Karis Community Initiatives

What Karis Community Initiatives does

Karis Community Initiatives, operating primarily as Karis Disability Services, is a Canadian registered charity founded in 1965 (originally as Christian Horizons Canada) and rebranded in 2024. Headquartered at 26 Peppler St, Waterloo, Ontario, the organization delivers faith-based developmental disability services across Ontario and Saskatchewan with a workforce exceeding 3,500 employees and a total operating budget of $201 million CAD. Core services include supportive housing, community participation supports, person-directed services, host family arrangements, and fully accessible family camps held at eight-plus locations. The organization also runs self-advocacy groups under the Our Voices Matter brand, the annual Belongathon walk/roll/run event across 16 cities, and global child sponsorship programs in Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, Uganda, and Guatemala.

The business model blends government-funded managed services (primary funder: Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services), individual and congregational donations, monthly child sponsorships at $41 per month, and modest fee-based revenue from KARIS Virtual Courses ($35 per person) and University of Waterloo Leadership Certificate courses. Distribution is direct and field-based via Direct Support Professionals, supplemented by self-serve virtual registration through an in-house Learning Management System (lms.chconnect.org) and Eventbrite for camp bookings. Underlying technology is conventional SaaS (LMS, Zoom, Eventbrite) with no proprietary AI or data platform.

Karis holds FOCUS Accreditation (2025-2029) with 100% Excellence and Leadership in Excellence awards, complies with AODA, BPSAA, and PHIPA, and maintains research collaborations with the University of Birmingham, AAIDD, and the John Templeton Foundation. Long-standing strategic partnerships include a 10+ year culinary certificate program with Humber College and nearly 30-year inclusive education partnerships with schools in Kenya and Ethiopia.

Name

Karis Community Initiatives

Legal name

Karis Community Initiatives

Website

https://karis.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Karis Community Initiatives is a Canadian Christian non-profit (founded 1965) providing faith-based developmental disability services, accessible family camps, self-advocacy programs, and global child sponsorship across Ontario, Saskatchewan, and six countries, with a $201M CAD operating budget and 3,500+ employees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Developmental Disability Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Faith-Based Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations (BPAGAJAK), Disability Rights & Accessibility Advocacy (BPAGAFAF)

Keywords

• Developmental disability services
• Faith-based nonprofit
• Community participation supports
• Family respite camps
• Child sponsorship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Waterloo

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funded Services: Funded by Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) for developmental services including supportive housing and community participation supports. Total organizational budget of $201 million.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Non-profit organization funded primarily through donations. Family camps are completely donation-funded. Child sponsorship programs ($41/month) and general donations support global programs.
3. Course Registration Fees: Virtual courses at $35 per person; University of Waterloo Leadership Certificate courses with associated fees

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Karis Community Initiatives delivers faith-based developmental disability services across Ontario and Saskatchewan, including supported housing, community participation supports, person-directed services, and accessible family camps. The organization also runs the "Our Voices Matter" self-advocacy program, a Host Family program, virtual and in-person training courses (including University of Waterloo leadership certificates), church equipping resources, and global child sponsorship programs across Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, Uganda, and Guatemala. Revenue is derived from government funding, individual donations, monthly sponsorships, and modest course registration fees.

