Lupus Canada

What Lupus Canada does

Lupus Canada is a federally registered Canadian nonprofit charity (# 11902 5872 RR0001) headquartered in Newmarket, Ontario, operating as the national voluntary organization dedicated to improving the lives of Canadians affected by lupus. The organization delivers programs across four pillars originating in 2008: Advocacy, Public Awareness, Research, and Education, and connects patients, families, caregivers, rheumatologists and other healthcare professionals, researchers, and the general public across Canada. Its four full-time staff (CEO Leanne Mielczarek, Manager Donor Relations/Special Programs Cora Novacut-Lee, Manager Web & Digital Media Strategies Ariana Ranjbar, National Fund Development & Engagement Officer Heather Coates) are augmented by a board of directors chaired by Thomas J. Simpson, celebrity ambassadors including NBA player DeMar DeRozan, comedians Colin Mochrie and Debra McGrath, actors Patrick McKenna and Prosper Laguerre, and youth ambassador Isaac Hall.

Lupus Canada offers a portfolio of programs and resources rather than a technology product. Core offerings include the Everything Lupus Resource Hub (28+ pages of articles and patient stories), a medical information library with 15+ fact sheets (osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, pregnancy, nutrition, infections, kidney disease, skin conditions, medications), the Let's Talk Lupus expert video series featuring international researchers, the annual Catalyst Grant research funding program, scholarships for Canadian students living with lupus, government support program navigation, and clinical trial enrollment facilitated through a partnership with MyTrials.AI Solutions Inc. Underlying technical infrastructure consists of commodity web technologies (WordPress, Divi, WooCommerce, WP Engine, CloudFlare) and a WooCommerce-powered e-commerce storefront (the Lupus Canada Shop), with no proprietary platform, mobile app, or in-house AI/ML. The organization operates bilingually in English and French and runs awareness programming around Lupus Awareness Month each May, including the Lupus 1000 Challenge fundraiser, Classrooms for a Cause, the Luis Aguirre Memorial Golf Tournament, and the Patients' Choice Award for Canadian Rheumatologist of the Year.

Lupus Canada funds its mission primarily through charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and community fundraisers, supplemented by merchandise sales through its online shop where awareness items are listed at fixed unit prices in CAD ($5 stickers, $8 pins, $13 bracelets, $20 socks, $45 shirts). All shop prices include applicable taxes and shipping within Canada, with no subscription or membership pricing in use. Distribution is digital and direct: the website serves as the primary hub for resource delivery, donation processing, and program enrollment; WooCommerce handles merchandise fulfillment; provincial partnerships (BC Lupus Society, Lupus Ontario) extend regional patient reach; and the MyTrials.AI partnership channels patients into clinical trials. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. The organization has established an ongoing strategic relationship with CaNIOS (Canadian Network for Improved Outcomes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) to fund and enable Canadian lupus research, and the 2022 Catalyst Grant cycle produced a patented lupus detection test developed by Dr. Boilard and a team of 100 patients.

Name

Lupus Canada

Legal name

Lupus Canada

Website

https://lupuscanada.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lupus Canada is a federally registered Canadian nonprofit charity based in Newmarket, Ontario serving those affected by lupus through research funding, patient education, advocacy, and awareness campaigns. It connects patients, caregivers, clinicians, and researchers via programs, provincial partnerships, and an awareness merchandise shop.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Patient Advocacy and Nonprofit Health Organization

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations (BPAGACAM), Patient Advocacy, Navigation & Access to Care (BPAGACAH)

Keywords

• Lupus patient advocacy
• Nonprofit health organization
• Medical research funding
• Health awareness campaigns
• Patient education resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Newmarket

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

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: Lupus Canada relies primarily on donations from individuals, corporations, and community fundraisers to fund its operations, research programs, advocacy, and patient support. Donations are solicited through the website, events (Lupus 1000 Challenge, golf tournaments, community fundraisers), and direct appeals.
2. Merchandise Sales: Lupus Canada operates an e-commerce shop selling lupus awareness merchandise (clothing, accessories, pins, stickers) priced in CAD. All prices include taxes and shipping within Canada. Revenue from merchandise sales supports lupus research, awareness, and patient programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lupus Canada is a federally registered nonprofit charity that delivers education, advocacy, public awareness, and research funding programs to support Canadians affected by lupus. It operates a resource hub with medical fact sheets, an educational video series, an e-commerce shop for awareness merchandise, the Catalyst Grant research funding program, and the annual Lupus Awareness Month campaign.

