Makin Foundation

What Makin Foundation does

MāKin Foundation is a registered Canadian charity (Charitable Registration Number: 784977019 RR 0001) that supports diverse students, youth, and professionals pursuing careers in the Canadian Commercial Real Estate and Development (CRED) industry. Founded in 2015 by Chandran Fernando of Matrix360 Inc. and formalized in 2018 as the CREED Council, the foundation was co-established with Kin Capital Partners (Jacob Iftah) and operates programs designed to address the gap between Canada's 31% non-white population and a CRED industry that is over 72% white-identifying, despite the sector accounting for more than 13% of Canadian GDP. Its program portfolio spans the CREED Council (a 50+ member industry working group), the RealStories Speaker Series launched in 2021, the RealReach high-school pipeline program, Talent Connectivity internships, and Elevate Mentorship, together forming a K-12-to-early-career pathway for underrepresented talent.

The foundation generates no product revenue; it operates as a non-profit funded by charitable donations, grants, and corporate partnerships. Its go-to-market is community-led, relying on events, speaker programming, school and university partnerships, and a board of senior CRED executives (drawn from BentallGreenOak, Epic Investment Services, Fengate Real Estate, First Capital REIT, Woodcliffe, and others) to source mentors, interns, scholarship candidates, and corporate sponsors. Bonnie Oppenheimer serves as Executive Director. Geographically, the foundation is concentrated in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) while branding itself as a Canada-wide initiative.

Strategically, MāKin is differentiated less by technology (it has no proprietary platform, app, or API) and more by the density of its institutional relationships across the Canadian CRED value chain. Its competitive advantage rests on a multi-stakeholder ecosystem that links senior industry executives, corporate donors, and educational institutions into a unified DEI mission, supported by a 2019 CRED diversity playbook that functions as a thought-leadership asset. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the organization is governed independently with no parent company or external holding structure.

Name

Makin Foundation

Legal name

MāKin Foundation

Website

https://makinfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MāKin Foundation is a registered Canadian charity that supports diverse students, youth, and professionals with education, mentorship, scholarships, and career pathways into the Commercial Real Estate and Development (CRED) industry, operating primarily in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Diversity and Inclusion Education

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Educational Support Services (611710), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAKAB

Community Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYBPAGADAD

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYEDADAHAC

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Funding, Grants & Financial Aid Administration

Keywords

• Nonprofit education programs
• Diversity mentorship initiatives
• Real estate inclusion
• Scholarship professional development
• Community ecosystem building

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations and Grants: As a registered Canadian charity (Charitable Registration Number: 784977019 RR 0001), the foundation operates on donations, grants, and partnerships with organizations that support diversity and inclusion in the CRED industry.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Makin Foundation is a registered Canadian charity that delivers free educational, mentorship, scholarship, and community-building programs to diverse and underrepresented students, youth, and professionals pursuing careers in the Commercial Real Estate and Development (CRED) industry. Its core offerings comprise the CREED Council (an industry volunteer body of 50+ CRED professionals driving inclusionary initiatives), the RealStories Speaker Series (launched in 2021), and supporting programs RealReach, Talent Connectivity, and Elevate Mentorship. All programs are funded through donations, grants, and corporate partnerships and provided at no cost to beneficiaries.

Product overview

MāKin Foundation is a registered Canadian charity (Charitable Registration Number: 784977019 RR 0001) operating as a single unified charitable organization rather than a product platform. The Foundation's core offerings include the CREED Council, which creates educational programs and community initiatives for diversity and equity in the CRED industry, and the RealStories Speaker Series, a platform launched in 2021 featuring stories of diverse CRED industry leaders. Supporting programs include RealReach (high school student exposure), Talent Connectivity (student internships), and Elevate Mentorship (professional mentorship). All offerings work together to build pathways for diverse and underrepresented students and professionals to enter the commercial real estate and development industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CREED Council: A cross-section of commercial real estate and development professionals creating educational programs and community initiatives to foster inclusionary practices.
• RealStories

