St. Felix Centre

Challenge

Hope House is a new four-storey affordable and supportive housing project designed to provide safe, stable homes for women and women with children in downtown Toronto. The development addresses a severe housing crisis that leaves many without secure options, particularly those fleeing intimate partner violence or living in precarious conditions.

Toronto, Ontario is facing rising rents, limited supportive housing, and increasing rates of gender-based violence. As a result, many women remain in unsafe environments because leaving could mean homelessness. Without stable housing and access to wraparound supports, rebuilding independence becomes significantly more difficult.

To bring Hope House to life, St. Felix Centre needed a campaign that could urgently mobilize donors, inspire foundations to give, and build the confidence required to reach an ambitious fundraising goal. The organization required clear messaging, compelling storytelling, and donor-ready tools specifically designed to drive contributions toward the project.

Insights

Through research, donor analysis, stakeholder workshops, and a deep review of program data, Intent identified several factors critical to building an effective capital campaign:

• Donors respond to stability and impact when the need is urgent and clearly explained
• Values-aligned storytelling builds trust with long-standing supporters
• Foundations require detailed clarity about long-term, supportive housing outcomes
• The Board needed structured tools to participate confidently in donor outreach
• Stories and lived experience drive giving more effectively than data alone
• Consistent messaging increases conversions across digital and donor materials

Solution

Intent developed Build Hope as a focused fundraising campaign designed to mobilize donors and foundations in support of Hope House.

The work included:

• A clear fundraising strategy
• A unified campaign identity
• A donor-ready case for support
• A dedicated microsite
• Social and print materials
• A targeted PR and social campaign
• Board tools and templates

This approach equipped St. Felix Centre with the tools needed to communicate urgency, activate supporters, and raise funds for safe, stable, and supportive housing.

Hope House is now built, providing 31 affordable and supportive units that give women and children a place to rebuild their lives with safety, dignity, and hope.