WACO

What WACO does

WACO (Wooler & Area Community Organization) is a federally registered Canadian non-profit (Registration #1210430-0), incorporated in 2020 as the legal successor to the 1st Wooler Scouts Group Committee. Its single mission is the restoration of the Old Wooler Schoolhouse, a 1915 heritage building located at 62 County Road 5 in Quinte West, Ontario, into a community recreation facility scheduled to open in spring 2027. The organization is entirely volunteer-run, governed by a board of seven or more directors, and supported by 117 WACO Builder Members who have collectively contributed over 1,200 volunteer hours.

WACO's business model is a hybrid of charitable donations, membership support, and modest retail income. A $250,000 local capital campaign is underway (target completion: December 2026) to unlock a contingent $1 million federal grant under the Government of Canada's Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program. As of the latest disclosure, $87,295 (approximately 35% of the local target) has been raised, and membership is targeted to grow from 121 to 200 by December 2026. Complementary revenue comes from a branded gift shop selling t-shirts ($30), books ($25), and mugs ($25). Technology footprint is minimal: a WordPress website with a Donation Thermometer plugin and standard small-scale e-commerce tooling.

The organization's strategic positioning rests on three pillars: a formal Heritage Designation that protects and legitimizes the project, a contingent federal grant that materially de-risks the capital plan, and a tightly embedded local volunteer ecosystem. The forthcoming facility opening in spring 2027 is intended to transition WACO from a restoration project into an ongoing community programming operator, though all current activity, fundraising, and programmatic plans are concentrated in a single rural geography and a single physical asset.

Name

WACO

Legal name

Wooler & Area Community Organization

Website

https://woolercommunity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wooler

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Community members pay to become WACO members. The organization targets 200 members by December 2026, with 121 current members as of mid-2026.
2. Donations and capital campaign: Individual and corporate donations raised through GoFundMe, in-person events, and direct contributions to unlock a $1 million government grant. The campaign target is $250,000 by December 2026.
3. Gift shop sales: Sale of branded merchandise (t-shirts, mugs) and local history books authored by Leona M Austin. All proceeds support the Old Wooler Schoolhouse renovation project.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

WACO (Wooler & Area Community Organization) is a federally registered Canadian non-profit that restores and operates the historic 1915 Old Wooler Schoolhouse as a community recreation facility in Quinte West, Ontario. The organization funds its renovation through a capital campaign, recurring memberships, individual and corporate donations, and a gift shop selling branded merchandise (t-shirts, mugs) and local history books.

Product overview

WACO (Wooler & Area Community Organization) is a federally registered non-profit (Registration # 1210430-0) formed in 2020 to restore the Old Wooler Schoolhouse to community service. The organization operates a gift shop selling merchandise including branded T-shirts ($30), historical books by Leona M. Austin ($25), and coffee mugs ($25) to support the renovation project. The primary product is a planned community recreation facility that will offer recreation programs, community event spaces, a large modern kitchen, and venue for seasonal markets, craft shows, and art/music events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Old Wooler Schoolhouse Community Recreation Facility Planned not-for-profit community recreation facility being renovated from the historic 1915 Wooler Schoolhouse, featuring recreation programs, community event spaces with a large modern kitchen, seasonal markets, craft shows, art and music events, 48 parking spaces, and improved accessibility via a proposed addition with elevator, exit stairs, and new entrance. Aimed at local residents, families, and community organizations of Wooler and Quinte West.
• WACO Membership Community membership in the Wooler & Area Community Organization that allows individuals to support the Old Wooler Schoolhouse restoration project and participate in community activities. Memberships are obtained via an online sign-up form.
• WACO Gift Shop - Wooler Schoolhouse T-Shirts Branded t-shirts featuring the Wooler Schoolhouse design, available in men's sizes Small to XX-Large and ladies' sizes Small to Large, priced at $30 (HST included). All proceeds support the Old Wooler Schoolhouse renovation project.
• WACO Gift Shop - Local History Books by Leona M Austin Three local history titles by Leona M. Austin: 'Wooler 100 Years, Through the Lens of a Camera'; 'As the Crow Flies – The story of the people and communities around Wooler'; and 'The McColl Clan – 200 Years – Scotland to Canada'. Priced at $25 (HST included) each.
• WACO Gift Shop - Wooler Schoolhouse Coffee Mugs Branded Wooler Schoolhouse ceramic coffee mugs priced at $25 (HST included). All proceeds support the Old Wooler Schoolhouse renovation project.

Quantifiable outcome

• The project has secured $1 million in government funding contingent on raising $250,000 from the community (currently at $87,295 as of mid-2026).
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• CDS AggregatesminorOthersCorporate contributor listed at the Dean's List tier ($2,000+) for the WACO capital campaign. Located in Belleville, ON.
• RONA Inc.minorOthersCorporate contributor listed at the Dean's List tier ($2,000+) for the WACO capital campaign. Located in Campbellford/Trenton, ON.
• Cooper Equipment RentalsminorOthersCorporate contributor listed at the Honour Roll tier ($500+) for the WACO capital campaign. Located in Trenton, ON.
• Free FlowminorOthersCorporate contributor listed at the Honour Roll tier ($500+) for the WACO capital campaign. Located in Wooler, ON.
• Hangmen Signs Inc.minorOthersCorporate contributor listed at the Honour Roll tier ($500+) for the WACO capital campaign. Located in Wooler, ON.
• Reid's InsulationminorOthersCorporate contributor listed at the Honour Roll tier ($500+) for the WACO capital campaign. Located in Belleville, ON.
• Tri-County TreeminorOthersCorporate contributor listed at the Honour Roll tier ($500+) for the WACO capital campaign. Located in Wooler, ON.
• Wooler ConvenienceminorOthersCorporate contributor listed at the Honour Roll tier ($500+) for the WACO capital campaign. Located in Wooler, ON.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Heritage Canada Foundation: National non-profit advocacy and grant-making organization for built heritage conservation across Canada. Comparable in mission and community-driven heritage preservation model, though operating at a national scope rather than a single rural property.
• National Trust for Canada: National charity focused on preservation of historic places through grants, awards, and community programs. Mirrors WACO's heritage stewardship and community activation model, with a broader portfolio of sites and programming.
• Habitat for Humanity Canada: Large Canadian non-profit mobilizing volunteers and donations for community rebuilding projects. Analogous in operating a capital campaign with volunteer labor and donor stewardship, though focused on housing rather than heritage recreation facilities.
• Ontario Trillium Foundation: Provincial grant-making agency that funds non-profits like WACO to build community resilience. Comparable as a peer non-profit ecosystem funder rather than a direct competitor, providing context for WACO's funding landscape.
• Ontario Heritage Trust: Ontario's premier heritage property steward, operating under the Ontario Heritage Act. Directly analogous to WACO in stewarding designated heritage assets on behalf of communities, but at provincial scale across many sites.

Emerging players

• 4th Line Theatre: Small rural Ontario community arts non-profit; WACO advisor Lindy Finlan is its General Manager. Comparable as a volunteer-driven community non-profit serving the broader Quinte West region, with overlapping donor and volunteer networks.

Others

• Community Foundations of Canada: National network of 191 community foundations. Comparable as enabling/thematic infrastructure for small place-based non-profits like WACO, though it operates as an aggregator rather than a single-site operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/groups/1664347057261653

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 WACO