Products and services

• CREED Council A cross-section body of more than 50 commercial real estate and development professionals who create educational programs and community initiatives to foster inclusionary practices for diverse students, youth, and professionals entering the CRED industry.
• RealStories Speaker Series A speaker series featuring untold stories of CRED industry leaders to empower and educate professionals, with a focus on profiling diverse and underrepresented leaders in commercial real estate and development.
• RealReach Program A school-based outreach program that ignites curiosity in high school students and fosters early exposure to the commercial real estate and development industry.
• Talent Connectivity A program that provides transformative internship opportunities for students pursuing careers in the commercial real estate and development industry.
• Elevate Mentorship A mentorship program that nurtures professional growth by connecting students with industry professionals for guidance, networks, and career development in the CRED industry.

Quantifiable outcome

• The CRED industry accounts for over 13% of Canada's GDP
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kin CapitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKin Capital is a global real estate investor, asset manager and advisory firm located in Toronto, Canada. They co-founded Makin Foundation and support its diversity and inclusion mission.
• Matrix360coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMatrix360 is a privately owned Canadian boutique organization focused on talent management and workplace culture for the CRED industry. They co-founded Makin Foundation and provide advisory services.
• DanielsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome builder company listed as a partner that believes in and supports the foundation's vision for diversity and inclusion in CRED.
• CanderelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReal estate firm listed as a partner supporting the foundation's vision.
• ARIDOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior design trade association listed as a partner supporting diversity initiatives.
• RAISEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnderwriting firm listed as a partner supporting the foundation's mission.
• Peakhill CapitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCapital firm listed as a partner supporting the foundation's vision.
• The Pearl GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReal estate company listed as a partner.
• BGO (BentallGreenOak)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the largest real estate managers in Canada with $28B AUM, represented on the board of directors, supports foundation initiatives.
• Great GulfminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Canadian developer listed as a partner.
• BDP QuadrangleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture and design firm listed as a partner.
• KPMGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional services firm providing support as a partner.
• PlatformminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInsurance firm listed as a partner.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Nareit: National trade association representing REITs and publicly traded real estate companies, with workforce and DEI initiatives. Comparable to Makin as a real estate industry body engaged in education, talent pipeline development, and diversity programming for the broader real estate sector.
• National Multifamily Housing Council: US-based trade association for the apartment industry with research, education, and leadership development programs including DEI. Comparable to Makin as a real estate industry organization running education, leadership, and workforce development programs, though anchored in a different sub-sector.
• Urban Land Institute: Global research and education organization focused on land use, real estate, and development with active DEI and equitable development programs. Comparable to Makin in operating at the intersection of education, industry leadership, and inclusive practices within the real estate and development sector.
• NAIOP: Large North American commercial real estate development association with research, education, and DEI programming for the industry. Comparable to Makin as a CRE industry body that runs education, mentorship, and community programs for industry professionals, though at a much larger scale.
• ICSC: Global trade association for the retail real estate industry with education, networking, and industry research programs. Comparable to Makin as a real estate industry association that delivers education, professional development, and member engagement across a commercial real estate sub-sector.
• CCIM Institute: Commercial real estate association offering education, certification, and networking for investment and brokerage professionals. Comparable to Makin in providing CRE industry education, designation programs, and member-driven professional development pathways.
• BOMA Canada: Canadian industry association for building owners, managers, and developers providing education, advocacy, and networking. Comparable to Makin as a Canadian CRE industry body that supports member education, professional development, and community-building across the property sector.

Direct peers

• CREW Network: Global commercial real estate organization advancing women and underrepresented professionals through networking, mentoring, and education. Directly comparable to Makin given its DEI mandate within the CRE industry and reliance on member-driven mentorship, scholarships, and event programming.
• Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion: Canadian non-profit providing DEI education, training, consulting, and research to employers and institutions. Comparable to Makin as a Canadian mission-driven organization delivering educational programs and community-building events to advance workplace DEI outcomes.
• BlackNorth Initiative: Canadian non-profit focused on ending anti-Black systemic racism in business, including commitments from major Canadian corporations. Highly comparable to Makin given its Canadian base, DEI focus, and corporate partnership model that drives education and pipeline programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/makinfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Makin Foundation