CIS Ontario: The Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario

What CIS Ontario: The Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario does

CIS Ontario: The Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario is a non-profit membership association incorporated in 1983 that serves 47 independent K-12 schools across Ontario, supporting more than 28,000 students and 5,000 educators. Its core platform, CISO Connect, is a members-only networking and collaboration environment accessible to all employees of member schools, complemented by a public website (cisontario.ca) and a dedicated teacher recruitment job board (jobs.cisontario.ca). The association operates CISAA (Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario Athletic Association), the only independent-school sport association within OFSAA, coordinating 24 sports across 159 leagues and more than 1,400 teams, alongside four annual arts festivals (music, drama, dance, visual arts) and student leadership, writing, and design-thinking programs. Professional learning is delivered through recurring events such as Unconference, Cohort 21, TechFest, and CITE Conference, plus more than 30 educator networks including a dedicated AI Network and an AI Microcredentials program. Revenue is generated through recurring school membership dues, tiered corporate sponsorship (OTIP Insurance as Signature Sponsor, VS America as Principal Sponsor, plus SAGE Dining Services and Educators Financial Group), and event registration fees. Strategic affiliations with CAIS, NAIS, the Independent Schools Association Network, the Ontario Ministry of Education, and the Ontario College of Teachers, combined with legal policy support from BLG, anchor the association's regulatory and accreditation positioning within the Ontario independent school sector.

Name

CIS Ontario: The Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario

Legal name

Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario

Website

https://cisontario.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CIS Ontario is a non-profit membership association serving 47 independent K-12 schools in Ontario, coordinating inter-school athletics (CISAA), arts festivals, professional learning networks, and the CISO Connect member platform for 28,000+ students and 5,000+ educators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent School Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

National/Institutional Accreditors (Career, Faith-Based, Distance, etc.) (EDADACAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Nonsectarian Independent Boarding Schools (EDAJABAB)

Keywords

• Independent school association
• Membership association services
• Inter-school athletics programs
• Educator professional development
• Student arts festivals

Headquarters

HQ city

Westport

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Revenue from annual membership fees paid by independent schools in Ontario. Member schools receive access to professional learning programs, student experiences, athletics (CISAA), networking platforms (CISO Connect), and policy resources.
2. Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorship from companies including OTIP Insurance (Signature Sponsor), VS America (Principal Sponsor), SAGE Dining Services, and others. Sponsors receive brand visibility to educators and administrators across member schools.
3. Event Fees: Registration and participation fees for professional learning events, conferences, and programs such as Unconference, Cohort 21, TechFest, and student festivals.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CIS Ontario is a non-profit membership association serving 47 independent K-12 schools across Ontario. It delivers inter-school athletic competitions (CISAA across 24 sports and 1,400+ teams), annual arts festivals (music, drama, visual arts, dance), and a portfolio of professional learning events and educator networks, all coordinated through the CISO Connect member platform.

Product overview

CIS Ontario is an educational association serving 43-47 independent member schools across Ontario with a portfolio of student programs, professional learning services, and member platforms. The core offerings include CISO Connect (the member networking platform), CISAA Athletics (athletic association with 24 sports), and four annual arts festivals (CISMF music, CISDF drama, Dance Fest, and CISVAF visual arts). Additional student programs include the Future Prize design challenge, INCITE writing anthology, and Thrive leadership symposium. Professional development is delivered through events (Cohort 21, Unconference, TechFest, CITE Conference) and 30+ collaborative networks. The association also provides Career Centre services with a job board and teacher recruitment fairs. These offerings work together to advance the association's mission of leadership and excellence in independent education through community connection, student experiences, and educator development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CISMF (CIS Ontario Music Festival): Annual music festival for CIS Ontario member schools featuring student performances
• CISDF (CIS Ontario Drama Festival)
• CISVAF (CIS Ontario Visual Arts Festival)
• CISO Connect
• Future Prize for Middle School
• Thrive Student Leaders
• INCITE Anthology
• Cohort 21
• CITE Conference
• TechFest

