MAPLE LEAF YOUTH INNOVATION FUND

What MAPLE LEAF YOUTH INNOVATION FUND does

MLSE Foundation is the registered Canadian charitable organization (Charity #896114048RR0001) and sport-for-development arm of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, founded in December 2009 and supported by Toronto's four major professional franchises — Maple Leafs, Raptors, FC and Argonauts. The foundation's mission is to remove systemic barriers preventing youth ages 6–29 from accessing organized sport and the life opportunities that flow from it, with explicit prioritization of Black, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQ+, and women/girls participants across Ontario.

The foundation operates through five interconnected program verticals. MLSE LaunchPad, a 42,000 sq ft sport-for-development facility in downtown Toronto's Moss Park, anchors direct delivery to 4,500+ youth annually. Community Programs — including Ready to Rebound (basketball), Home Ice Hockey, KickStart Soccer, Midnight Basketball, Toronto Argonauts Flag Football and the Hockey Coach Education Program — extend free, equipment-inclusive programming across 68 Ontario neighbourhoods, reaching more than 125,000 youth yearly. Community Grants provide up to $50,000 CAD to Ontario-based Qualified Donee organizations, Community Spaces refurbishes athletic facilities with Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, and Change the Game Research, run with the University of Toronto Centre for Sport Policy Studies, surveys 10,000–15,000 youth annually on access, engagement and equity issues. Supporting infrastructure includes an online grant portal and a Youth Advisory Council.

Revenue comes from four streams: corporate sponsorships (Scotiabank, Sun Life, adidas, Uber, IBM, Subway Canada, BMO, Securian Canada, LG Canada, The Keg), individual donations through the Change the Game campaign, government grants (notably $705,000 from the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport and $300,000 from the Ontario Ministry of Sport), and major multi-year commitments from the four MLSE teams totaling $30M CAD over four years. All programs are provided at no cost to youth participants. The foundation operates exclusively within Ontario and reports its financials through the Canada Revenue Agency.

Name

MAPLE LEAF YOUTH INNOVATION FUND

Legal name

MLSE Foundation

Website

https://mlsefoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MLSE Foundation is the registered Canadian charity and sport-for-development arm of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, delivering free youth sport, leadership and research programming — anchored by a 42,000 sq ft facility in Toronto — to more than 125,000 youth ages 6–29 annually across 68 Ontario neighbourhoods.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Sport for Development

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ), Cause, Community & CSR-Linked Sports Partnerships (Foundations, Youth Programs) (MPAKALAJ)

Keywords

• Youth sport programs
• Sport for development
• Community grants
• Sport equity
• Facility refurbishment

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorships: MLSE Foundation receives support from major corporations including Scotiabank, Sun Life, Securian Canada, adidas, Uber, LG Canada, The Keg, IBM, Subway Canada, BMO, and others who sponsor specific programs and initiatives.
2. Individual Donations: The foundation raises funds through direct donations from individuals, with the Change the Game campaign dedicated to raising funds and awareness to address systemic barriers preventing youth from reaching their potential.
3. Government Grants: MLSE Foundation receives government funding including $705,000 from Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport for gender equity programming and $300,000 for 2SLGBTQ+ youth sport access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MAPLE LEAF YOUTH INNOVATION FUND is a registered Canadian charitable organization that provides free sport, health, and leadership programs for youth ages 6 to 29 facing systemic barriers. It operates the MLSE LaunchPad, a 42,000-square-foot Sport for Development facility in Toronto, and delivers community programs (basketball, hockey, soccer, flag football), community grants to qualifying organizations, facility refurbishment, and research into sport equity across Ontario.

Product overview

MLSE Foundation operates as a charitable organization focused on providing equitable access to sport and opportunity for youth. The organization runs multiple interconnected programs centered around MLSE LaunchPad, a 42,000 sq ft Sport For Development facility in Toronto. Core offerings include Community Programs (Ready to Rebound basketball, Home Ice Hockey, KickStart Soccer, Hockey Coach Education Program, Argonauts Flag Football, Midnight Basketball), Community Grants (up to $50,000 for qualifying organizations), Community Spaces (facility refurbishment), and Change the Game Research. Supporting infrastructure includes an Online Grant Portal for application management and a Youth Advisory Council for youth-led advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MLSE LaunchPad: A 42,000 sq ft sport-for-development facility in Toronto's Moss Park providing free sport, health, and leadership programs for youth ages 6-29
• Change the Game
• Ready to Rebound
• Home Ice Hockey
• KickStart Soccer
• Midnight Basketball
• Hockey Coach Education Program

Products and services

• MLSE LaunchPad A 42,000 sq ft Sport For Development facility in downtown Toronto offering free sport, health, and leadership programs for youth ages 6 to 29.
• Ready to Rebound

