LITE (Local Investment Toward Employment)

What LITE (Local Investment Toward Employment) does

LITE (Local Investment Toward Employment) is a Winnipeg-based registered charitable foundation founded in 1994 that creates job experiences for people facing barriers to employment in the city's North End, West End, and Downtown neighborhoods. The organization operates as a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a single product: LITE Jobs (Springboard Jobs, Moving Up Employment Experiences, Show & Tell Jobs) provides short-term paid work and training; Grant Programs fund partner organizations to create employment opportunities; the LITE Shop is a Shopify-powered social enterprise marketplace; the Hamper Program purchases food and goods from inner-city businesses and social enterprises; Social Purchasing underpins more than half of LITE's created jobs; Sector Support delivers workshops and advocacy; and a Volunteer Program places 234-259 community members annually. Programs are guided by the Neechi Principles and delivered through a network of over 20 community partner organizations.

LITE is funded by individual donations (251 donors in 2024, 234 in 2025-26), corporate sponsorships including tiered Pancake Breakfast sponsorships ($500-$6,000), and planned giving through the L.I.T.E Endowment Fund held at the Winnipeg Foundation. The organization raised $89k in 2024 and $88k in 2025-26, deploying approximately $196k in total community impact in 2025-26 across job grants, social purchasing, economic development, and distributed goods. Since inception, donors have contributed close to $2 million CAD, supporting 3,000 cumulative jobs. Governance is provided by a volunteer Board of Directors chaired by Scott Park; Ian Rountree currently serves as Acting Executive Director following successive ED transitions in 2022-2023. LITE received the 2022 Spirit of Winnipeg Award for Non-Profit and Social Enterprises.

Name

LITE (Local Investment Toward Employment)

Legal name

Local Investment Toward Employment Inc.

Website

https://lite.mb.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

LITE is a Winnipeg-based charitable foundation that creates job experiences for people facing employment barriers by funding and coordinating a network of 20-plus community organizations across the city's North End, West End, and Downtown neighborhoods.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Economic Development

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Community economic development
• Employment barrier programs
• Social purchasing initiatives
• Charitable foundation grants
• Social enterprise marketplace

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnipeg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute to fund LITE's granting programs, which support employment and training opportunities for people facing barriers to work. Donations can be made online, by cheque, or e-transfer.
2. Social Purchasing / LITE Shop: The LITE Shop is a marketplace for social enterprises and community organizations to showcase and sell products. Products are purchased by LITE and resold with minimal markup. Includes 'Buy to Donate' items.
3. Corporate Sponsorships and Funding Agreements: Sponsorships and funding from organizations support programs and operations. LITE receives workplace campaign support and event sponsorships for the Wild Blueberry Pancake Breakfast.
4. Hamper Program Donations: Donations specifically designated to support the hamper program, which provides food and goods to families in need while creating employment opportunities through packing and distribution.
5. Legacy Giving: Planned giving through bequests and gifts in wills, as well as contributions to the L.I.T.E Endowment Fund held at the Winnipeg Foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

LITE is a Winnipeg-based charitable foundation that creates job experiences for people facing barriers to employment by investing in over 20 partner non-profit organizations in Winnipeg's core neighborhoods. Its primary offerings include job-experience grants (LITE Jobs - Springboard, Moving Up, Show & Tell), social purchasing and hamper programs that fund employment through procurement, and the LITE Shop marketplace where products made by partner social enterprises are sold.

Product overview

LITE (Local Investment Toward Employment) is a Winnipeg-based charitable foundation that operates as a coordinated portfolio of employment and economic development programs rather than a unified software product. Its core offerings include LITE Jobs (employment experiences including Springboard Jobs, Moving Up, and Show & Tell programs), Grant Programs (funding for partner organizations to create employment), the LITE Shop (a social enterprise marketplace for partner products), the Hamper Program (food and goods hampers sourced from local businesses), Social Purchasing initiatives, Sector Support and Education workshops, and a Volunteer Program. The organization also runs the annual Wild Blueberry Pancake Breakfast as a major fundraiser. These programs work together to create jobs for people facing employment barriers while strengthening Winnipeg's community economy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LITE Shop: A marketplace for social enterprises and community organizations to showcase their products and generate revenue to support their programs.
• LITE Jobs
• Springboard Jobs Fund
• LITE Hamper

