What Fora: Network for Change does

Fora: Network for Change is a Canadian registered charity (Charitable Registration #831021506RR0001) founded in 2009 in Toronto that delivers leadership development programming to young women and gender-marginalized leaders aged 18-29. The organization operates a global network spanning 60 countries and 55 Canadian cities and has cumulatively trained more than 1,500 young leaders, serving 350+ youth annually with 5,850+ training hours delivered per year.

The core offering is the Rise Program, an approximately 50-hour learning experience combining live and asynchronous training across three streams: Rise on Boards (governance and board placement preparation), Rise for Impact (social impact initiative design, with applications opening in 2027), and Rise to Organize (grassroots advocacy and organizing). The program is delivered through an online learning management system supporting self-paced and live components, supplemented by in-person intensives. Supporting assets include a Board e-Directory of governance opportunities (88+ partnering organizations), a Network Database for alumni connections, the Global Impact Fund micro-grant program ($1,000 CAD to alumni), and an annual Leadership Forum hosted at venues such as YMCA Toronto Central.

Fora is funded through donations (one-time, monthly, and corporate partnerships) and operates free of charge to participants, with 228 young leaders placed on governance boards to date. The organization transitioned from an invitation-based summit model (2009–2014) to its current programmatic structure following a 2014 strategic pivot. Revenue, headcount, and detailed funding data are not disclosed in available sources, limiting financial triangulation.

Name

Fora: Network for Change

Legal name

Fora: Network for Change

Website

https://foranetwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Fora: Network for Change is a Canadian charity founded in 2009 that delivers the free Rise Program — board governance, social impact, and organizing training — to young women and gender-marginalized leaders aged 18-29 across a 60-country network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Leadership Development Programs

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI)

Keywords

• Leadership development programs
• Youth mentorship services
• Governance training programs
• Nonprofit board placement
• Gender equity programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Fora operates as a Canadian registered charity (Charitable Registration #831021506RR0001) funded primarily through donations. The organization accepts one-time gifts, monthly contributions, and corporate partnerships. Donations directly support training opportunities, mentorship programs, and community support for young leaders.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Fora generates revenue through strategic corporate partnerships where organizations invest in the organization's work, collaborate on learning opportunities, or co-design events. These partnerships represent a shared commitment to advancing gender-equitable leadership.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fora: Network for Change operates The Rise Program, an approximately 50-hour free leadership development program for young women and gender-marginalized leaders ages 18-29 that combines live and self-paced training across three streams: governance (Rise on Boards), social impact (Rise for Impact), and grassroots organizing (Rise to Organize). The organization supplements its core program with alumni resources including micro-grants (Global Impact Fund), a board placement directory (Board e-Directory), community networking (Network Database), educational content (Fora Academy), and major events such as the annual Leadership Forum and Board Match events.

Product overview

Fora: Network for Change is a Canadian charity offering a unified leadership development platform centered on The Rise Program, an approximately 50-hour program combining live and self-paced training. The Rise Program offers three specialized streams: Rise on Boards (governance training for board service), Rise for Impact (social impact initiative design), and Rise to Organize (grassroots advocacy and organizing). Beyond core programming, the platform provides alumni resources including the Global Impact Fund (micro-grants), Board e-Directory, and Network Database. The organization also hosts Fora Events including annual Leadership Forums, and operates the Fora Academy as a resource hub. The portfolio functions as an integrated ecosystem supporting young women and gender-marginalized leaders aged 18-29 across governance, social impact, and advocacy pathways.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rise Program: Approximately 50-hour learning experience combining live and self-paced training for young feminist leaders aged 18-29 across governance, social impact, and grassroots organizing streams.
• Rise on Boards
• Rise for Impact
• Rise to Organize
• Fora Academy
• Global Impact Fund
• Leadership Forum

Products and services

• The Rise Program An approximately 50-hour leadership development program for young women and gender-marginalized leaders ages 18-29, combining live and self-paced training across three specialized streams: governance, social impact, and grassroots organizing. Participants apply online at no cost and receive governance training, mentorship, experiential learning, and network access.
• Rise on Boards Governance stream that prepares participants to serve on boards of nonprofit, public, and community-based organizations through training, mentorship, and experiential learning, with intensive weekend sessions.
• Rise for Impact Social impact stream offering mentorship and training to help participants design and implement their own initiatives and community-based projects.
• Rise to Organize Grassroots organizing stream equipping young leaders with tools and skills for advocacy, transforming their capacity to challenge barriers and drive systemic change.
• Global Impact Fund $1,000 CAD micro-grants available to program alumni to support transformative projects that drive positive change in communities. Has funded 30 global social impact projects around the world.
• Board e-Directory Exclusive database for alumni listing boards across Canada that are interested in bringing young leaders onto their team, supporting board placement.
• Network Database Centralized, living hub of connections across Fora's global community, bringing together people, partners, and opportunities for ongoing collaboration among members.
• Fora Events In-person and virtual events including the annual Leadership Forum (2026 theme: 'Room to Grow'), Global Summits, and Board Match events that create intergenerational community-driven spaces for learning, connection, and power-sharing.
• Fora Academy Resource hub providing educational materials, video library, blog, and learning resources for leadership development, supplementing the core Rise Program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 228 young leaders placed on governance boards
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• YMCA Toronto CentralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYMCA Toronto Central serves as the venue partner for Fora’s 2026 Leadership Forum event. The partnership enables the organization to host its major annual event at the YMCA facility, creating intergenerational community spaces for learning, connection, and power-sharing.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• YWCA Canada: YWCA Canada is a Canadian federation advancing gender equity through leadership programming, advocacy, and community services for women and gender-marginalized people. Direct peer given overlap in target audience, Canadian geography, and leadership-development mission.
• She's the First: She's the First supports girls' education and leadership in low-income countries through mentorship, scholarships, and community programs. Direct peer given similar model (leadership training + network + community impact projects) for young women globally.
• Canadian Women's Foundation: Canadian Women's Foundation funds and runs programs advancing gender equality, including youth leadership pathways. Direct peer as a Canada-based gender-equity nonprofit with similar donor-funded model and leadership pipeline focus.
• Vital Voices Global Partnership: Vital Voices identifies and invests in women leaders across sectors through mentorship, training, and networks. Direct peer in mission, target audience (emerging women leaders), and programming model combining training, mentorship, and network access.

Emerging players

• Apolitical Foundation: Apolitical operates a global learning platform and network for government leaders, including programs to advance underrepresented voices into public-service leadership. Emerging player with comparable governance-leadership development focus.
• WomenLift Health: WomenLift Health runs leadership programs equipping women leaders in global health through training, mentorship, and peer networks. Emerging player with comparable leadership-pipeline model but focused specifically on the health sector.

Regional players

• Girls Who Code: Girls Who Code runs programs building pathways for women and girls into technology leadership, primarily US-based. Regional peer with thematic overlap (young women's leadership pipelines) but different sector focus (tech) and geography.

Broad incumbents

• Women Deliver: Women Deliver is a global advocacy organization driving progress on gender equality, health, and rights. Broader incumbent given its focus on policy advocacy and convening power, overlapping with Fora's Rise to Organize and G20-advocacy work.
• Catalyst: Catalyst is a global nonprofit working to advance women into leadership through research, advisory, and inclusion solutions for workplaces. Broader incumbent with overlapping corporate-partnership model and women-in-leadership focus.
• Plan International Canada: Plan International Canada is the Canadian arm of a global NGO advancing children's rights and gender equality with youth leadership programming. Broader incumbent given wider mission scope and global footprint, but directly comparable on gender-equity youth development.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/foranetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fora-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Fora: Network for Change