Deadline: 31-Jul-2026
The TELUS Canadian Community Board Grant Program supports charitable initiatives that help young people across Canada overcome barriers and reach their full potential through health and education-focused programs. The program funds community-based projects that support youth up to the age of 29, with preference for initiatives that use technology to increase effectiveness and positive impact.
Canadian registered charities and qualified donees can apply for single-year grants of up to $20,000. The exception is the TELUS Barrie and Central Ontario Community Board, which offers grants of up to $10,000.
Program Overview
The TELUS Canadian Community Board Grant Program provides funding for charitable programs that support young people through health and education initiatives.
The program is delivered through Community Boards located across Canada and is supported by the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation®, an independent registered charity.
The goal is to help young people facing barriers access services, opportunities and support that can improve their future.
Main Objective
The main objective of the program is to help youth overcome obstacles and reach their full potential.
The program aims to:
- Support youth health programs
- Support youth education programs
- Improve access to community services
- Help young people facing barriers
- Promote accessibility and inclusion
- Strengthen digital learning
- Improve digital capacity
- Support technology-enabled program delivery
- Create positive outcomes for youth up to age 29
- Build stronger and more inclusive communities
Key Focus Areas
The program supports health and education-focused initiatives for young people.
Key focus areas include:
- Youth health
- Youth education
- Community development
- Technology-enabled programs
- Digital learning
- Digital capacity building
- Accessibility and inclusion
- Youth facing barriers
- Sensory-friendly environments
- Innovative technology solutions
- Community-based youth programs
- Positive youth development
Funding Available
Canadian registered charities and qualified donees can apply for single-year grants of up to $20,000.
The only exception is the TELUS Barrie and Central Ontario Community Board, which offers grants of up to $10,000.
Applicants should request funding that is directly connected to the delivery of a specific eligible program.
Eligible Community Board Regions
Programs must be delivered within one of the eligible TELUS Community Board regions.
Eligible regions include:
- Atlantic Canada
- Quebec
- Ontario
- Manitoba and Saskatchewan
- Alberta
- British Columbia
Applicants may apply to any Community Board region if their program operates within and directly benefits youth in that specific region.
A separate application is required for each Community Board region.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants must be registered charities or qualified donees recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency.
Eligible applicants include:
- Canadian registered charities
- CRA-recognized qualified donees
- Organisations delivering eligible youth health programs
- Organisations delivering eligible youth education programs
Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements and deliver programs that directly support youth up to the age of 29.
Reapplication Rule
Organisations may reapply to the same TELUS Community Board once every twelve months from the date of their previous application submission.
This rule applies whether the previous application was approved or declined.
Applicants must continue to meet all eligibility requirements when reapplying.
Who the Program Supports
Funded programs must support young people up to the age of 29.
Programs should focus on youth who may face obstacles that prevent them from reaching their full potential.
These may include young people experiencing barriers related to health, education, accessibility, inclusion, digital access or community support.
Health-Focused Programs
The program supports charitable health initiatives that improve outcomes for young people.
Health-focused programs may include:
- Youth mental health support
- Community health services for youth
- Accessibility-focused health programs
- Inclusive support services
- Programs that improve wellbeing
- Health education and awareness initiatives
Applicants should show how the program creates measurable benefits for young people.
Education-Focused Programs
The program supports education initiatives that help young people learn, grow and access new opportunities.
Education-focused programs may include:
- Digital learning programs
- Online learning delivery
- Skills development
- Youth education support
- Community learning programs
- Technology-enabled education services
- Programs that improve access to learning
Projects should clearly explain how they help youth overcome educational barriers.
Technology Preference
Preference is given to programs that demonstrate how technology can improve effectiveness and increase community impact.
Technology may be used to:
- Automate services
- Digitize service delivery
- Improve organisational digital capability
- Develop online learning programs
- Deliver digital learning activities
- Create sensory-friendly environments for individuals with disabilities
- Improve access to health or education services
Applicants should explain how technology strengthens the program and improves outcomes for youth.
Ineligible Technology Costs
Standard software products, smartphones and tablets are not considered eligible technology under this funding program.
Funding is also unavailable for the purchase of TELUS, TELUS Health, or TELUS Agriculture and Consumer Goods products and services.
This includes:
Applicants should ensure that technology-related requests meet the program’s requirements.
What the Program Does Not Support
The program does not support:
- Fiduciary intermediary arrangements
- Organisations using another charity’s status
- Community-based religious programs without non-denominational participation
- Charitable operating costs unrelated to specific programs
- Non-program salaries
- Utilities
- General overhead expenses
- TELUS products or services
- TELUS Health products or services
- TELUS Agriculture and Consumer Goods products or services
- Capital campaigns
- Capital expenditures
- Endowments
- Debt reduction initiatives
- Sponsorships
- Advertising
- Retroactive funding requests
- Scholarships
- Bursaries
- International programs
Applicants should review all exclusions carefully before applying.