Quantifiable outcome

• 125,000 youth impacted yearly
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• The KegminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2026Partnership to support PA Day programming at MLSE LaunchPad, helping create meaningful experiences for youth on days when school is out. Theme Celebrating Women in Sport.
• LG CanadaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2025LG Optimism Meter campaign unlocked $25,000 donation to support MLSE LaunchPad's dance program through Canadian participation in AI music tool.
• UbermajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2025Presenting sponsor for MLSE LaunchPad's Youth Advisory Council (YAC), a group of passionate young individuals ages 15-24 who help shape programs and policies. Uber provides rideshare and delivery support to remove participation barriers.
• adidasmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025adidas is the presenting sponsor for Midnight Basketball program, providing free basketball programming for youth ages 13-18. Partnership announced April 2025 includes jersey reveals and shoe activations.
• Securian CanadamajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 September 2024Official life insurance partner of Toronto Maple Leafs and presenting sponsor of Home Ice Hockey program providing youth in underserved GTA communities with free equipment, coaching, and ice time.
• PWHL (Professional Women's Hockey League)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024Partnership through House of Hockey programming during NHL All-Star week to inspire young girls in hockey through Empower Her initiative.
• Subway CanadamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Partnership to establish Nutrition Hub at MLSE LaunchPad, providing healthier dining options and teaching youth about healthy eating and nutrition. Includes hospitality workforce development opportunities.
• Foundation for Black CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Four-year funding partnership worth $1,000,000 total ($250,000 per year) for capacity-building, supporting operations, designing participatory grantmaking framework, and building an endowment. Partnership modelled on trust-based philanthropy principles.
• ENAGB Indigenous Youth AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Four-year partnership worth $1,000,000 invested into Indigenous communities. ENAGB focuses on providing cultural, employment, life skills, holistic wellness, and recreational opportunities to Indigenous youth ages 12-29.
• IBMcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership on Sport and STEM program using IBM SkillsBuild curriculum combined with MLSE LaunchPad coaching. Reached over 500 students from 3 school boards; 82% of participants believed they could pursue STEM careers.
• Canadian Tire Jumpstart CharitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMLSE Foundation and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities work together to refurbish athletic facilities, creating more opportunities for youth to get moving in their communities. The partnership aims to build equity through the power of sport by empowering communities to reimagine their play spaces.
• University of Toronto Centre for Sport Policy StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership launching the Change the Game research project to understand sport and physical activity-related access, engagement, and equity issues across Ontario. Engages 10,000-15,000 youth annually through anonymous surveys.
• Sun LifemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner with Toronto Raptors on Ready to Rebound program bringing organized basketball to communities facing barriers at no cost for youth ages 8-14.
• ScotiabankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of Hockey Coach Education Program providing equitable opportunities for Black, Indigenous and racialized youth across Ontario to obtain hockey coaching certifications.
• Toronto Community HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Midnight Basketball program serving TCHC youth ages 14-18. Program runs in two cohorts from 9PM-Midnight on Fridays, providing mentorship and life skills alongside basketball.
• BMOmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerKickStart Soccer program delivered in partnership with Toronto Community Housing Corporation, introducing over 250 youth ages 6-14 to soccer with focus on physical literacy and skill development.
• GTHL (Greater Toronto Hockey League)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Hockey Coach Education Program to establish pathways for youth coaches to put education into practice and gain coaching opportunities within the hockey community.
• LumenuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health partnership making counselling support available to youth and staff. Integrated into MLSE LaunchPad programs with activities encouraging rest, resiliency, coping and recovery.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada: Long-established national youth-development organization offering sport, recreation and life-skills programming; broader youth-development mission but overlapping sport-access programming for underserved youth.
• United Way Greater Toronto: Major community foundation in MLSE Foundation's home geography funding health, poverty and youth programs; comparable grantmaking scale and Ontario focus, though broader than sport.
• YMCA Canada: Large multi-service national nonprofit offering sport, recreation, health and youth programming across Canada; broader scope but directly comparable community-based youth sport delivery.

Regional players

• Toronto Foundation: Toronto-area community foundation providing grants and donor services; comparable grantmaking role within MLSE Foundation's geography with a broader (non-sport-specific) mandate.

Direct peers

• KidSport Canada: Canadian charity providing grants to help kids in financial need participate in organized sport; highly comparable mission of removing economic barriers to youth sport across Canada.
• Right To Play: International nonprofit using sport and play to educate and empower children facing adversity; directly comparable sport-for-development methodology, though operating at a larger global scale.
• Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities: National Canadian charity removing financial barriers to sport for youth; actively partners with MLSE Foundation on the Community Spaces facility refurbishment program and serves an overlapping youth-equity mission.
• Sport for Life: Canadian non-profit promoting sport participation and physical literacy through research and community partnerships; shares MLSE Foundation's evidence-based, system-level approach to youth sport equity.

Emerging players

• Peace Players International: Nonprofit using basketball to bridge divides and develop leadership in youth; comparable sport-for-development methodology with smaller global footprint.
• Lay-Up Youth Basketball: Toronto-based grassroots basketball nonprofit serving Regent Park, St James Town and Moss Park youth; direct community overlap with MLSE Foundation programming and a recipient of its Community Action Grants.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/MLSEFoundation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TeamUpFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/MLSEFoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/mlsefoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mlse-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about MAPLE LEAF YOUTH INNOVATION FUND