What centraide estrie does

Centraide Estrie is a non-profit charitable organization headquartered at 1650 rue King Ouest in Sherbrooke, Quebec, operating since 1975 as part of the Quebec Centraide/United Way network. The organization raises funds through an annual campaign running mid-September to mid-December, supplemented by year-round workplace giving, planned giving, securities donations, and in-memoriam contributions. Its 2026 social investment reached a record $2,350,085, up from $1,334,778 in 2020 and $1,580,000 in 2015.

Funds are distributed to approximately 75-100 community organizations and programs in the Estrie region of Quebec through the Programme d'aide aux organismes (organization aid program), Bâtisseurs communautaires (community concertations), Opération Septembre (school supply support), and Les Samedis de la Chaudronnée (meal program). All investments are channeled into four action fields: supporting youth success, ensuring essentials, breaking social isolation, and building unifying living environments. Approximately 62,000 beneficiaries are served annually through the funded network.

The organization employs 11-50 staff including a Director General, Philanthropy Director, Campaign Coordinator, Communications and Marketing Director, and Controller, supported by a volunteer board of directors (renewed in June 2026) and an annual campaign cabinet. Major institutional donors include Desjardins, Hydro-Québec, Université de Sherbrooke, BMO, Domtar, CIUSSS de l'Estrie-CHUS, and the governments of Quebec and Canada. The 2025 milestone of 50 years of operation underscores the organization's entrenched position in the regional charitable ecosystem.

Name

centraide estrie

Legal name

Centraide Estrie

Website

https://centraideestrie.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Centraide Estrie is a Sherbrooke-based non-profit that runs an annual fundraising campaign to channel donations to roughly 100 community organizations in Quebec's Estrie region, addressing poverty, social exclusion, food insecurity, and youth support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Philanthropy and Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Federated Giving Organizations (e.g., United Way-type) (BPAGAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Philanthropy & Foundations Advisory (Donor-Advised Funds, Endowments) (FSAAABAH)

Keywords

• Community philanthropy funding
• Workplace fundraising campaigns
• Nonprofit grant programs
• Online donation services
• Poverty reduction programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Sherbrooke

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Annual fundraising campaign collects donations from individuals through workplace giving programs, online donations, phone, mail, and in-person contributions. Donors receive tax receipts for their contributions.
2. Corporate Workplace Campaigns: Workplace giving programs where employees contribute through payroll deductions, one-time donations, or corporate matching. Major corporate partners conduct annual campaigns among employees.
3. Corporate Donations: Direct corporate donations from businesses, foundations, and organizations. Includes major donors at various levels (Visionary $100K+, Mobilizing $50K-$99K, Innovator $25K-$49K, Supporter $10K-$24K, Partner $5K-$9K).
4. Planned Giving: Planned giving program allows donors to make legacy gifts, offering sustainable long-term support and tax benefits for donors and heirs.
5. Securities and Stock Donations: Donation of publicly traded securities, bonds, mutual fund shares and similar financial instruments. Tax-efficient method for significant gifts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Centraide Estrie raises charitable funds from individuals, employees, businesses, foundations, and public institutions, then allocates those resources through grants and programs to community organizations in Estrie. Its work focuses on youth success, access to essentials, reducing social isolation, and building inclusive living environments.

