Excel Family and Youth Society (EFYS)

What Excel Family and Youth Society (EFYS) does

Excel Family and Youth Society (EFYS) is a Calgary, Alberta-based non-profit organization founded in April 2010 by Dr. Girma Lulu to support Ethiopian and Eritrean immigrants and the broader Black Canadian community. The organization is 100% Black-led, with its mandate focused on empowering, educating, and integrating self-identifying Black Canadians so they can live healthy and productive lives in Canada. EFYS maintains a head office in Calgary and branch operations in Edmonton and Winnipeg, supported by 75+ volunteers and a board of approximately ten members.

EFYS delivers a portfolio of core services covering family support (anger management, conflict resolution, domestic violence prevention), youth programs (an 8-week Youth Effectiveness Program), newcomer settlement (ESL, translation, job search), computer skills training (Level 1 and Level 2), financial empowerment (in partnership with Servus Credit Union), culturally sensitive parental support, women's empowerment, a professionals network, and an annual job fair. The organization's technology footprint consists of a Wix-hosted website for program signup and content, a YouTube-based media property called Excel Web TV, and active Facebook and Instagram accounts. A Black Canadian Business/Entrepreneurs Directory is operated as both a community service and a monetization channel.

The organization's revenue model combines individual membership fees (CA$35 annually), business directory advertising (CA$100 per listing), donations, and event revenue. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: grassroots outreach through 25+ faith and community-based partner organizations, supplemented by annual Gala Nights, workshops, computer training cohorts, and a job fair. EFYS reports approximately 15,000 Black community members reached, 550 active members, and 75+ volunteers, indicating a broad service footprint but a small paying base.

Name

Excel Family and Youth Society (EFYS)

Legal name

Excel Family & Youth Society

Website

https://excelfamily.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Excel Family and Youth Society is a Calgary-based, 100% Black-led non-profit founded in 2010 that delivers family support, youth, newcomer settlement, computer training, and financial empowerment services to Ethiopian, Eritrean, and broader Black Canadian communities across Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community and Settlement Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Education in Emergencies (EiE) & Safe Schools (BPADAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Refugee, Crisis & Humanitarian Education Partnerships (EiE) (EDADALAG)

Keywords

• Settlement and integration services
• Youth leadership programs
• Immigrant family support
• Financial empowerment workshops
• Community computer training

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Membership Fees: Annual membership fees providing access to programs, services, and benefits including the Financial Empowerment Partnership with Servus credit union
2. Business Advertisement/Directory: Business registration and advertising in the Black Canadian Business/Entrepreneurs Directory, targeting over 15,000 followers
3. Donations: One-time and ongoing donations from individuals and organizations supporting the mission
4. Event Revenue: Gala Night events, workshops, and programs generating community engagement and some revenue

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

EFYS is a non-profit community organization that delivers settlement, education, financial empowerment, and family and youth support services to Black Canadians, with a particular focus on Ethiopian and Eritrean immigrants. Services are delivered through in-person workshops, training programs, mentorship, and one-to-one coaching across Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg, complemented by a digital video platform (Excel Web TV) and a community business directory.