Products and services

• LITE Jobs LITE Jobs is LITE's flagship employment program offering short-term paid work experiences (Springboard Jobs), 5+ week training and work programs with wrap-around support (Moving Up Employment Experiences), and confidence-building short-term jobs (Show & Tell Jobs). It serves individuals in Winnipeg facing barriers to employment and is delivered in partnership with community organizations.
• Grant Programs (Job Grants and Springboard Jobs Fund) Grant funding channeled to partner non-profit organizations to create employment and training opportunities for participants facing barriers to work, including Job Grants and the Springboard Jobs Fund that supports urgent, short-term income needs of very low income individuals.
• LITE Shop The LITE Shop is an online marketplace for social enterprises and community organizations to showcase and sell products, generating revenue to support their programs. It features Buy to Donate items and products made by partner organizations.
• LITE Hamper Program A hamper program that purchases food and goods from inner-city businesses and social enterprises to support local employment while helping families in need; hampers are packed and delivered through partner community organizations.
• Social Purchasing Program Program that uses social purchasing to support employment and economic development in Winnipeg's low-income neighborhoods; over 50% of LITE's funded jobs are generated through these procurement activities.
• Sector Support / Education & Advocacy Education events, policy advocacy, and capacity building for the social enterprise sector in Winnipeg, including multi-part video workshops on product development for partner non-profits.
• Volunteer Program Volunteering opportunities including mentors, helpers, movers, and shakers, featuring an Office Skills Volunteer Program and Economic Development Volunteer Program that create work-like experiences for people facing employment barriers.
• Wild Blueberry Pancake Breakfast LITE's annual in-person fundraising event held at the Ukrainian Labour Temple in Winnipeg, creating 20+ jobs and raising funds for employment programs through ticket sales, sponsorship tiers, and volunteer participation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Created 3,000 jobs since 1994 with nearly $2 million raised
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

