What STOPGAP FOUNDATION does

StopGap Foundation is a registered Canadian charity (BN 846755239RR0001) headquartered at the Centre for Social Innovation in Toronto that designs, builds, and distributes custom deployable wooden ramps for single-step storefront entryways between 2" and 7" in height. Its flagship ramp is a portable, ~30 lb wooden structure with a 1:6 rise-to-run slope, finished with high-grade exterior paint mixed with a non-slip additive, and sold to business owners for $350-$475 depending on step height, with responsibility transferred via legal agreement. Beyond the core ramp, the organization runs the School Project (accessibility and inclusion education for elementary schools), Corporate Team Building paint days (paid group volunteer experiences), Community Ramp Projects (volunteer-led local deployments in 60+ Canadian communities), and StopGap on Tour (partnerships with touring musicians to install ramps at music venues).

The business model blends earned revenue (ramp sales, corporate paint days, merchandise including RampMan comics, storybooks, stickers, t-shirts, keychains, and $250 ramp sponsorships) with charitable revenue (individual donations, corporate partnerships, and grants). Anchor funding has come from Toyota Canada, which has invested $100,000 in both November 2019 and October 2024 to support awareness-raising, ramp programming, and organizational sustainability, supplemented by an Ontario Trillium Foundation Resilient Communities Fund grant and in-kind support from Behr (paint), The Daniels Corporation (repainting/replacement program), and the Centre for Social Innovation (office space). The organization operates with 1-10 paid staff supplemented by volunteers, an active Board of Directors, and grassroots community leadership; it paused operations during COVID-19 and has since resumed and expanded programmatic reach.

Name

STOPGAP FOUNDATION

Legal name

StopGap Foundation

Website

https://stopgap.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

StopGap Foundation is a Toronto-based registered Canadian charity that designs and distributes portable wooden ramps for single-step storefronts, complemented by school education, corporate team-building paint days, and community volunteer programs, primarily serving small businesses and accessibility seekers across 60+ Canadian communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Accessibility Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Prefabricated Wood Bldgs & Components (2452)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Portable wheelchair ramps
• Accessibility education
• Nonprofit disability charity
• Barrier-free design
• Community fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ramp Sales: Custom-built ramps sold to business owners for $350-$475 depending on step height. Ramps are portable and deployable, not permanent fixtures.
2. Donations and Grants: Registered Canadian charity (846755239RR0001) accepting tax-deductible donations. Major grants include Toyota Canada $100,000 investment and Ontario Trillium Foundation Resilient Communities Fund.
3. Merchandise Sales: Online store selling merchandise including stickers ($2), books ($20), t-shirts ($25), keychains, and ramp sponsorships ($250) to support awareness-raising work.
4. Corporate Team Building: Organizations can book Corporate Team Building paint days where groups paint ramps and learn about accessibility. Revenue-generating program combining community engagement with fundraising.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

StopGap Foundation custom-builds and distributes portable wooden deployable ramps for single-step storefronts (2"-7" height) priced at $350-$475, and operates accessibility education and community engagement programs including the School Project, Corporate Team Building paint days, Community Ramp Projects, and StopGap on Tour. The organization sells supporting merchandise such as RampMan comic books, The Ramp Man storybook, stickers, and the Unstoppable book. As a registered Canadian charity, it also accepts tax-deductible donations and grants to fund operations.

Product overview

StopGap Foundation is a single-product charitable organization offering custom-built deployable wooden ramps for single-step entryways as its core product. The ramps are complemented by educational programs (School Project), corporate team-building experiences (Paint Days), and community-driven initiatives (Community Ramp Projects and StopGap on Tour). The organization also sells merchandise including RampMan comic books, The Ramp Man storybook, stickers, and the Unstoppable book—all designed to raise awareness about accessibility and support the organization's mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RampMan: A fun, playful superhero character used in StopGap's educational materials and merchandise to teach children about accessibility and inclusion.

