform enabling community economic exchange; Repair Exchange Calgary hosts free community repair events to reduce waste; Take Action Grants funds community environmental projects; and the Arusha Climate Program coordinates climate action across food security, energy, waste, transportation, and indigenous reconciliation. Additional offerings include Event Rentals providing pedal-powered entertainment equipment and the Wheel of Wisdoms educational tool, all tied together through Circular City Events that combine multiple programs into community gatherings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Calgary Dollars (C$): A complementary currency program operated by the Arusha Centre Society to build resilient local economies.
• Take Action Grants
• Repair Exchange Calgary
• Arusha Climate
• Circular City Events

Products and services

• Calgary Dollars

Quantifiable outcome

• Repair Exchanges divert items from landfills and extend product lifecycles, contributing to circular economy goals in Calgary.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of CalgarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Calgary is a key partner in Repair Exchange Calgary and Climate programming. The Arusha Centre participates in City events including Earth Hour Unplugged, the Mayor's Environment Expo, and Energy Efficiency Day. The City provides support for repair exchange events throughout Calgary communities.
• Alberta EcotrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlberta Ecotrust is a funder supporting the Repair Exchange Calgary program. The partnership enables repair events to be delivered across Calgary communities as part of circular economy and waste reduction initiatives.
• Calgary Tool LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered community organization supporting repair and tool sharing. Calgary Tool Library offers tool lending services and shares resources with the repair exchange ecosystem.
• Calgary Maker FaireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership connects the maker community with repair and circular economy programming. Maker Faire brings together makers who share repair skills and participate in community repair events.
• ProtospaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalgary's non-profit makerspace with wood shop, metal shop, sewing room, 3D printers, and electronics lab. Potential collaboration on repair skills and maker resources for community repair events.
• Fuse33 MakerspaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShared workshop makerspace providing community members access to tools and machinery. Potential resource for repair exchange events and circular economy initiatives.
• Dalhousie Community AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for regular Repair Exchange events serving the Dalhousie community in northwest Calgary. One of the primary community association partners for delivering repair programming.
• Hillhurst Sunnyside Community AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing host of Repair Exchange events held during their flea markets. Primary community partner for delivering repair programming in the Hillhurst-Sunnyside neighbourhood.
• Scenic Acres Community AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Repair Exchange events serving the Scenic Acres community in northwest Calgary. Regular partner in delivering repair programming.
• Genesis CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor venue partner for Repair Exchange events serving the northeast Calgary community. Regular monthly events hosted at Genesis Centre, one of the most consistent community partners.
• Spirit WestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalgary-based fashion company that designs and patterns products locally, with most manufacturing done in their own shop. Focused on sustainably milled North American fabrics.
• Circular Calgary (Circular Economy Club)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Circular Economy Club network, sharing and supporting circular initiatives across Calgary, Alberta, and beyond. Aligned with Arusha's circular economy mission.
• Great TelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalgary-based company offering affordable screen repair, pre-paid plans, and budget devices. Potential resource for electronic repair support in the repair exchange network.
• Crossroads Community AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit connecting Crossroads area residents, acting as a community voice and offering opportunities for community engagement. Potential venue for future repair events.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Repair Cafe Toronto: Toronto chapter of the Repair Cafe movement running free community repair events. Directly comparable to Repair Exchange Calgary in operational model (volunteer fixers, free events, circular economy), serving a different Canadian city.
• The Alex Community Food Centre: Calgary-based non-profit addressing food security and community wellness, with overlapping leadership connections (Gii Masters, Indigenous Facilitator). Comparable as a Calgary community-services peer with overlap on Arusha's climate and food security programming.
• Toronto Tool Library: Toronto-based non-profit offering tool lending and community repair programming. Comparable in mission (circular economy, community repair) and operates in a different Canadian geography from Arusha.
• Vancouver Tool Library: Vancouver-based tool lending and repair-focused non-profit. Comparable in combining tool access with community repair programming, though operating on Canada's West Coast rather than in Calgary.

Emerging players

• Otesha Project: Canadian non-profit focused on sustainability education and youth engagement around climate action. Comparable with Arusha's climate and experiential education programming (Wheel of Wisdoms, Pedal Power Tower) though focused on a younger demographic.

Direct peers

• Calgary Tool Library: Local Calgary non-profit that lends tools and provides resources for repair, hosting repair events. Directly comparable as both a tool-library and a community repair programming peer that partners with Arusha on shared initiatives.
• Karma Co-op: Toronto-based consumer co-operative that operates a community currency and local exchange program. Comparable as a Canadian organization running a complementary currency platform akin to Calgary Dollars, focused on local economic resilience.

Broad incumbents

• Repair Cafe International / Repair Cafe Foundation: Global non-profit organization that pioneered the Repair Cafe movement on which the Arusha Centre's Repair Exchange Calgary program is modeled. Directly comparable through shared repair-cafe methodology, volunteer-fixer model, and circular-economy mission.
• MakeWay: Canadian non-profit that partners with and provides back-office support to environmental and social-purpose charities. Comparable as a broader Canadian nonprofit platform relevant to Arusha's grantmaking and community development model.
• Calgary Foundation: Large Calgary community foundation that distributes grants to local non-profits. Comparable due to overlapping geographic focus, grantmaking activity, and community economic development mission, though operates at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@thearushacentrecalgary1173
• Facebookfacebook.com/ArushaCentre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-arusha-centre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 Arusha Centre