Product overview

Karis Disability Services (formerly Christian Horizons Canada) offers a comprehensive suite of disability services and support programs. The organization operates core disability services including supported housing, community participation supports, and person-directed services across Ontario and Saskatchewan. Key offerings include Family Camp - fully accessible, faith-based vacation experiences held at multiple camp locations; Community Participation Supports including vocational and social programs; Our Voices Matter self-advocacy program; and the Belongathon annual fundraising event. Educational partnerships include the Karis-Humber Culinary Program and University of Waterloo Leadership Certificate courses. Virtual training courses cover compliance and development topics. Global programs through child sponsorship support children with disabilities in Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, and Guatemala. The organization also provides church equipping resources to promote disability inclusion in faith communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Disability Services (Supported Housing and Community Participation Supports) Core direct support services for people with developmental disabilities including supported housing, community participation supports, employment assistance, and person-directed funding support across Ontario and Saskatchewan, delivered by Direct Support Professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4-year FOCUS accreditation (July 2025-2029)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Humber CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 10-year partnership offering a full-time culinary certificate program designed to accommodate students with developmental disabilities. The program provides skills needed to enter the workforce. Jason graduated from the program in 2024 and won the Onward Spirit award.
• Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS)coreOthersPrimary government funder for developmental services including supportive housing and community participation supports. Administers Developmental Services Ontario which holds waitlists for services.
• University of BirminghamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for Images of God project; Dr. Keith Dow holds fellowship through the Psychology Cross-Training program. Contributions to International Association for the Psychology of Religion conference.
• American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Dow serves as president of the Religion & Spirituality Interest Network within AAIDD. Network connects professionals supporting people with disabilities in over 50 countries.
• Institute on Theology and DisabilityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Keith Dow represented Karis at virtual presentation in June 2025. Bill Gaventa, founder and former AAIDD president, presented on Karis' Images of God project at AAIDD Annual Meeting.
• George Washington University Institute on Spirituality and HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Christina Puchalski presented at AAIDD Religion & Spirituality Interest Network gathering on spirituality and wellness in healthcare settings.
• Mount Moriah Christian School (Kenya)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNearly 30-year partnership. School serves 190 students, 20 with disabilities. Every student and teacher learns Sign Language. Belongathon funds established a Karis Rehabilitation Centre providing physiotherapy, speech therapy, and behavioral support.
• Rare Gem Talent School (Kenya)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school where Belongathon funds established and staffed rehabilitation centres. Provides physiotherapy and support services for children with disabilities.
• Horizons Academy (Ethiopia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner30-year partnership with inclusive education program creating transformative change. 2026 Belongathon funds will build accessible playground. Student Rebira attends while father works as teacher.
• Christian Horizons Ethiopia (CHE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary global partner managing child sponsorship program. Supports children like Wogane, Firehiwot, Miheret, and Sumeya with education, healthcare, and family assistance. Provides counselling and business loans through Self-Help Groups.
• Partner Organization (Haiti)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner supporting 261 sponsored children including Telineda. Described her as 'a kreyol lamp, battling the harsh wind to keep her light lit.' Fashion school sponsorship helping her dream of becoming a designer.
• Escuela Rural Aldea (Guatemala)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElementary school in El Morro providing accessible education through Teacher Karla and a resource room. Partnership supports children like Edgar and Elder with disabilities.
• Iliff School of Theology (Denver, Colorado)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of Institute on Theology and Disability where Karis shared findings with disability ministry practitioners across North America.
• Christian Reformed Church in North AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-created 'Everybody Belongs, Serving Together' inclusion handbook for Christian churches with contributions from Karis Disability Services and Elim Christian Services.
• Evangelical Fellowship of CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced 'Life Together: Disability and Belonging in the Church' resource with reflections, interviews, and stories from people with disabilities.
• FOCUS AccreditationcoreOthersAccreditation organization that conducted comprehensive review of Karis' operations, programs, services and performance. Awarded 4-year re-accreditation (2025-2029), 100% Excellence Award, and Leadership in Excellence Award.
• Wheaton Center for Faith and DisabilityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-created 'The Five Stages of Changing Attitudes' resource on steps to become more inclusive and accessible for people with disabilities.
• Disability and Faith ForumminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBlog collaboration where people with disabilities, DSPs, and church leaders share about intersection of disability and Christian faith.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• L'Arche Canada: Faith-rooted international federation creating intentional communities and supported living for people with intellectual disabilities; shares Karis' faith-based identity and supported-housing model, though operates from a different Christian tradition.
• Community Living Ontario: Provincial advocacy and service network for people with intellectual disabilities and their families in Ontario, comparable in mission, government-relations focus, and self-advocacy positioning to Karis.
• March of Dimes Canada: National non-profit delivering employment, housing, and community participation supports across multiple Canadian provinces, operating at comparable multi-province scale and serving the same developmental-disability population.
• Vita Community Living Services: Ontario non-profit offering supportive housing, employment programs, and community participation for adults with developmental disabilities, comparable in service mix and Ontario government-funding reliance.
• Reena: Ontario-based non-profit providing residential, community participation, and person-directed supports for people with developmental disabilities, directly comparable in service mix and Ontario focus to Karis Disability Services.
• Participation House: Canadian network of residences and community programs for adults with developmental disabilities, directly comparable residential and community participation models to Karis.

Regional players

• Ongwanada: Kingston, Ontario-based non-profit providing residential, clinical, and community supports to people with developmental disabilities, comparable in service breadth but smaller in geographic footprint.
• Bethesda Christian Association: Christian non-profit providing disability services in Western Canada; comparable to Karis in faith-based mission and developmental disability services, with overlapping geographic reach in Saskatchewan-adjacent provinces.

Others

• YWCA Toronto: Canadian charity delivering community-based social services including housing and programs for vulnerable populations, adjacent in the human-services non-profit sector but not focused on developmental disabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Extendicare: Large Canadian provider of long-term care, seniors' housing, and home health services; overlaps with Karis on government-funded residential and support services but operates at much broader scale across the Canadian health continuum.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@karisdisability
• Facebookfacebook.com/KarisDisabilityServices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/karis-disability-services
• Instagraminstagram.com/karisdisabilityservices

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Karis Community Initiatives