Durham Family & Cultural Centre

What Durham Family & Cultural Centre does

Durham Family & Cultural Centre is a registered Canadian non-profit charitable organization founded in February 2019 and headquartered in Ajax, Ontario. It serves Black and racialized communities across Durham Region, delivering culturally focused counselling, parenting support, education, mentorship, youth programs, and food security services. The organization operates with approximately 10 staff and has built a programmatic portfolio that includes the Stop Family Abuse (SFA) initiative, reflecting its mandate to provide culturally tailored family and community services that mainstream providers have historically under-served.

The Centre's program mix spans individual and family-facing services — counselling, parenting education, youth engagement, and mentorship — alongside community-level initiatives such as food security programming. It maintains operational partnerships with the Town of Ajax, local school boards, and corporate sponsors, and was designated the Town of Ajax 2025 Charity of Choice. These relationships provide both referral pathways into the Centre's services and the institutional support required to scale community programming.

The Centre's business model is donation- and grant-funded rather than revenue-generating in the commercial sense. Operating capital is assembled from individual donations, corporate sponsorships, government grants, and fundraising events. Pricing is non-applicable in the traditional sense, as services are delivered at no or subsidized cost to community members. Customer segments are therefore twofold: the Black and racialized community members receiving services in Durham Region, and the institutional and individual funders underwriting the operating budget.

Name

Durham Family & Cultural Centre

Legal name

Durham Family & Cultural Centre

Website

https://durhamfcc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Durham Family & Cultural Centre is a non-profit founded in 2019 in Ajax, Ontario, delivering culturally focused counselling, parenting support, youth programs, and food security services to Black and racialized communities in Durham Region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Community youth services
• Culturally responsive counseling
• Family support programs
• Youth mentorship programs
• Racial equity services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ajax

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization operates as a charitable non-profit relying on donations, sponsorships, government grants, and fundraising events to fund programs and services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DFCC is a charitable non-profit that delivers culturally focused counselling, parenting support, education advocacy, mentorship, youth programs, and food security services to Black and racialized communities in Durham Region, Ontario. Services are provided free of charge and are delivered through on-site programming at the Ajax office, school-based delivery, community venue events, and virtual/online programming. The portfolio spans parenting enrichment (TWA), family outreach and system navigation (Pamoja), school advocacy for Black students ages 6-18 (SFA), youth justice navigation (R3), and a comprehensive Youth Hub covering mentoring, mental health, entrepreneurship, arts, and skills training, complemented by signature events and the Afro Caribbean Food Baskets initiative.

Product overview

Durham Family & Cultural Centre is a charitable non-profit organization established in February 2019 that provides a portfolio of community programs and services for Black and racialized communities in Durham Region, Ontario. The organization operates as a single unified service provider rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core programs include: Together We Are (TWA) for parenting support and family enrichment; Pamoja (Outreach) for family support and system navigation; Student & Family Advocate (SFA) for school navigation for Black students ages 6-18; Restore, Reclaim & Rebuild (R3) for youth justice system support; and DFCC Youth for comprehensive youth development including mentoring, mental health services, empowerment programs, arts-based programs, and skills training. The organization also delivers signature events including the Youth Employment & Wellness Fair, Youth Entrepreneurship Program, Black Joy Holiday Market, and Mini Moguls youth entrepreneurship program. Additionally, the Afro Caribbean Food Baskets initiative provides culturally relevant food support. The organization is the only one of its kind in the Durham region established to meet the social and culturally specific needs of Black and racialized populations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Together We Are (TWA): Parenting Conversations and family fun activities to enrich families and strengthen identities. A safe and brave space to explore parenting and share ideas and experiences.
• Pamoja
• Student & Family Advocate (SFA)
• Restore, Reclaim & Rebuild (R3)
• DFCC Youth