Product overview

Excel Family and Youth Society (EFYS) is a community-based non-profit organization offering a portfolio of support services for Ethiopian and Eritrean immigrants and Black Canadians. The organization provides core services including Family Support, Youth Effectiveness Program, Newcomers Support, Basic Computer Skills Training (Level 1 and Level 2), Financial Empowerment Services, Parental Support, Women Empowerment, Professionals Network, and Job Fair programs. Additionally, EFYS operates Excel Web TV as a digital platform and maintains a Black Canadian Business Directory for community advertising. Services are delivered through workshops, seminars, one-to-one coaching, mentorship, and integration support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Family Support Mentoring programs, workshops, and seminars for parents, children, and youth focusing on anger management, conflict resolution, effective communication, and domestic violence prevention. For Black Canadian families seeking culturally sensitive support.
• Youth Effectiveness Program An 8-week structured program providing academic, social, and recreational programming for youth with leadership training and workshops, helping Black Canadian youth enter post-secondary education and explore career options.
• Newcomers Support Immigration and settlement services including language instruction (ESL), translation services, job search support, and information on Canadian culture and living for Ethiopian, Eritrean, and broader Black Canadian newcomers.
• Basic Computer Skills Training Level 1 and Level 2 computer training courses (28 hours / 6 weeks each) covering keyboarding, computer basics, social media and security, email, Microsoft basics, search engine and job posting, and word applications. For newcomer adults and community members needing digital literacy.
• Financial Empowerment Services Workshops on Canadian Banking (Banking 101, credit history, small business management), supported by the Ethiopian and Eritrean financial community council and the Servus Credit Union partnership. For Black Canadians seeking financial literacy.
• Parental Support Culturally sensitive parental support program offering mentoring, workshops, and seminars for parents on anger management, conflict resolution, employment, effective communication, and family violence outreach. For Ethiopian, Eritrean, and broader Black Canadian parents.
• Women Empowerment Women's empowerment programs and events featuring inspiring guest speakers to support women's development and community engagement. For Black Canadian women in the EFYS service area.
• Professionals Network Networking opportunities for professionals to build relationships and develop networks within the Black Canadian community.
• Job Fair Annual job fair connecting job seekers with employers and providing employment support services and career opportunities. For Black Canadian job seekers and community members.
• Excel Web TV Online video platform showcasing EFYS activities, educational content, and community programming, distributed via YouTube.
• Black Canadian Business/Entrepreneurs Directory Business and community directory connecting Black Canadian businesses and entrepreneurs with EFYS's network of over 15,000 followers, featuring registration and affordable advertising options (CA$100 listing).
• Volunteer Program Volunteer engagement program supporting workshops on health and well-being, job skill development, small business growth, youth leadership, ESL services, computer courses, and employment support for the Black Canadian community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves approximately 15,000 Black community members
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Servus Credit UnioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial Empowerment Partnership providing exclusive benefits to Excel Family & Youth Society members including free monthly banking fees for one year (up to $300 savings), preferred GIC pricing, Save up to $300 on a Servus Mastercard with first year annual fee waived, exclusive lending rates, free financial review, and free educational seminars.
• 25+ Faith and Community-Based OrganizationscoreOthersCollaboration with over twenty-five faith and community-based organizations throughout Canada allowing direct engagement with a wide spectrum of Black Canadians. These partnerships enable the organization to reach and serve diverse community members across the country.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MOSAIC: Vancouver-based non-profit delivering language, settlement, employment, and community programs to immigrants and refugees - comparable in business model (workshops, cohort programs, multi-cultural specialization) and service breadth to EFYS.
• COSTI Immigrant Services: Toronto-area settlement agency providing language training, employment services, family and youth support, and newcomer programming - one of the largest Canadian settlement non-profits and a strong operational analogue to EFYS's service portfolio.
• Centre for Newcomers: Calgary-based settlement agency offering language training, employment support, and community programs for immigrants and refugees, directly comparable to EFYS in geography, mission, and service mix (workshops, settlement, family and youth support).
• Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council (MIIC): Winnipeg-based immigrant-serving organization delivering settlement, language, refugee support, and community programs in the same city as EFYS's Winnipeg branch, sharing an integrated settlement-services delivery model.
• Jewish Immigrant Aid Services of Canada (JIAS): Canadian non-profit providing settlement, language, and community integration services for a specific immigrant community (Jewish newcomers) - mirrors EFYS's culturally focused, community-based settlement model.
• Africa Centre Calgary: Calgary-based non-profit serving African newcomer communities with cultural programming, settlement support, family services, and youth development - highly comparable to EFYS's culturally specialized, Black-led service approach in the same city.
• Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS): Calgary-headquartered immigrant-serving non-profit delivering settlement, language, employment, and community integration services, operating in the same city as EFYS with an overlapping newcomer service mandate.
• Calgary Immigrant Women's Association (CIWA): Calgary non-profit providing settlement, language, family support, and empowerment services specifically for immigrant women - aligns with EFYS's women-empowerment programming and community-based newcomer service model.
• Affiliated Services for Immigrants and Refugees (ASIR): Calgary-based settlement non-profit providing language, employment, and community integration services for newcomers - direct geographic peer to EFYS with overlapping service delivery format.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of Greater Toronto - Immigrant & Newcomer Services: Broader Canadian establishment offering settlement, language, employment, and newcomer services as part of a nationwide YMCA network - operates a much wider portfolio and budget but overlaps directly with EFYS on settlement and youth programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCWEvvTO2LTcK84ygYnuytEw?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/ExcelFamily
• Instagraminstagram.com/excel_family
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/excel-family-and-youth-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 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 Excel Family and Youth Society (EFYS)