Product overview

Centraide Estrie operates as a charitable fundraising organization offering a unified portfolio of donation collection services and community investment programs. The core offering consists of annual and workplace fundraising campaigns that channel donations to approximately 100 community organizations across four action fields: supporting youth success, ensuring essentials, breaking social isolation, and building unifying living environments. Key programs include the Organization Aid Program (largest investment vehicle), Community Builders concertations, Opération Septembre school supplies, and the Chaudronnée meal program. Donation services encompass online giving, planned giving, stock donations, and in-memoriam contributions. Together these form an integrated charitable ecosystem connecting donor generosity with community needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Fundraising Campaign (Campagne annuelle) A time-bound fundraising service that runs mainly from mid-September to mid-December and collects individual, workplace, and institutional contributions for approximately 100 organizations, concertations, and programs in Estrie. The funded work addresses poverty and social exclusion across four action fields.
• Workplace Campaigns (Campagnes en milieux de travail) A workplace giving service for employers and employees, enabling payroll deductions, one-time donations, and corporate matching while mobilizing volunteers to run campaigns.
• Organization Aid Program (Programme d’aide aux organismes) A grant program that provides subsidies for the base mission of community organizations working in youth success, essential needs, social isolation, and inclusive living environments.
• Community Builders (Bâtisseurs communautaires) A grant program financing community consultations and collaborative initiatives among community organizations in Estrie.
• Operation September (Opération Septembre) A school-supply assistance program through which low-income families obtain back-to-school materials through partnerships with 16 organizations across Estrie.
• The Chaudronnée Saturdays (Les Samedis de la Chaudronnée) A monthly community meal program in which Centraide and volunteers provide meals at the Chaudronnée location and create community-engagement opportunities for corporate partner teams.
• Le Blé d'Or Collective Kitchen (Cuisine collective Le Blé d’Or) A collective kitchen program that helps participating families prepare healthy, varied meals cost-effectively, providing five days of meals per cooking session at a modest cost.
• Online Donation Service (Don en ligne) An online contribution service that accepts secure donations and provides an immediate tax receipt.
• Planned Giving Program (Don planifié) A legacy-giving service through which donors can make planned gifts to provide sustainable long-term support while obtaining tax benefits for themselves and heirs.
• Securities Donation Service (Don d’actions) A tax-advantaged donation service for publicly traded securities, bonds, mutual fund units, and similar assets transferred directly rather than sold first.
• In Memoriam Donations (Don in memoriam) A commemorative donation service for making gifts in memory of deceased loved ones while providing comfort to the bereaved.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,350,085$ invested in 2026 (record amount)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and key.

• Université de SherbrookecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding partner contributing funds and hosting campaign events. Primary contributor to Centraide Estrie annually.
• Université de Sherbrooke (Research Partnership)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on research project studying the ecosystem of support services for NPOs in Quebec, developing mapping reports and database.
• PhiLab – Réseau canadien de recherche partenariale sur la philanthropiekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in NPO support ecosystem project, developing cartography and analysis reports for Quebec.
• IMMEX Société immobilièrekeyGTM or Marketing PartnerPresented the 2022 and 2026 campaign launch events, providing venue and sponsorship support.
• Intact AssurancekeyGTM or Marketing PartnerPresented the 2026 recognition evening 'Ici, avec cœur et reconnaissance', contributing to event success.
• Philanthropie EstriekeyGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-presented the 2026 recognition evening alongside Intact Assurance.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• United Way Greater Toronto: Largest United Way in Canada; mirrors Centraide Estrie's annual campaign and grantmaking model but at much larger scale in a major urban market.
• United Way British Columbia: Provincial-scale United Way in BC; operates the same federated giving and community investment structure as Centraide Estrie across multiple regions.
• Centraide du Grand Montréal: Largest Centraide in Quebec; operates the same federated fundraising and grantmaking model across the Greater Montreal region, making it the closest structural peer to Centraide Estrie.
• Centraide Québec: Direct sister Centraide serving the Quebec City region; uses the identical annual campaign and community investment model as Centraide Estrie.
• Centraide Outaouais: Regional Centraide serving the Outaouais region; runs the same workplace campaign and community funding programs as Centraide Estrie.
• Centraide Mauricie: Regional Centraide serving Mauricie/Centre-du-Québec; comparable federated giving model and regional scope to Centraide Estrie.
• Centraide Lanaudière: Regional Centraide serving the Lanaudière region of Quebec; near-identical mission, campaign structure, and community investment focus to Centraide Estrie.

Broad incumbents

• Fondation du Grand Montréal: Major community foundation in Quebec; shares the philanthropic grantmaking mission but operates a permanent endowment model rather than annual campaigns like Centraide Estrie.
• Fondation Lucie et André Chagnon: Large Quebec philanthropic foundation; an established funder and existing partner of Centraide Estrie, but operates as a private foundation rather than a federated campaign.
• Community Foundations of Canada: National network of Canadian community foundations; shares the grantmaking and place-based funding focus with Centraide Estrie, but serves a different organizational model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CentraideEstrie
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centraide-estrie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 centraide estrie