The Blue Sea Foundation Story

Giving charities the power to fundraise successfully, since day one.

In the Beginning

It all started in 2004 with the Ride for Refugees, (now the Ride for Refuge). Brian Carney was hired on contract to raise $30,000 for a local charity that needed the funds fast. So, he hosted a bike ride. He and the team asked a dozen of their friends and family to register and challenged them to ask their friends and families to support their rides with $20, $50, or $100 donations.

It worked. In sixty days they raised $25,000.

Over the years the event grew and Brian saw an opportunity—if that simple event could raise $25,000 for one charity, what more could it do?

What if he approached P2P fundraising events in a truly unique way? What if he grew that successful event into something more — a way to raise more funds, include more charities, and support more causes? He adopted a “blue ocean” strategy and decided to swim in a new direction.

In 2010, Brian registered Blue Sea Foundation as a charity of its own, hired the best event and fundraising people he knew, and created what became known as “the Blue Sea way.”

Smiling Fundraisers
Man riding a bike
A boy with a bike participates in a fundraising ride
Mosaic of happy people

P2P Fundraising, The Blue Sea Way

To this day, no one does P2P fundraising quite like Blue Sea Foundation:

  • A “NationaLocal” approach to P2P fundraising events drastically reduces the risks associated with event management and requires $0 upfront investment.
  • National event brands build a strong, loyal following from coast-to-coast and provide charities of all sizes with fundraising events that make a splash.
  • The Partner Grant program delivers industry-leading fundraising returns and provides 100% of net proceeds to charity partners.
A group participates in a fundraising walk

Our Mission:

To give charities the power to fundraise successfully.

Our Vision:

 To create a more generous world where charities thrive.

20+ Years of P2P Fundraising Iteration & Innovation

A lot has changed since the inaugural 2004 RIDE event—and that’s a good thing. For over 20 years, Blue Sea Foundation’s team has been innovating, iterating, and evolving the Blue Sea way. In our incubation lab, we are:

Hosting our own events, trying new approaches to P2P fundraising event management, team captain recruitment, and everything in between.

Developing bespoke software that delivers power-packed data dashboards, secure payment processing integrations, and P2P fundraising tools.

Launching new events to support social services causes that are close to our hearts and in need of fundraising support.

Engaging the corporate sector in meaningful partnership and sponsorship opportunities.

Helping Charities Thrive

One thing has not changed, we’re a charity for charities. Blue Sea Foundation’s vision is to see a more generous world where charities thrive. That’s what we do, that’s who we serve, and that’s what we care most about.

Today, the team at Blue Sea Foundation is widely recognized as Canada’s leading experts in P2P fundraising. The organization has expanded beyond the Canadian border, with staff serving charities across North America. As we continue to grow, we remain committed to supporting charities in innovative ways and empowering communities to come together to make a difference.

We believe that local charities are the key to making the world a better place. We long to see a more generous world where charities thrive, and that’s why we do what we do — today, and into the future.