Direct Program Delivery Requirement
Funding is intended for eligible charitable programs, not general organisational operations.
Applicants should clearly show that the requested funds will support a specific program that directly benefits youth.
The program does not support arrangements where one organisation uses another charity’s status as an intermediary.
Why This Program Matters
Many young people across Canada face barriers that affect their health, education and future opportunities.
Community-based charities often provide essential support, but they need resources to deliver effective programs.
The TELUS Canadian Community Board Grant Program matters because it helps charities expand access to health and education services for youth, especially those facing obstacles.
By supporting technology-enabled and inclusive programs, the fund helps create stronger pathways for young people to learn, connect and thrive.
Expected Results
Supported programs may contribute to:
- Improved youth health outcomes
- Better access to education
- Increased digital learning opportunities
- Stronger support for youth facing barriers
- Improved accessibility and inclusion
- Increased organisational digital capacity
- More effective program delivery
- Positive outcomes for young people up to age 29
- Stronger community-based youth support
- Greater community impact through technology
How to Apply or Prepare a Strong Application
Applicants should prepare a clear proposal that demonstrates eligibility, youth benefit, health or education focus, regional relevance and expected impact.
Step 1: Confirm CRA Eligibility
Applicants must confirm that they are a registered charity or qualified donee recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency.
Organisations that do not meet this requirement are not eligible.
Step 2: Confirm Youth Focus
The program must support young people up to the age of 29.
Applicants should clearly identify the youth population served and the barriers they face.
Step 3: Select the Correct Community Board Region
Applicants should apply to the Community Board region where the program operates and directly benefits youth.
A separate application is required for each region.
Step 4: Define the Health or Education Focus
The proposal should clearly explain whether the program focuses on health, education, or both.
Applicants should connect activities directly to measurable youth outcomes.
Step 5: Explain the Role of Technology
If technology is part of the program, applicants should explain how it enhances effectiveness or increases impact.
Strong examples include digitized services, online learning, digital capacity building or sensory-friendly environments.
Step 6: Prepare a Clear Budget
Applicants may request up to $20,000, or up to $10,000 for the TELUS Barrie and Central Ontario Community Board.
The budget should be directly linked to eligible program activities.
Step 7: Avoid Ineligible Costs
Applicants should ensure the request does not include general overhead, non-program salaries, capital expenditures, TELUS products, scholarships, bursaries, advertising or retroactive costs.
Step 8: Demonstrate Community Impact
The application should explain how the program will create positive outcomes for youth and strengthen the local community.
Applicants should include expected results, participant reach and practical benefits.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid the following mistakes:
- Applying without CRA registered charity or qualified donee status
- Submitting a program that does not focus on youth up to age 29
- Applying for general operating costs unrelated to a specific program
- Requesting standard software, smartphones or tablets as eligible technology
- Applying for TELUS products or services
- Submitting an international program
- Requesting scholarships or bursaries
- Using another charity as a fiduciary intermediary
- Applying to the wrong Community Board region
- Failing to submit separate applications for different regions
- Reapplying before the twelve-month period has passed
- Not showing how the program improves youth health or education outcomes
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should:
- Clearly show the youth population served
- Focus on health or education outcomes
- Demonstrate support for youth facing barriers
- Explain local community need
- Show how technology strengthens delivery where relevant
- Include a practical and eligible budget
- Align with the correct Community Board region
- Demonstrate accessibility and inclusion
- Provide measurable expected outcomes
- Avoid ineligible technology and overhead costs
- Show how the program creates lasting positive impact
FAQ
1. What is the TELUS Canadian Community Board Grant Program?
The program supports charitable initiatives that help young people across Canada overcome barriers through health and education-focused programs.
2. Who can apply?
Registered charities and qualified donees recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency can apply.
3. What age group must programs support?
Funded programs must support youth up to the age of 29.
4. How much funding is available?
Most Community Boards offer single-year grants of up to $20,000. The TELUS Barrie and Central Ontario Community Board offers grants of up to $10,000.
5. What regions are covered?
Eligible Community Board regions include Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia.
6. Can an organisation apply to more than one Community Board?
Yes. Applicants may apply to any region where their program operates and directly benefits youth, but a separate application is required for each Community Board region.
7. What costs are not supported?
The program does not support general overhead, non-program salaries, utilities, TELUS products or services, capital campaigns, capital expenditures, debt reduction, sponsorships, advertising, retroactive funding, scholarships, bursaries or international programs.
Conclusion
The TELUS Canadian Community Board Grant Program provides valuable support for charities delivering youth health and education programs across Canada.
With grants of up to $20,000, or up to $10,000 through the TELUS Barrie and Central Ontario Community Board, the program helps eligible organisations create positive outcomes for young people facing barriers.
Applicants should prepare clear proposals that demonstrate CRA eligibility, regional relevance, youth focus, health or education impact, appropriate use of technology and alignment with the program’s funding rules.
For more information, visit TELUS Friendly Future Foundation.
