Ignite the Warmth Society

What Ignite the Warmth Society does

Ignite the Warmth Society is a grassroots, registered non-profit organization founded in 2013 by eight Richmond high school alumni, headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples. The organization addresses poverty and homelessness across the Lower Mainland through four core programs: a six-week peer mentorship program (Self-care as Community Care) delivered in partnership with the University of British Columbia's Peter A. Allard School of Law for youth aged 18–25; direct distribution of blankets and care packages (over 3,000 distributed to Downtown Eastside residents); community learning exchanges about systemic barriers and stigma; and ongoing donation drives. Its core technology is non-existent in a product sense; operations are supported by a Squarespace-hosted website, CanadaHelps donation processing, and email newsletter communications.

The business model is donation-driven rather than commercial. Funding is sourced from individual donors and corporate contributors (Save-on-Foods, Starbucks, Canadian Tire, Value Village, Rona, Hootsuite, Kanata Blanket Company, Canadian Springs) and processed through CanadaHelps. All programs are delivered free of charge to participants, with no programmatic fees, licensing, or fee-for-service revenue. The organization reports cumulative fundraising of over $12,000 since inception and engagement of 300+ youth and community partners. The customer base is bifurcated: (1) youth aged 18–25 consuming the mentorship and learning exchange programming, and (2) unhoused and precariously housed residents in the Downtown Eastside consuming tangible care package support. Distribution occurs through direct community outreach, the UBC Allard School of Law venue, and partner organizations including Union Gospel Mission, UBC Learning Exchange, The Dugout Drop-in Society, Employ to Empower, The Lookout Housing and Health Society, Elizabeth Fry Society, and Richmond Cares Richmond Gives. The organization is founder-led, with co-founder Joanne Li as the public spokesperson and Stephanie Lee serving on the Board of Directors; total disclosed staff is 1–10.

Name

Ignite the Warmth Society

Legal name

Ignite the Warmth Society

Website

https://ignitethewarmth.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ignite the Warmth Society is a Vancouver-based grassroots non-profit, founded in 2013, that delivers youth peer mentorship programs (with UBC Allard School of Law), care package distribution to Downtown Eastside residents, and community learning exchanges addressing poverty and homelessness across the Lower Mainland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

Keywords

• Community poverty programs
• Youth peer mentorship
• Homelessness outreach services
• Nonprofit community development
• Care package distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: The organization accepts donations from individuals and corporations to fund community programming, care package distribution, and operational needs. Donations are processed through CanadaHelps platform.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ignite the Warmth Society is a grassroots, registered non-profit that operates youth-focused programs and community initiatives addressing poverty and homelessness across British Columbia's Lower Mainland. Its primary offering is a six-week peer mentorship program delivered in partnership with UBC's Peter A. Allard School of Law, complemented by blanket and care package distribution (over 3,000 distributed to Downtown Eastside residents), learning exchanges, and donation drives funded through individual and corporate donations.

Product overview

Ignite the Warmth Society offers a portfolio of community-focused programs centered around addressing poverty and homelessness in the Lower Mainland. The primary offering is the Self-care as Community Care Peer Mentorship Program—a six-week collective care initiative in partnership with UBC's Allard School of Law. Supporting programs include blanket and care package distribution (over 3,000 care packages delivered), learning exchanges and mentorship spaces, and community donation drives. The organization operates through asset-based community development, youth engagement, and knowledge sharing principles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Self-care as Community Care Peer Mentorship Program A six-week peer mentorship program delivered in partnership with UBC's Peter A. Allard School of Law for youth aged 18-25, focused on nurturing relationships, self-care and community care practices, and capacity building to create a more socially just world. Delivered in hybrid format at UBC Vancouver campus and online, free of charge to participants.
• Blanket and Care Package Distribution Grassroots initiative distributing blankets and care packages with personal messages of hope to unhoused residents in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside and Lower Mainland communities. Over 3,000 care packages distributed to date.
• Donation Drives

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $12,000 raised and distributed to underserved communities
• +2 more outcomes

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

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UBC Peter A. Allard School of LawcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary academic partner for the peer mentorship program. Provides venue space (Vancouver campus) and enables youth to learn about policy and justice system change. The collaboration supports access to justice, reconciliation, and empowerment of equity-seeking groups.
• UBC Learning ExchangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner engaged in knowledge exchanges and learning programs supporting underserved communities in the Lower Mainland.
• Union Gospel MissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing support and services to people facing poverty and homelessness in the Lower Mainland.
• The Dugout Drop-in SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partner serving unhoused individuals and those in precarious living situations.
• Employ to EmpowerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner focused on economic empowerment and employment support for underserved populations.
• The Lookout Housing and Health SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partner providing housing and health services to vulnerable populations.
• Elizabeth Fry SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting women, children, and families involved with the justice system.
• Richmond Cares Richmond GivesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal charitable organization supporting community giving and volunteerism in Richmond.
• Save-on-FoodsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter providing food and resource donations to support community programs and care package distribution.
• StarbucksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter contributing to the organization's community initiatives and youth engagement programs.
• Canadian TireminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter providing donations and resources for community programs.
• Value VillageminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter contributing donations and goods for community distribution.
• RonaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter providing home goods and supplies for community programs.
• HootsuiteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter contributing to the organization's digital outreach and community engagement efforts.
• Kanata Blanket CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter specializing in blanket donations for distribution to unhoused populations.
• Canadian SpringsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate supporter providing water and beverage donations for community events and programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ignite-the-warmth-society

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 Ignite the Warmth Society