Products and services

• StopGap Deployable Ramp Custom-built lightweight wooden ramp designed for single-step entryways between 2" and 7" height, featuring a 1:6 rise-to-run slope ratio, treated with high-grade exterior paint with non-slip additive, and equipped with rope handles for portability. Sold to small business owners for $350-$475 depending on step height, with 4-6 week delivery timeline.
• School Project Educational program for elementary schools that teaches students about accessibility, inclusion, and barrier-free design through interactive lessons and the Accessibility & Inclusion Ambassadors program featuring the RampMan character.
• Corporate Team Building (Paint Days) Hands-on volunteer experience where corporate groups paint and prepare ramps, fostering team building while supporting accessibility awareness. Booked via [email protected].
• Community Ramp Project Program supporting volunteer-led local initiatives in cities across Canada (e.g., StopGap Ottawa) to coordinate building and delivery of multiple ramps to local businesses, creating grassroots accessibility efforts.
• StopGap on Tour Program partnering touring musicians with skilled trades to transport and install ramps at music venues and cultural hubs during tours, creating accessibility at cultural events.
• RampMan Comic Books Graphic comic books (Issues No. 1 and No. 2) featuring the RampMan character to raise accessibility awareness among children and adults. Priced at $20 each.
• The Ramp Man Storybook Children's storybook explaining disability, accessibility, inclusion, and barrier-free design in an accessible format. Written by Logan Anderson and Thelma Sambrook, illustrated by Farida Zaman and students. Priced at $20.
• Stickers High-quality stickers featuring 'Made with love for every Body' and 'Forward Movement' designs used to support awareness work. Priced at $2 each.
• Unstoppable Book Book co-authored by Luke Anderson featuring stories of change makers who make a difference. Co-authored with Paula Morand and Victoria Craig, featuring 23 other contributors. Priced at $20.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2000+ ramps deployed across 60+ Canadian communities
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Daniels CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with The Daniels Corporation to launch a Ramp Repainting and Replacement Program for GTA ramp owners. Daniels provides support for ramp repainting at no cost or $100 discount on replacements.
• Centre for Social Innovation (CSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStopGap's headquarters is located at CSI's Spadina location. StopGap was enrolled in CSI's Agents of Change program, providing office space and networking opportunities with other social enterprises.
• BehrminorOthersPaint supplier providing materials for ramp construction and painting programs.
• Custom Control Panels Inc.minorOthersListed as partner and supporter of StopGap Foundation.
• Choko AuthenticsminorOthersListed as partner and supporter of StopGap Foundation.
• Blackwell Structural EngineersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAllowed Luke Anderson to take extended leave from his duties as project engineer to further work with the foundation and participate in the Agents for Change program at CSI.
• All WeldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFabricated custom railings for Signs Restaurant's modular ramp project. Railings featured braille lettering.
• Greening HomesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstructed modular ramp components for the Signs Restaurant project.

Scale indicators5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CNIB Foundation (Canadian National Institute for the Blind): Major Canadian charity serving people who are blind or partially sighted with community programs and advocacy — a comparable national registered charity operating accessibility and inclusion programming across Canada.
• March of Dimes Canada: Large Canadian nonprofit providing disability services including accessibility programs, employment services, and home/vehicle modifications — operates in adjacent accessibility and disability-support space with significantly broader scope and funding base.
• Rick Hansen Foundation: Major Canadian accessibility advocacy organization focused on creating an accessible and inclusive world through the Rick Hansen Accessibility Certification and school/youth programs — overlaps with StopGap's School Project and awareness-raising work at much greater scale.

Regional players

• Lifeway Mobility: US-based provider of home accessibility solutions including ramps, stairlifts, and grab bars — operates in the same portable/commercial-ramp category as StopGap but primarily serves US markets rather than Canada.
• Accessible Housing Society (Calgary): Canadian nonprofit providing accessible, barrier-free housing and related advocacy across Western Canada — operates in the broader accessibility/nonprofit sector serving overlapping populations with mobility needs.

Direct peers

• Tetra Society of North America: A volunteer-driven North American nonprofit that designs and builds custom assistive devices for people with disabilities — directly comparable model to StopGap's volunteer-built, mission-driven approach to physical accessibility solutions.
• Center for Independent Living in Toronto (CILT): Toronto-based disability rights and services nonprofit run by and for people with disabilities, providing advocacy and direct services — direct local peer sharing the same Toronto geography and grassroots disability/advocacy mandate.

Emerging players

• EZ-ACCESS (a Homecare Products brand): Commercial manufacturer of portable and modular aluminum ramps and accessibility products for residential and commercial entryways — competes in the same portable-ramp category as StopGap but as a for-profit, scaled manufacturer rather than a nonprofit.
• Disability Without Poverty: Canadian coalition of disability organizations advocating for policy and legislative reform on disability poverty — adjacent advocacy/coalition peer that intersects with StopGap's awareness-raising mission in the Canadian disability space.

Others

• National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA): US trade association for the mobility and accessibility equipment industry, including ramp manufacturers and installers — adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor, but useful as an industry-context peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCysQUmX0FERigukvTUvlRlg
• Facebookfacebook.com/StopGapFoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/stopgapfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stopgap-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 STOPGAP FOUNDATION