ontario assoc/community dev

What ontario assoc/community dev does

Community Futures Ontario is a not-for-profit provincial association established in 1985 as part of the national Community Futures Program to support business development and community economic growth in rural and remote communities across Ontario. It serves as the coordinating body for a network of 60 locally governed Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs), comprising 36 offices in Southern Ontario and 24 in Northern Ontario. CFDCs deliver direct business financing, personalized business advisory services, and community economic development initiatives to rural entrepreneurs, while partnering with municipalities, Indigenous communities, economic development organizations, and educational institutions to strengthen local economies. The organization is funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor), providing federal backing and operational stability.

The organization's product portfolio consists of three core services — flexible business financing, business advisory services, and community economic development initiatives — supplemented by support services including professional development and shared services coordination for member CFDCs. Financing terms are determined locally by each CFDC based on individual business needs, and the provincial association does not directly issue loans. Success stories spanning hospitality, agriculture, food & beverage, retail, technology, electrical manufacturing, and outdoor recreation demonstrate broad vertical coverage of the rural SMB segment. There is no proprietary technology platform; the service model is relationship-based and locally governed.

Community Futures Ontario operates with a small central staff (approximately 3-5 people, including an Executive Director, Finance & Operations Coordinator, and Member Services & Communications Manager) overseen by a nine-member volunteer Board of Directors representing designated regions across Ontario. The revenue model is government grant funding, channeled through contribution agreements with FedDev Ontario and FedNor. Distribution is achieved entirely through the 60-CFDC direct service network, accessed by entrepreneurs via an interactive online directory and bilingual website. The organization also operates under the French-language trade name "Développement des collectivités Ontario."

Name

ontario assoc/community dev

Legal name

Community Futures Ontario

Website

https://cfontario.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Community Futures Ontario is a federally funded not-for-profit association coordinating 60 Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) that deliver business financing, advisory services, and community economic development to rural entrepreneurs across Ontario.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Community Economic Development

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

Development Finance & Blended Finance Facilities (BPADAOAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Development Finance, Guarantees & Blended Finance Programs (BPADABAM), Financial Inclusion & Consumer Empowerment (Banking Access, Credit Building) (BPAGALAJ)

Keywords

• Rural business financing
• Community economic development
• Small business advisory
• Community lending
• Nonprofit development corporation

Headquarters

HQ city

Peterborough

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor). Provides leadership, advocacy, and support to strengthen the Community Futures network across the province.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Community Futures Ontario is a member-based, not-for-profit provincial association that supports and coordinates a network of 60 Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) serving rural communities across Ontario. The core offering is the delivery, through local CFDCs, of flexible business financing (loans), personalized business advisory services, and community economic development initiatives that help rural entrepreneurs start, grow, expand, or transition their businesses.

Product overview

Community Futures Ontario is a not-for-profit provincial association that supports and represents a network of 60 Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) serving rural communities across Ontario, including 36 in Southern Ontario and 24 in Northern Ontario. The organization acts as the coordinating body providing leadership, advocacy, and support to member CFDCs. The core services include business financing (flexible loans for entrepreneurs), business advisory services (personalized guidance), and community economic development initiatives. Supporting services include professional development and shared services coordination for member CFDCs. The organization is funded by the Government of Canada through FedDev Ontario and FedNor.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Financing
• Business Advisory Services
• Community Economic Development Initiatives Initiatives and programs that strengthen local economies, create jobs, attract investment, and build resilient rural communities through partnerships with municipalities, Indigenous communities, and local organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60 CFDCs serving rural communities across Ontario
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Futures Ontario supports a network of 60 Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs), including 36 in Southern Ontario and 24 in Northern Ontario. CFDCs are locally governed, not-for-profit organizations providing business financing and advisory services to entrepreneurs while partnering with local organizations to advance community economic development.
• Local Partner OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFDCs partner with municipalities, economic development organizations, Indigenous communities, educational institutions, and other local partners to advance community economic development initiatives that strengthen local economies.
• MunicipalitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFDCs work alongside municipalities to advance community economic development through strategic partnerships and locally driven initiatives.
• Indigenous CommunitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFDCs partner with Indigenous communities as part of their community economic development initiatives.
• Educational InstitutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFDCs collaborate with educational institutions to support entrepreneurship and local economic development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Community Futures British Columbia: The British Columbia counterpart of the national Community Futures Program, operating a parallel provincial network of CFDCs delivering rural business financing and advisory services. Directly comparable as a provincial coordinating association under the same federal program umbrella.
• Réseau des SADC et CAE du Québec: Quebec's SADC/CAE network is the francophone counterpart to Community Futures Ontario, delivering rural business financing, advisory services, and community economic development under the same federal Community Futures Program in Quebec. Comparable in mandate, structure, and funding model.
• Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT): NDIT is a regional development trust in northern British Columbia delivering grants, financing, and capacity-building to small businesses and communities. Operates a similar rural economic development mandate with provincial/federal funding, though structured as a trust rather than a member association.

Broad incumbents

• Community Foundations of Canada: National umbrella for 191 community foundations across Canada, mobilizing place-based philanthropy and grants to local initiatives. Comparable as a national/network-level coordinator supporting community-level impact, though focused on philanthropic giving rather than direct business financing.
• Canadian Community Economic Development Network (CCEDNet): National network advancing community economic development practice across Canada through policy, training, and member support. Comparable as a CED-focused member association, though oriented toward practice-building and advocacy rather than direct loan delivery.

Regional players

• Rural Ontario Institute: Ontario-based organization dedicated to research, convening, and capacity-building for rural Ontario communities. Operates in the same Ontario rural ecosystem as CFO and shares the rural economic development mission, though delivers thought leadership and training rather than direct financing.

Others

• PrairiesCan (Federal Economic Development Agency for Western Canada): Federal regional development agency funding economic diversification in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. Comparable as a parallel funder/coordinator to FedDev Ontario and FedNor under Canada's regional development agency architecture, though not itself an association.
• Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA): Federal regional development agency supporting economic development across Atlantic Canada, with a rural and SME focus comparable to FedDev Ontario and FedNor. Operates in a different geography but a closely aligned mandate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ComFuturesON
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCf5soMwTbS9ieXzTnN7nklQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/CommunityFuturesOntario
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-futures-ontario
• Instagraminstagram.com/cfontario

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 ontario assoc/community dev