ABOUT US
RISE AT A GLANCE
Empowering People. Launching Ideas.
Rise is a national organization dedicated to empowering people with mental health and addiction challenges to achieve greater social and economic inclusion through entrepreneurship.
Why? Because mental health significantly impacts Canadians’ financial and social well-being. In any given year, one in five Canadians will experience a mental health or addiction challenge. Amongst the population of people with disabilities, those with a mental illness face the highest degree of stigmatization in the workplace and the greatest barriers to employment (CAMH).
Entrepreneurship is a powerful catalyst to change that.
Through training, mentorship, micro-financing and other customs supports, Rise helps individuals build the skills and access the capital they need to launch a small business that can improve quality of life and enable them to support themselves, their families and communities.
Since its founding in 2010, Rise has disbursed over $3 million in low-interest loans and, with the support of 800+ volunteers nationwide, has helped to empower more than 2,000 Canadians from coast to coast as entrepreneurs.
The impact is undeniable.
4 out of 5 Rise clients are still in business after receiving a Rise loan, showcasing their resilience as entrepreneurs. However, client success extends beyond traditional business metrics. Entrepreneurship is a vehicle for individuals to take control of their lives, boost their confidence, and redefine success.
According to the 2023 Rise Social Impact Results:
- 75% of clients are more confident in making business decisions, and 75% are more confident in taking on new challenges.
- 74% of clients feel that what they do is valued by others.
- 1 in 2 clients have improved their credit score.
- 1 in 3 clients increased their business income in 2023.
Above all, our clients feel optimistic about the future. Despite the uncertainty created by COVID-19 and ongoing social and economic instability, when comparing their situation in 2023 to pre-pandemic (2019):
- 70% of clients feel that they have more personal and professional growth opportunities.
- 1 in 2 clients perceive greater opportunities for financial growth.
Together, we are changing lives and strengthening communities by unleashing the entrepreneurial spirit of all Canadians with mental health and addiction challenges.
________________
OUR MISSION
Rise empowers Canadians with mental health and addiction challenges to achieve greater economic and social inclusion through entrepreneurship training, small business loans and custom supports.
OUR VISION
Strengthening communities by unleashing the entrepreneurial spirit of all Canadians with mental health and addiction challenges.
OUR VALUES
-
Learn more about Rise.
Download our brochure to learn more about how we invest in entrepreneurs who’ve faced mental health and addiction challenges as they grow and launch their innovative business ideas.
-
Sandra and Joseph Rotman: The visionaries behind Rise
Philanthropic and community leaders, Sandra and Joseph Rotman, envisioned supporting people with mental health and addiction challenges create better futures for themselves, their families and their communities.
FY2021 Impact Report: Rising Above The Challenge
We’re celebrating rising above the challenge by providing entrepreneurial education and start-up financing for people with mental health and addiction challenges across Canada. Learn about how we supported entrepreneurs despite the barriers of the pandemic.
Rise Above: Strategic Plan, 2021-2023
Rise Above is our rally cry. It’s a strategic plan focused on taking our work broader, deeper and to all regions of Canada. We’re mobilizing our community to help empower Canadians with mental health challenges towards greater social and economic inclusion through entrepreneurship.