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Jack.org Foundations Plan 2027–2029
Foundationsfor Change.
Jack.org Strategic Plan
2027–2029
Mental health struggles don’t start in an emergency room. They start where life happens: in classrooms, around kitchen tables, and in front of screens.
Most young people will never reach a doctor’s office before a mental health struggle becomes a mental health crisis. Equipping the people who can spot struggle early – the busy parent, the childhood friend, the attentive teacher – with the tools they need to help is how we prevent crisis and tragedy.
Today, that circle of care is the most under-supported part of the system.
We’re here to change that.
Jack.org focus areas
↑ Source: World Health Organization
The widest layer gets the least support
The case for where we work.
Self care and informal care are the most in-demand support and are foundational to preventing the kind of crisis that require medical and long-term complex care. Strengthen the base, and fewer people need the layers above it.
Every layer depends on the foundation holding.Support the base to prevent the pyramid from crumbling.
What we’re building towards.
Vision
A world where every young person is supported in their mental health journey.
Mission
To work alongside young people to build communities that support their mental health needs.
How we get there.
The First Line of Defense
60% of young people turn to a friend, parent, or educator when they’re in crisis. We equip those people to know how to respond, safely and effectively.
Youth at the Centre
Young people’s perspectives shape everything we do and how we do it. We empower the next generation to transform mental health.
Stronger Together
Change requires everyone. We work with partners in community, corporate, and government spaces to reach people in all walks of life with the support they need to thrive.
Measuring support.
Our Programs and Canada’s suicide prevention framework
All our programs are mapped against the protective factors the government of Canada identifies as reducing the risk of suicide. This is prevention in action: reaching young people before a crisis, with the everyday literacy, confidence, and belonging that keep them safe.
Select a program to see the protective factors it supports.
| Government of Canada Protective Factors Against Suicide ↓ | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Literacy | ||||
| Help-seeking & Offering | ||||
| Community Belonging | ||||
| Stigma Reduction | ||||
| Youth Engagement & Empowerment |
By FY2029, we will reach 1 in every 10 young people in Canada.
Our strategic goals
Three goals will help us get there: build a national movement led by young people, financial pathways that sustain impact, and infrastructure strong enough to grow to meet demand.
By reaching 1 in 10 young people, we not only support them directly, we also increase the likelihood that every young person in Canada has someone in their immediate circle — a friend, classmate, or teammate — who knows how to recognize mental health struggle, reach out, and help them get the support they need.
One.
Youth-Led Awareness, Understanding & Collective Action
1.1 Youth in every room
Embed youth voices and leadership across program design, delivery, evaluation, and advocacy.
1.2 Tools that build agency
Deliver measurable, evidence-informed resources that strengthen mental health literacy, peer support skills, and confidence speaking up.
1.3 Research that paves the way forward
Establish Jack.org as a national leader in research and knowledge mobilization focused on early mental-health indicators and youth-driven solutions.
1.4 A movement for all
Grow a national network of families, educators, employers, and community leaders who support mental health at home, school, and in the workplace.
Two.
Fiscal Sustainability & Growth
2.1 Diversified funding
Reduce reliance on any single source of revenue.
2.2 Mission-aligned sustainability
Tie sustainability strategy directly to education, community building, and early intervention, in service of suicide prevention and promoting well-being.
2.3 Growth without compromising
Expand mission-aligned revenue pathways without compromising accessibility or equity.
2.4 Build to last
Build organizational resilience through multi-year forecasting and funding commitments.
Three.
Infrastructure & Systems for Scalability
3.1 Systems to meet the moment
Upgrade digital, CRM, and data infrastructure to support growing operations.
3.2 Strong governance
Embed rigorous governance, risk management, and OCAP-aligned data practices.
3.3 People-first growth
Invest in systems and culture that attract, develop, and retain diverse talent, with pathways for youth and lived-experience leadership.
3.4 Capacity that matches ambition
Grow operational capacity so scale doesn’t outpace quality, safety, or sustainability.
A snapshot of what the future looks like
The targets we’re holding ourselves to on the way to reaching 1 in 10 young people across Canada.
Programs
Young people reached by all programs
FY27: 300,000. FY28: 400,000. FY29: 500,000.
Programs
Youth-led Jack Communities nationwide
FY27: 225. FY28: 250. FY29: 300.
Fundraising
Year-over-year growth in committed revenue
FY27: 10%. FY28: 15%. FY29: 20%.
Marketing
Awareness of Jack.org nationwide
FY27: 17%. FY28: 18 to 20%. FY29: 18 to 20%.
Programs
Active program partnerships
FY27: 4. FY28: 5. FY29: 6.
Digital Programs
Be There Certificate for Professionals workshops delivered
FY27: 18. FY28: 30. FY29: 30.
The foundation holds when we invest in it.
Every young person deserves a world where support reaches them before a crisis does. That world starts when we give young people and the adults who love them the knowledge and skills to take action before tough feelings become too much.