Deadline: 15-Apr-2026
The Youth Innovations Test Grant provides multi-year funding to grassroots, community-led groups in Ontario to test new ideas and research solutions that improve the social and economic well-being of young people. Delivered through the Youth Opportunities Fund, the grant prioritizes youth-led, equity-focused, and community-designed initiatives, with funding of up to $100,000 per year for one to three years.
Overview of the Grant
The Youth Innovations Test Grant is a funding stream under the Youth Opportunities Fund that supports grassroots groups and small community-based organizations to pilot innovative ideas, explore new approaches, and research issues affecting youth well-being.
The grant is grounded in the belief that young people are best positioned to design solutions for challenges they experience directly. Funded projects are expected to reflect lived experience, local realities, and community-driven responses rather than top-down or institutional programs.
Core Purpose and Focus Areas
The grant focuses on advancing social and economic outcomes for youth by addressing systemic and community-level barriers.
Key focus areas include:
• Preventing and reducing barriers faced by youth
• Strengthening workforce attachment and economic participation
• Improving social and economic well-being
• Supporting youth-led and youth–adult partnership initiatives
• Advancing community-led and community-designed solutions
• Addressing systemic barriers, inequities, and oppression
• Prioritizing projects led by and for Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) and Black youth
• Encouraging cultural, traditional, and identity-based approaches to learning
• Building long-term well-being, resilience, and life skills among youth
Projects may involve testing a new idea, researching a youth-related issue, or bringing young people together to collectively explore challenges and innovative responses.
What Does “Youth-Led and Youth-Driven” Mean?
A defining principle of this grant is the “led by and for” requirement.
This means:
• Youth must share the identities and lived experiences of the youth they serve
• Youth leadership must be central to decision-making, planning, and implementation
• Youth aged 29 and under must make up more than 50% of the core group
• Adults may be involved, but youth leadership must remain primary
The grant recognizes different leadership models, as long as youth leadership is genuine and meaningful.
Funding Amount and Duration
Grant Size
• Up to $100,000 per year
• Funding is available for a minimum of 1 year and a maximum of 3 years
Funding may support testing, learning, research, coordination, community engagement, and other activities directly related to the proposed innovation.
Who Is Eligible?
Eligible Applicants
To be eligible, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
• Grassroots groups or small not-for-profit organizations
• Based in Ontario
• Work must directly benefit youth in Ontario
• Youth aged 29 and under make up more than half of the core group
• Led by youth who share the identities and lived experiences of the youth served
• Operate independently from large institutions
Eligible leadership structures include:
• Youth-led groups
• Youth–adult partnerships
• Adult-initiated youth partnerships, where youth leadership is central
Organizational Mentor Requirement
All applicants must work with an Organizational Mentor.
The mentor provides:
• Administrative and financial accountability
• Project guidance and capacity support
• Oversight through a collaborative agreement
The group itself remains youth-led, while the mentor supports compliance and sustainability.
Who Is Not Eligible?
The following are not eligible for funding:
• Registered charities
• Municipalities and government bodies
• Religious organizations
• For-profit organizations
• Individuals applying alone
• Groups primarily composed of adults aged 30 or older
• Projects embedded within existing institutions or programs
• Schools, school boards, or post-secondary institutions
The grant is designed exclusively for independent, grassroots, youth-driven initiatives.
Why This Grant Matters
Many young people face overlapping barriers related to poverty, exclusion, discrimination, and limited access to opportunities.
This grant matters because it:
• Shifts decision-making power to youth with lived experience
• Supports innovation without requiring fully proven models
• Invests in community-designed and culturally grounded solutions
• Prioritizes Indigenous and Black youth leadership
• Encourages learning, experimentation, and long-term systems change
• Strengthens youth capacity, confidence, and collective leadership
How the Youth Innovations Test Grant Works
Step-by-Step Overview
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A grassroots youth-led group identifies a challenge affecting youth well-being
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The group designs an innovative, community-based idea or research approach
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An Organizational Mentor is secured to provide administrative support
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The group submits an application through the Youth Opportunities Fund process
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Applications are assessed based on youth leadership, innovation, equity, and community impact
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Successful applicants receive funding for 1–3 years to test and learn from their approach
Projects are expected to evolve through learning, reflection, and community feedback.
Tips for a Strong Application
• Clearly explain the issue from a youth lived-experience perspective
• Show how youth lead decisions, not just participate
• Demonstrate how the idea is new, experimental, or exploratory
• Highlight cultural, community, or identity-based approaches
• Be realistic about what can be tested or learned within the timeframe
• Choose an Organizational Mentor aligned with your values and goals
Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Proposing a fully established or ongoing program
• Submitting applications led primarily by adults
• Applying as part of a larger institution or charity
• Failing to meet the “led by and for” youth requirement
• Treating youth as participants rather than decision-makers
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the main goal of the Youth Innovations Test Grant?
The goal is to support youth-led groups to test new ideas or research solutions that improve youth social and economic well-being.
2. How much funding can a group receive?
Groups can receive up to $100,000 per year for one to three years.
3. Do applicants need to be a registered charity?
No. In fact, registered charities are not eligible. The grant is for grassroots and small community-led groups.
4. What is an Organizational Mentor?
An Organizational Mentor is a separate organization that provides administrative, financial, and project support while allowing youth to retain leadership.
5. Are Indigenous and Black youth-led projects prioritized?
Yes. Projects led by and for Indigenous and Black youth are explicitly prioritized.
6. Can adults be involved in the project?
Yes, but youth must hold the majority of leadership and decision-making power.
7. Can the grant fund research-only projects?
Yes. Research and learning-focused projects that explore youth-related issues are eligible.
Conclusion
The Youth Innovations Test Grant is a powerful funding opportunity for grassroots, youth-led groups in Ontario to experiment, learn, and lead change. By investing in lived experience, community design, and long-term well-being, the grant supports young people to shape solutions that reflect their realities and build a more equitable future for youth across the province.
For more information, visit Ontario Trillium Foundation.