38 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 1JustCitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization addressing emergency food insecurity in Winnipeg. Partner for employment and food security initiatives.
• Acorn Family PlacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily resource center with Food Connections catering program. Produces food items for the LITE Shop including Good Social Soup mixes.
• Arts JunktioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-based charitable organization for creative reuse and arts access.
• BUILD InccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilding Urban Industries for Local Development. LITE helped launch a new training program aimed at improving career potential of 36 demolition crew workers.
• North End Community Renewal Corporation (NECRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor community organization in Winnipeg's North End. Coordinates hamper distribution including 200 hampers in 2025. Provides warehouse space and logistics coordination.
• Spence Neighbourhood AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partner since 2008. Runs youth employment programs including First Jobs 4 Youth and Youth Crew catering. Produces soup mixes for LITE Shop.
• West Broadway Community OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization running the Good Food Club. Distributes 300 hampers in West Broadway through hamper program. 8 participants paid to help with packing and distribution.
• Marymound InccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth-focused non-profit. Produces pancake mix and soup packages for LITE Shop. Participants gain employment experience.
• Harvest ManitobacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew partner in 2024. Food security organization receiving grant support for programs.
• Indigenous Women's Healing CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduces wild blueberry jam and other items for LITE Shop. Women from the organization make products creating employment opportunities.
• The Cutting Edge (Canadian Muslim Women's Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial enterprise producing sewing products. Made warm winter hats for hamper program and community tote bags. Helps newcomer women launch careers as sewing machine operators.
• Artbeat StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt-focused organization providing creative employment opportunities.
• Resource Assistance for Youth Inc. (RaY Inc.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth-focused employment assistance organization in Winnipeg.
• Siloam MissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomeless shelter and support services providing employment opportunities.
• Food Matters ManitobacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization focused on sustainable food systems rooted in food justice.
• Hope Centre MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing spiritual care and belonging for people with disabilities.
• Inclusion WinnipegcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting people with disabilities.
• Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities (MLPD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew partner in 2024. Advocacy organization receiving grant support for employment programs.
• Merchants Corner InccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew partner in 2024. Community development organization receiving grant support.
• Native Clan Organization (NCO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit relative-centred organization walking alongside community for over 50 years.
• North End Women's CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's centre serving North End community.
• North End ConnectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity connection organization in North End Winnipeg.
• Pollock's Hardware Co-opcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal hardware co-op. First time retail partner for selling LITE soups in store in 2024.
• Purpose ConstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction company providing employment opportunities.
• Sam's PlacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization with catering and coffee services.
• Initiatives for Just CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization focused on community justice initiatives.
• Marlene Street Community Resource CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity resource centre serving local residents.
• West End Resource CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity resource centre in Winnipeg's West End.
• YES ManitobacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth employment and entrepreneurship support organization.
• Make Poverty History ManitobaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition advocating for poverty reduction policies in Manitoba. LITE supports their advocacy work.
• Canadian CED NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network for community economic development. LITE is a member and supports their work.
• We Want To WorkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of social enterprises advocating for social procurement policies at all government levels.
• Christmas Cheer BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with LITE to include 9,000 soup and pancake mixes made by partner organization participants in their holiday hampers.
• Community Helpers UniteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided warehouse space for hamper distribution in North End in partnership with NECRC.
• Fireweed Food Co-opminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit food cooperative supporting local food producers. LITE supports through social purchasing. Proceeds from Spirit of Community water bottle support Fireweed's veggie van project.
• Immigration Partnership WinnipegminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Immigration Partnership supporting newcomers. Partnership on Spirit of Community water bottle project.
• Main Street ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency shelter and harm reduction organization. Partnership on Spirit of Community water bottle with buy-to-donate option.
• Good Food ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram of West Broadway Community Organization. Runs Farmers Markets and coordinates hamper distribution for LITE.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Buy Social Canada: National organization promoting social procurement and social enterprise purchasing. Directly aligned with LITE's social purchasing model, which funds over 50% of LITE's jobs.
• Canadian CED Network: National network for community economic development of which LITE is a member. Operates at a national scale on shared CED principles (Neechi Principles) and advocates for social procurement alongside LITE's partner coalitions.

Broad incumbents

• Maytree Foundation: Larger Canadian private foundation focused on poverty reduction through employment, income security, and policy. Comparable as a private foundation model but operating nationally with substantially greater resources.
• Vibrant Communities Canada / Tamarack Institute: National institute supporting collaborative community change on poverty reduction. Comparable as a thought-leadership and capacity-building peer operating in the same community economic development space LITE works within.

Direct peers

• End Homelessness Winnipeg: Winnipeg non-profit addressing homelessness, which is a major employment barrier for LITE's target population. Comparable mission overlap, donor pool, and geographic footprint.
• Make Poverty History Manitoba: Manitoba coalition advocating for poverty reduction policies; LITE is an active partner. Operates in the same advocacy and community economic development space with overlapping policy goals.
• United Way Winnipeg: Winnipeg's largest community fundraising and grantmaking organization. Operates in the same local philanthropic market as LITE, funding partner non-profits that address poverty and employment barriers across the same neighborhoods.
• The Winnipeg Foundation: Manitoba's oldest and largest community foundation, also holding the L.I.T.E Endowment Fund. Directly comparable as a community grantmaker focused on Winnipeg with a permanent endowment model.
• Opportunities for Employment: Winnipeg-based non-profit focused specifically on employment programs for people facing barriers to work. Closest direct functional peer to LITE's LITE Jobs offering, serving a similar target population in the same city.

Regional players

• A Way Home Winnipeg: Winnipeg initiative focused on youth homelessness, overlapping with LITE's youth-focused partners (Spence Neighbourhood Association's First Jobs 4 Youth, Resource Assistance for Youth). Comparable geographic and demographic focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/litewinnipeg
• Facebookfacebook.com/lite.winnipeg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lite-local-investment-toward-employment
• Instagraminstagram.com/litewinnipeg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 LITE (Local Investment Toward Employment)