Who We Fund
TEF funds employment social enterprises that connect people facing employment barriers with job training and work opportunities. Since its inception in 2000, TEF has funded over 60 social enterprises, which have collectively employed and/or trained more than 4,000 people.We currently provide sustaining grants to a portfolio of sixteen enterprises.
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Building Up is a construction social enterprise that provides training and employment in the trades to those who need it most. Building Up offers high quality general contracting, general labour and energy retrofits carried out by experienced tradespeople collaborating with trainees previously facing barriers to employment. |
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Carefirst Cleaning Services is a residential and small office cleaning company that employs lone parents and newcomers to Canada. The enterprise is run by Carefirst Seniors & Community Services Association. |
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The College Street Cafe is operated from CAMH's College and Russell Street sites. The Cafe provides hot and cold breakfast and lunch items, beverages and snacks, and employs people living with mental illness. The Cafe is run by Working for Change. |
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Construct is a social enterprise providing residential and commercial construction and property services to the public and private sectors in the Greater Toronto Area. The enterprise trains and employs people experiencing homelessness and is run by Blue Door. |
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Eva's Phenix Print Shop is a commercial print shop that provides training and transitional employment to youth who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness. Phoenix is run by Eva’s Initiatives. |
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Free Geek Toronto is a computer recycling and refurbishment business offering training and employment to people living with mental illness. |
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Goodness Gift is a gift boxes and baskets enterprise that trains and employs people on the autism spectrum who are out of school. The enterprise is run by SAAAC Autism Centre. |
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Interpreter Services Toronto offers interpretation and translation services for interviews, investigations, medical appointments, court cases, labour arbitrations, conferences and more.. Services are provided by professionally trained women who are immigrants or refugees. The enterprise is run by the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic. |
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Out of the Box is a construction social enterprise providing training and employment for youth who are racialized. OTB training includes trade skills (tiling, carpentry, and general maitenance), personal development, and connections to further economic opportunities. |
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Out of This World Café operates three business units: a café, a mobile coffee cart, and a catering business, providing permanent employment to people living with mental illness. The Café is run by Working for Change. |
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Parkdale Green Thumb Enterprises is a horticultural maintenance business offering permanent employment to people living with mental illness. It is also run by Working for Change. |
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RAINscapeTO offers eco-landscaping services with a focus on the installation of rain gardens to capture and reuse rainwater. A program of Toronto Green Community, it trains and creates employment opportunities for individuals facing barriers, particularly indigenous people. |
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The Silver Brush is a residential commercial painting and property maintenance business employing people living with a mental illness. It is run by Parkdale Activity Resource Centre. |
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Women On The Move Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (WOTM HVAC) trains and employs women survivors of abuse to be HVAC technicians in Toronto. It is run by The Redwood. |
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