Product overview

Lupus Canada operates as a nonprofit charitable organization offering a suite of awareness, education, support, and research funding services for Canadians affected by lupus. The organization's offerings include an e-commerce merchandise shop (WooCommerce-based) selling awareness items, an AI-powered clinical trial enrollment partnership with MyTrials.AI, educational video content (Let's Talk Lupus series), a comprehensive medical information resource hub, the Everything Lupus digital resource portal, annual Catalyst Grant research funding program, and the annual Lupus Awareness Month campaign. The organization does not offer a technology product or platform; its services are primarily informational, educational, and fundraising-focused.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lupus Canada Shop (Awareness Merchandise) Online retail store selling lupus awareness merchandise including apparel (long sleeve shirts, t-shirts), accessories (bracelets, pins, socks), and stickers. Prices are in CAD with taxes and shipping included for shipments within Canada. Proceeds support lupus research, awareness, and Canadians living with lupus.
• MyTrials.AI Clinical Trial Enrollment Service Free AI-driven service delivered through partnership with MyTrials.AI Solutions Inc. that connects Canadian lupus patients with clinical trials matching their medical circumstances, treatment history, and regional options.
• Let's Talk Lupus Video Series Educational video series featuring internationally recognized lupus researchers, clinicians, and healthcare professionals from Canada, the U.S., France, Netherlands, Greece, Spain, and Argentina, discussing treatment advances, patient voices, access to care, and the future of lupus.
• Everything Lupus Resource Hub Centralized digital resource hub providing 28+ pages of articles, personal stories, recipes, research updates, webinars, and information organized by audience type (Do I have lupus, HCP/Medical Professional, I have lupus, Recently diagnosed, I want to advocate, Someone I care about has lupus) and topic categories (Advocacy & Support, Awareness & Community, Research & Clinical Trials, Life & Wellness).
• Medical Information Fact Sheets Comprehensive collection of medical fact sheets covering 15+ lupus-related health topics including osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, pregnancy, nutrition, infections, blood disorders, nervous system, skin diseases, kidney disease, and medications.
• Catalyst Grant Research Funding Program Annual grant program supporting Canadian researchers conducting innovative lupus research, designed to fund early-stage investigations and high-potential new ideas in systemic lupus erythematosus and discoid lupus research.
• Lupus Awareness Month Campaign Annual awareness campaign held each May featuring community fundraising events, educational resources, and initiatives including the Lupus 1000 Challenge fundraiser, Classrooms for a Cause program, and the Patients' Choice Award for Canadian Rheumatologist of the Year.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2026 Lupus 1000 Challenge raised $35,540, surpassing the $25,000 goal
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Dr. K. TseliosminorOthers · 1 January 2026Dr. K. Tselios was recognized by Lupus Canada as the 2026 Patients' Choice Award recipient for Canadian Rheumatologist of the Year. More than 400 votes and nominations were submitted by people living with lupus and their families across Canada.
• Duliban Insurance BrokersminorOthers · 1 January 2026Duliban Insurance Brokers participated in Support Lupus Day and wore purple to raise awareness, demonstrating community corporate engagement with Lupus Canada's awareness initiatives.
• CaNIOS (Canadian Network for Improved Outcomes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022CaNIOS is a Canadian national research group on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus that unites all centres, medical doctors, principal investigators, and researchers. Lupus Canada maintains a strong ongoing relationship with CaNIOS, providing significant research funding opportunities and enabling hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of research. The partnership fosters new relationships with other organizations to reach and assist more Canadians living with lupus.
• MyTrials.AI Solutions Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMyTrials.AI is a free AI-driven resource designed to connect lupus patients with clinical trials that reflect their individual medical circumstances, treatment history, and regional options. Lupus Canada partnered with MyTrials.AI to help expand access to clinical trials for Canadians living with lupus, supporting the organization's research and patient support mission.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Lupus Europe: The European federation of national lupus patient organizations. Comparable mission (advocacy, awareness, research support) and nonprofit structure, but operates across Europe rather than Canada, making it a regional rather than direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance: A patient-led Canadian arthritis and autoimmune disease advocacy organization. Comparable as a Canadian nonprofit focused on patient advocacy, awareness, and policy engagement for autoimmune conditions including lupus.
• Autoimmune Association (formerly AARDA): U.S.-based nonprofit advocating for the broader autoimmune disease community, including lupus. Comparable in awareness, advocacy, and research funding mission, with multi-disease scope.
• Lupus Research Alliance: A leading private funder of lupus research globally. Comparable in mission emphasis on research funding and advocacy, but operates primarily as a research grantmaker rather than a patient-services hub.
• BC Lupus Society: Provincial lupus organization in British Columbia that Lupus Canada explicitly partners with. Delivers patient support, awareness events, and local advocacy for lupus patients and families in BC.
• Lupus Foundation of America: The largest U.S.-based lupus voluntary health organization. Directly comparable to Lupus Canada in mission (research, advocacy, awareness, education), fundraising model (donations, events, merchandise), and program structure, but operating at a much larger scale across the United States.
• Scleroderma Canada: A Canadian voluntary health organization for scleroderma (a related autoimmune/rheumatic disease). Highly comparable in structure: nationally registered nonprofit, donor-driven, awareness campaigns, celebrity ambassadors, and patient support focus.
• Lupus Ontario: A provincial lupus organization explicitly partnered with Lupus Canada. Offers the same core services — patient support groups, awareness, advocacy, and research funding — but focused on Ontario specifically.

Broad incumbents

• Arthritis Society of Canada: Canada's largest arthritis-focused charity, which addresses lupus as one condition within a broader musculoskeletal disease portfolio. Comparable as a Canadian health nonprofit but significantly larger and broader in disease scope.
• Crohn's and Colitis Canada: A larger Canadian health charity supporting patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Comparable nonprofit fundraising, awareness, and research-funding model, though operating at materially larger scale and broader disease mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/lupuscanada
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUJmMgmOR7Yarkj-4nVi1nA
• Facebookfacebook.com/LupusCanada
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lupuscanada
• Instagraminstagram.com/lupuscanada
• TikToktiktok.com/@lupuscanada

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Lupus Canada