Jewish Family Service Agency of Vancouver

What Jewish Family Service Agency of Vancouver does

Jewish Family Services (JFS) Vancouver is a registered Canadian non-profit charitable organization (BN 107534794RR0001) that delivers social services across Vancouver and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. The agency operates through six core service lines — Food Services, Family/Youth/Child Services, Mental Health and Counselling, Older Adults Services, Crisis Response and Advocacy, and Community Services — anchored by physical infrastructure including the main office at 320-2285 Clark Dr and The Kitchen food facility at 54 3rd Ave E. Sub-brands and integrated programs include Better at Home (seniors home support), JACS Vancouver (Jewish Addiction Community Services, integrated 2024), The Kitchen, The Living Room (antisemitism-impact mental health support), Seniors Sharing Shabbat, and the annual Innovators fundraising event. JFS serves a horizontal base of individuals and families facing food insecurity, housing instability, and crisis, plus vertical communities including Holocaust survivors, the Jewish LGBTQ2SIA+ community (via JQT partnership), and newcomers.

The organization is supported by 100+ staff and 200+ volunteers and touches 3,000+ lives annually with the backing of 1,800+ donors. Technology infrastructure is modest: a third-party Tickit Health Digital Assessment Tool deployed in 2023-2024 to streamline client intake and mental health service matching, plus standard CRM and event platforms. The business model is hybrid non-profit: FY2024-2025 revenue of $8.3M CAD comprised $3.2M government grants (Vancouver Coastal Health, Province of BC, United Way BC), $2.2M individual and foundation giving, $2.1M fee-for-service (sliding-scale counselling, Better at Home, prepared meals at $2.00/meal), $0.6M in-kind donations including farm-sourced produce, and $0.2M corporate. Service delivery channels include seven neighborhood food distribution hubs, home-visit services across Kerrisdale/Oakridge/Marpole/Southlands/Dunbar, and digital intake.

Customers span seven defined segments: individuals and families in need (primary), older adults/seniors (primary), individuals with mental health needs (primary), addiction-affected families, Jewish LGBTQ2SIA+ community, newcomers/immigrants, and Holocaust survivors. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on a referral network of 75+ partner organizations, healthcare providers, synagogues, and word-of-mouth. JFS holds a quasi-exclusive mandate for Holocaust survivor services through Claims Conference funding and operates as the primary social services provider for the Vancouver Jewish community, while remaining open to all residents regardless of background. Leadership includes CEO Tanja Demajo, with Board Chair Jody Dales completing a four-year tenure and Shelley Rivkin succeeding in November 2025.

Name

Jewish Family Service Agency of Vancouver

Legal name

Jewish Family Services

Website

https://jfsvancouver.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Jewish Family Services (JFS) Vancouver is a non-profit social services agency delivering food security, mental health counselling, seniors support, crisis response, addiction recovery, and community programs to 3,000+ residents annually across Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, with FY2024-2025 revenue of $8.3M CAD sourced from government grants, individual/foundation giving, and fee-for-service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Social Assistance (624), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Community Food Services (624210), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAH

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAGAEAC

Family & Parenting Support Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAGACAG

Disability Services & Independent Living Support

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Health & Medical Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGAAAH

Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Humanitarian Aid & Disaster Relief

Keywords

• Social services nonprofit
• Mental health counseling
• Seniors care services
• Food security programs
• Community support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, foundation grants, and corporate donations form a major revenue stream. The organization runs an Annual Campaign, tribute gifts program, gift of securities, planned giving/legacy gifts, monthly mitzvah giving, and in-kind donations.
2. Government Grants: Grants from government sources including Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Province of British Columbia, and United Way British Columbia.
3. Fee for Services: Sliding scale fees for counselling services and certain programs like Better at Home housekeeping and transportation services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Jewish Family Service Agency of Vancouver (JFS Vancouver) is a nonprofit social services organization serving the Jewish community and broader Lower Mainland population. It delivers food security programs, mental health counseling, seniors support, addiction services, newcomer integration, and grief and bereavement counseling. Operations are supported by 100+ staff and 200+ volunteers across multiple program lines including Tamara's Kitchen, Spring For All, Welcome Home, Jake's Table, and Senior Programming.

Product overview

Jewish Family Service Agency of Vancouver is a social services organization offering a comprehensive suite of programs and services rather than a technology product. The organization operates as a unified service delivery model with multiple interconnected programs including food security services (Food Services, The Kitchen, Grocery Program, Community Kitchens), mental health and counselling services, seniors support (Better at Home, Older Adults Services, Seniors Sharing Shabbat), crisis response and advocacy, community programs (Vancouver Jewish Community Garden, JACS Vancouver addiction services), and various support groups (Jewish Addiction Circle, JACS Family Circle). These programs work together through case management and referrals to provide holistic support to community members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Kitchen: Central food hub at 54 3rd Ave E, Vancouver BC, that prepares plant-based Kosher meals and serves as the hub for food distribution programs including grocery bags and meal delivery.
• JACS Vancouver
• Innovators
• Uplifting Lives
• Better at Home
• The Living Room

Products and services

• Tamara's Kitchen (Kosher Food on Wheels)
• Mental Health Counseling
• Spring For All Food Distribution
• Welcome Home Newcomer Support
• Jake's Table Community Gathering
• Senior Programming
• Grief and Bereavement Counseling
• Addiction Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced therapy wait times to under one week through innovative counselling model
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• JQT VancouvercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between JFS and JQT grew from shared vision to foster inclusive environment for Jewish LGBTQ2SIA+ community. Through JQT Mental Health Support Series, providing affirming mental health resources, shows, and workshops to support well-being and social inclusion.
• JACS VancouvercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJACS (Jewish Addiction Community Services) integrated under JFS umbrella in 2024, strengthening commitment to mental health and wellness. JACS programmes including therapeutic services, community engagement, and resource referrals continue while benefiting from connection to JFS wraparound services.
• Stable Harvest FarmcoreOthersLocal farm committed to food security, donating fresh produce for JFS Grocery and Meal Programmes.
• Windset FarmscoreOthersLocal farm donating fresh produce to JFS food programmes.
• Athiana AcrescoreOthersLocal farm donating fresh produce for JFS Grocery and Meal Programmes.
• Heppell's Potato Corp.coreOthersLocal farm donating potatoes, squash, and carrots to JFS programmes.
• Canadian Farms ProducecoreOthersLocal farm donating potatoes and squash throughout fall season.
• Richmond GAIA FarmcoreOthersFarm contributing fresh food to JFS recovery initiative.
• Richmond Jewish Day School (RJDS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJFS Moishe Farm Project collaboration where school garden grows produce to increase food security. Students volunteer alongside JFS staff and families receive fresh produce weekly.
• Two Men and A Truck VancouversupportingOthersLocal franchise helping transport groceries from The Kitchen to food hubs. Offers one free move per month for low-income clients.
• Jewish Museum and Archives of BCsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with JFS to host 'From India to Vancouver' Supper Club event preserving culture through food and storytelling.
• Vancouver Jewish Film FestivalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerJFS partnered with festival to present OUTSIDER documentary exploring severe mental illness, creating honest space for grief, compassion, and conversation.
• Congregation Beth IsraelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Partner Award recipient. Supports JFS through Project Isaiah Food Drive, prepares soup for Grocery Programme, hosts One Heart Dinners, and collaborates on Vancouver Jewish Community Garden.
• The KitchencoreOthersJFS food facility producing plant-based Kosher meals distributed through The Kitchen and seven neighbourhood hubs.
• Peretz CentresupportingOthersHosts food hub location where Two Men and A Truck delivers approximately 35 orders (~100 grocery bags) bi-weekly.
• Filipino BCsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFollowing tragic violence at Lapu-Lapu Day Festival, JFS partnered with Filipino BC deploying trauma-informed case workers to support affected families.
• South Vancouver Seniors NetworksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating with JFS to release Dying, Death, Burial & Bereavement Resource Guide.
• Vancouver Talmud TorahsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with JFS and Congregation Beth Israel on Vancouver Jewish Community Garden, providing garden education opportunities.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Jewish Family & Children's Service of Greater Philadelphia: Mid-sized Jewish social services organization offering counselling, older adult services, food assistance, and community programs. Direct comparable in programmatic structure and faith-based service delivery approach.
• Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles: One of the largest Jewish family service agencies in North America providing comprehensive social services including mental health, food security, seniors support, and refugee resettlement. Highly comparable mission-driven, Jewish community-based social services model at much larger scale.
• Greater Vancouver Food Bank: Vancouver's primary food security organization with similar food distribution scale (millions of lbs annually) and dependency on donations and grants. Direct comparable for JFS's food security programs including The Kitchen and grocery bag distribution model.
• Family Services of Greater Vancouver: General (non-faith-based) Vancouver-area social services agency providing counselling, family support, and community programs. Strong peer for benchmarking sliding-scale pricing models and Lower Mainland referral dynamics, though without the Jewish cultural specificity.
• Chai Lifeline Canada: Jewish community-based social services organization providing family support, counselling, and crisis intervention in the Canadian Jewish community. Comparable faith-aligned service delivery model with similar funding mix of donations, foundation grants, and government contracts.
• Jewish Family Service of Seattle: Pacific Northwest Jewish social services agency offering mental health counselling, seniors services, refugee resettlement, and financial assistance. Comparable Pacific Coast regional scale and demographic context to Vancouver's Jewish community.
• Jewish Family Services of Greater Toronto: Jewish social services agency serving the Toronto Jewish community with comparable multi-program offerings (counselling, food security, seniors services, newcomer support). Operates similar Jewish values-based Tikkun Olam framework and is the closest geographic peer in the Canadian Jewish social services landscape.

Broad incumbents

• Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver: Central Jewish community funding body that provides grants to JFS and represents institutional Jewish interests. Functions as both a strategic funder and a broader community umbrella that defines the Jewish social services landscape in which JFS operates.
• United Way British Columbia: Major funder of JFS and broader social services across BC. As both a major JFS funder and a coordinating body for community social services, serves as both peer and ecosystem partner for benchmarking and partnership strategy.

Regional players

• Aunt Leah's Place: Vancouver-based nonprofit supporting young mothers and children in foster care with housing, education, and life skills programs. Comparable community-led, multi-program Vancouver social services nonprofit with similar funding model and headcount scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jfsvancouver

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 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 Jewish Family Service Agency of Vancouver