Products and services

• CISO Connect

Quantifiable outcome

• 28,000+ students participate in inter-school student programs annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• OTIP InsuranceflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022OTIP Insurance serves as CIS Ontario's Signature Sponsor, providing exclusive insurance products and financial services to the education community. This partnership delivers valuable benefits to member school employees while generating sponsorship revenue for CIS Ontario.
• Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIS Ontario is closely affiliated with CAIS, the national association that accredits the majority of CIS Ontario's member schools. This partnership provides accreditation support for member schools and aligns CIS Ontario with national independent school standards.
• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIS Ontario is a member of NAIS, the U.S.-based association for independent schools. This membership provides access to resources, professional development, and networking opportunities on an international scale.
• Independent Schools Association Network (U.S.)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIS Ontario is a member of this U.S. network, providing additional international connections and resources for member schools.
• Ontario Ministry of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIS Ontario liaises with the Ontario Ministry of Education on behalf of member schools, representing the independent school sector's interests in provincial education policy discussions.
• Ontario College of TeacherscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIS Ontario collaborates with the Ontario College of Teachers to deliver professional learning programs and ensure teacher certification and development standards are met.
• VS AmericaflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerVS America is the Principal Sponsor of CIS Ontario, providing educational furniture and equipment. VS America conducts project spotlights at member schools, demonstrating their products in educational settings.
• SAGE Dining ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSAGE Dining Services provides food service solutions to member schools with a focus on food allergen management, generating sponsorship revenue and providing dining services to the community.
• BLG (Borden Ladner Gervais LLP)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUnder the guidance of BLG's Education Law Group, CIS Ontario develops policy and procedural guidelines for member schools. BLG provides legal expertise covering student wellbeing, human resources, health, technology, privacy, risk management, and crisis response.
• Educators Financial GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial services provider offering educator-specific financial products and advice, featured as part of OTIP Insurance's sponsorship content and offerings.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS): National accreditation and membership body for Canadian independent schools. Direct peer — CIS Ontario is closely affiliated with CAIS, which accredits the majority of CIS Ontario's 47 member schools.
• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS): U.S. national association serving independent K-12 schools with member programs, professional learning, and advocacy. CIS Ontario is a member of NAIS, and the two serve analogous roles in their respective geographies.
• Council of International Schools (CIS): Global membership association that accredits and supports international and independent schools worldwide. Direct peer to CIS Ontario in mission and member services — share the same acronym and overlapping member population.
• The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS): U.S./international membership association for boarding schools. Comparable to CIS Ontario in serving residential independent schools, including several CIS Ontario member boarding schools like Ridley College and Trinity College School.
• Educational Collaborative for International Schools (ECIS): International membership organization for K-12 schools offering professional learning, conferences, and networking. Peer to CIS Ontario in serving independent/international schools through member-based programs.
• Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS): U.S. regional accreditor and membership association for independent schools across the Southeast. Direct peer to CIS Ontario as a regional independent-school membership body.
• Quebec Association of Independent Schools (QAIS): Provincial association for Quebec independent schools. Direct peer to CIS Ontario by structure and mission, serving a different provincial membership base.
• Independent Schools Association of British Columbia (ISABC): Provincial association for British Columbia independent schools offering athletics, professional development, and member services. Closest geographic peer to CIS Ontario with a directly comparable membership-association model.

Regional players

• OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations): Provincial federation coordinating school athletics across Ontario, of which CISAA is the only independent-school member association. Indirect peer — CIS Ontario competes within this broader framework rather than against it.

Others

• Finalsite: Website and communications platform provider for independent schools; powers CIS Ontario's website. Ecosystem enabler/technology partner rather than a competitor, but relevant as infrastructure that supports the association's operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CISOntario
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cisontario
• Instagraminstagram.com/cisontario.ca

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 CIS Ontario: The Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario