This profile originally appeared in the 2021 Giving Guide. Read the full magazine here.
The Youth Services Bureau (YSB) provides life-changing programs and services for youth 12 and older, and their families, in the areas of mental health counselling, shelters and housing, employment support, and justice services. YSB staff support upwards of 3,000 youth each month, regardless of where they live, what they look like, and who they love.
With the support of our community, we have helped change the lives of tens of thousands of young people so they may lead independent, healthy, and stable lives.
Throughout COVID-19, YSB remains an essential service to youth and families throughout Ottawa.
At a glance:
Year founded: 1960
Total revenue for last fiscal year: $32,069,943
Twitter: @ysb_bsj
Facebook: @ysb.bsj
Instagram: ysb.bsj
LinkedIn: /youth-services-bureau-of-ottawa/about/
Top funding sources:
- Government funding: 91%
- Individual donations: 3%
- Corporate donations: 3%
- Other charities: 1%
- Other sources: 2%
Geographic region of focus: Ottawa
How you can help
Give
To address funding needs – particularly in the areas of mental health, shelters and housing, and employment – the YSB Foundation fundraises year-round through grants, digital fundraising campaigns, direct mail and email campaigns, as well as through partnership and sponsorship opportunities. The Foundation is honoured to work with its corporate and foundation partners, sponsors, individual donors, as well as community and youth groups to ensure youth have access to our programs and services.

Stay Up Ottawa: YSB welcomes workplace, family, and community teams to its annual Stay Up Ottawa event (previously known as the YSB SleepOUT for Youth). Fully bilingual and complete with an exciting online evening program, this year’s virtual event takes place Nov. 26. Bringing together workplace teams, families, community leaders, and YSB staff, participants commit to spending a night out sleeping in their backyards or on their decks, while raising funds to support YSB’s two shelters and four apartment buildings for previously homeless youth. This year is the 9th annual event, which has raised more than $1.5-million since its inception. Along with the support of sponsors as well as corporate and family teams, a large portion of funds raised each year come from local youth, who rally together in support of their peers in need in our community.
Events and fundraising
To address funding needs – particularly in the areas of mental health, shelters and housing, and employment – the YSB Foundation fundraises year-round through grants, digital fundraising campaigns, direct mail and email campaigns, as well as through partnership and sponsorship opportunities. The Foundation is honoured to work with its corporate and foundation partners, sponsors, individual donors, as well as community and youth groups to ensure youth have access to our programs and services.
Board members and executives

Patti Murphy
Executive Director, YSB Charitable Foundation
Isabelle Perreault
Chair
President & Founder, Differly
Kerry Patterson-Baker
Forest Products Association of Canada
Rebecca Murray
Carleton University
Scott Lawrence
HealthCraft Products Inc.
Martin Sampson
Centre for Israel & Jewish Affairs
Christopher Rheaume
Ottawa Police Service
Dr. Neda Amani
Amani Health
Chris White
Canadian Meat Council
Maria McRae
Community Advocate, Lawyer
Kelly Youngdale
Label Innovation Inc.
Balwinderjit Singh Kapoor
MDS Aero Support Corporation
Justin Veale
Forest Products Association of Canada
Erika Falconer
RBC
Shawn Hamilton
Canderel Group
Christine Leadman
Bank St. BIA
Kate Dalgeis
Compass Rose Group
Jennifer Stewart
Syntax Strategic
Funding priorities

The YSB Foundation’s fundraising priorities are focused on two major challenges for youth in our community: mental wellness and affordable housing. YSB is the lead agency for youth mental health in the Ottawa region and provides services for youth struggling with mental health challenges as well as support for their families. We are raising much-needed funds to ensure young people can access our Youth Mental Health Walk-In & Virtual Clinic, our 24/7 Crisis Phone Line & 24/7 Crisis Chat Service, our short-term live-in mental health centre, our mobile crisis team, as well as our two dedicated youth shelters and four housing buildings, and downtown Youth Drop-In Centre.
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