Deadline: 08-Sep-2025
The Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) has announced the 2025 call for proposals under the Ontario Endowment for Children and Youth in Recreation Fund, offering an opportunity to support recreational activities that enhance the health and wellbeing of young people in the community.
The focus of the Youth in Recreation Grants is on inclusive and accessible recreational activities for children and youth up to 18 years old in Waterloo Region, encouraging broad participation and fostering social, mental, and physical development. Activities supported include sport, recreation, fitness, youth leadership, camping and outdoor education, play groups, arts, and cultural programs. The grants aim to improve social and physical skills, foster creativity, support healthy relationships, encourage leadership and volunteerism, nurture commitment to learning, provide opportunities for underserved youth, and increase access to healthy recreation programs.
In 2025, approximately $90,000 in funding is available, with a maximum request of $10,000 per organization. Eligible applicants include registered charitable organizations, qualified donees recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency, and nonprofit organizations partnering with a registered charity. Municipalities, hospitals, and schools are not eligible. The application period runs from August 11, 2025, to September 8, 2025, with funding disbursed by the end of November 2025. Funds must be used between December 1, 2025, and December 31, 2026.
Eligible expenses include staffing, activity-related costs, technology, and a portion for general operating expenses, while ongoing overheads, capital costs, fundraising, research, and wholly online activities are excluded. Applications will be assessed based on alignment with the fund’s purpose, WRCF’s mission and values, organizational capacity, community impact, and evidence of equity and inclusivity. Organizations must also demonstrate feedback from participants in program design and evaluation.
Successful applicants will be required to submit a short evaluation report by January 31, 2027, outlining how the funding was used and its community impact. This initiative reflects WRCF’s commitment to ensuring that children and youth in the region have equitable access to enriching and empowering recreational opportunities.
For more information, visit WRCF.