Products and services

• Together We Are (TWA) A safe and brave space for parenting conversations and family fun activities designed to enrich families and strengthen identities, intended for Black and racialized families in Durham Region.
• Outreach - Pamoja Family outreach program providing support to families and children to address systemic challenges by building support systems; "Pamoja" means "together" in Swahili. Targets Black and racialized families across Durham Region.
• Student & Family Advocate (SFA) Supports Durham's Black students ages 6-18 and their families to navigate the school system for greater success, including advocacy for anti-Black racism and Individualized Education Program (IEP) support. Delivered through school-based partnerships.
• Restore, Reclaim & Rebuild (R3) Supports Black and racialized families and their youth navigate the youth justice system, providing culturally responsive advocacy and guidance for court-involved youth.
• DFCC Youth Hub Comprehensive Youth Hub providing mentoring, mental health services, empowerment programs, arts-based programs, and skills and training workshops for Black and racialized youth ages 15-25 in Durham Region.
• Youth Entrepreneurship Program A 3-week online entrepreneurship program for Black and Racialized Youth Ages 15-25 in Durham Region, including workshops, mentorship, networking, and a Youth Support Package of up to $250 for participants.
• Mini Moguls Empowers youth entrepreneurs ages 6-18 to build confidence, business skills, and financial literacy through an introductory entrepreneurship experience for Black and racialized youth in Durham Region.
• Afro Caribbean Food Baskets (ACFB) Provides culturally relevant food baskets to Black and racialized households across Durham Region, addressing food security through culturally appropriate grocery support.
• Youth Employment & Wellness Fair Signature community event held at Dunbarton High School in Pickering, providing youth employment opportunities and wellness resources for Durham Region youth.
• Black Joy Holiday Market Annual event celebrating Black culture, creativity, and community through a holiday market format; the 4th Annual event is scheduled for 2025.
• Mind Your Mind Workshop Mental health workshop for Black and Racialized Youth delivered at Bowmanville High School, featuring group conversations, activities, and self-care strategies.
• Counseling Support Services Culturally focused counseling support for Black and racialized community members in Durham Region, delivered as part of DFCC's core service offering.

Named customers3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Town of AjaxcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Designated as the Town of Ajax 2025 Charity of Choice, recognizing the organization's significant community impact and role in serving Durham's Black and racialized communities.
• Durham RegioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional government partner providing funding and support for community programs serving Durham Region residents.
• PickeringminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMunicipal partner supporting community programs and events in the Pickering area.
• OshawaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMunicipal partner collaborating on community initiatives in Oshawa.
• WhitbyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMunicipal partner for community programs in Whitby.
• Canada Summer JobscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFederal government program providing wage subsidies to create summer employment opportunities for youth.
• Canadian HeritagecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFederal department supporting cultural programming and initiatives.
• Ministry of Children, Community and Social ServicescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvincial ministry providing funding and support for community services.
• Government of Canada - Employment and Social DevelopmentcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFederal department supporting employment and social development programs.
• Rotary Club of AjaxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal service club supporting community initiatives through sponsorship.
• ElexiconminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal utility company providing corporate sponsorship support.
• Via Rail CanadaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting community programs.
• WalmartminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting community initiatives through the Walmart.org program.
• No FrillsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGrocery retail partner supporting community food security and family programs.
• Bulk BarnminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor contributing to community programs.
• Bowmanville High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for Mind Your Mind mental health workshops for Black and racialized youth.
• Dunbarton High SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Youth Employment & Wellness Fair serving Durham Region youth.
• Pickering High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue for Family Fun & Movie community events.
• CanadaHelpscoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline donation platform enabling charitable giving to DFCC through canadahelps.org.
• EventbritecoreTechnology or IntegrationEvent registration platform used for program registrations including Begin Again counseling sessions, R3 workshops, and youth entrepreneurship programs.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The 519: Toronto City-operated community centre serving the LGBTQ2S+ and broader communities with programming, counselling, and community space. Comparable as a mission-driven, identity-focused community services non-profit in the GTA, though with a different target population.
• North York Community House: Settlement and community services organization serving newcomers and racialized communities in North York/Toronto. Comparable in operating model (settlement, family, youth programs) and GTA service area but with a broader population mandate.

Direct peers

• Black Creek Community Health Centre: Community health centre serving northwest Toronto, including racialized and newcomer populations, with primary care and social supports. Comparable as a multi-service community organization serving racialized populations in the GTA.
• Tropicana Community Services Organization: Toronto-based non-profit providing culturally relevant programs and services to youth, newcomers, and the African-Caribbean community. Comparable in target population, youth and family programming, and GTA-region community service delivery.
• Women's Health in Women's Hands: Toronto community health centre providing primary healthcare to racialized women, including African-Caribbean populations. Comparable in culturally specific health and social services delivery to Black and racialized women in the GTA.
• Jamaican Canadian Community Centre: Ontario non-profit serving the Caribbean-Canadian community with cultural, youth, settlement, and family programs. Comparable as a Black/Caribbean-Canadian community services organization with similar programming pillars (youth, family, cultural).
• African Canadian Social Development Council: Canadian non-profit supporting African-Canadian communities through social development, advocacy, and community programs. Comparable in target population and social-development mission focused on systemic barriers.
• TAIBU Community Health Centre: Black-focused community health centre in Scarborough, Ontario serving the African, Caribbean, and Black populations of the GTA. Directly comparable as a culturally specific, Black-serving community services organization in the same Greater Toronto region with a similar wraparound service model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Durham Family & Cultural Centre