Family Innovations Test Grant – Canada

Deadline: 17-Apr-2024

Applications are now open for the Family Innovations Test grants to support parent-, guardian- or caregiver-led grassroots groups to test new ideas, explore different approaches, or research important issues.

Through the Family Innovations Stream, the Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) recognizes the impact that healthy and resilient families have on the future success of young people.

Eligible groups can apply for a Family Innovations Test grant to support a project designed to help other parents, guardians and caregivers in your community in one of three areas:

• Try out a new idea that has the potential to make a positive impact on the wellbeing of parents, guardians and caregivers
• Research, learn and understand more about a specific topic or issue
• Bring parents, guardians and caregivers together to discuss an issue and explore new approaches collectively

YOF prioritizes grassroots groups that are looking to address the experiences of Indigenous (First Nation, Métis or Inuit) and/or Black parents, guardians and caregivers who continue to face systemic barriers and oppression.

In addition to the prioritization of Black and Indigenous grassroots groups and parents, guardians and caregivers, YOF prioritizes investing in projects that positively impact parents, guardians and caregivers with the following intersecting lived experiences or identities:

• Parents, guardians, and caregivers and/or their children in conflict or at risk of being in conflict with the law
• Parents, guardians, and caregivers at risk of contact or in contact with child welfare services
• Parents, guardians, and caregivers whose children are at-risk of dropping out or have dropped out of school
• Parents, guardians, and caregivers and/or their children living with disabilities or special needs
• Parents, guardians, and caregivers and/or their children who are two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning, intersex, asexual (2SLGBTQIA+)

Funding Information

• Maximum $100,000

Duration

• Minimum 1 year, Maximum 3 years

Priority Outcomes

• Create opportunities for Indigenous and/or Black parents/guardians and caregivers to help families build strong community and cultural connections, strengthen relationships, and heal from trauma.
• Supporting parents, guardians, and caregivers to navigate and access resources for economic stability
• Supporting parents, guardians and caregivers to effectively navigate, access, and influence systems that affect family well-being

Eligible Projects

• Test grants aim to drive positive change in your community by implementing a new idea and evaluating the results. Three types of projects qualify for a Test grant. Choose the type that most closely aligns with your project.
  • Pilot a new project idea
    • This type of project focuses on trying out a new idea that has the potential to make a positive impact on the lives of parents, guardians and caregivers. For example:
      • Start a new project that supports parents, guardians and caregivers to access resources and navigate social systems.
      • Adapt and pilot an idea that has been tested in other parts of the province to meet the needs of parents, guardians and caregivers in your community.
  • Research an issue or new concept
    • Choose this project type if your group wants to learn and understand more about a specific topic or issue. For example:
      • Develop participatory research about an experience families face
      • Explore something new in your community that can be enhanced through technology or a new approach
  • Strategize around an issue affecting YOF Parents, Guardians and Caregivers
    • This is an opportunity to bring parents, guardians and caregivers together to discuss an issue and explore new approaches collectively with their community. Depending on your group’s aims and the stage of the discussion, what you learn could include:
      • Understanding an issue and its impact on your community
      • Discover who is already working on an issue, who is joining the conversation, and who might be left out

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible Groups
  • A grassroots group that is not registered as a charity or as an incorporated not-for-profit
    • The work of a parents, guardian and caregiver-led grassroots group is community-led and community-inspired. Grassroots group means that core group members share identities and lived experiences with the parents, guardians and caregivers who will benefit from the project.
    • If you are a grassroots group from a First Nation, you are eligible to apply. Your group cannot have more than 50% of its members as part of the band office or band council.
  • An organization incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation without share capital in a Canadian jurisdiction
    • This includes a Chartered Community Council, operating under the Métis Nation of Ontario, or Inuit communities that are registered as not-for-profit corporations without share capital in Canada.
    • The organization is required to have independently managed revenues of $50,000 or less in either of the last two years.
    • Board members and day-to-day management must also be parents, guardians and caregivers.
    • The group is led by parents, guardians and caregivers.
• Group Requirements
  • Groups need to meet the following requirements to be eligible for funding.
    • Reflect communities served
      • Core group members (including board members, where applicable) reflect the identities and experiences of the parents, guardians and caregivers they are working with and for.
      • YOF prioritizes projects led by and for Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) and Black parents, guardians and caregivers.
    • Core group
      • The group has at least three core group members.
      • More than 50% of core group members need to be at arm’s length relationship to each other.  An ‘arm’s length’ relationship means board members and group members are not married or related to each other, do not work as business partners or are otherwise in a relationship where interests may be compromised.
      • Parents, guardians and caregivers must make up more than 50% of the core group.
      • The group is based in Ontario and the work will benefit parents, guardians, and caregivers in Ontario.
      • The group exists independently of a larger organization (other not-for-profit), charitable organization or municipality, university, school, religious institution and/or hospital.
      • The group agrees to work with an Organizational Mentor and has autonomy to choose their Organizational Mentor, design the project, identify group members, and plan for the future.
    • Note
      • Groups can only apply for one Youth Opportunities Fund grant at a time.
      • If your group has an active Youth Opportunities Fund grant, you can only apply for funding if you are in the last year of your active grant.

Ineligible

• The following are not eligible to apply:
  • Registered charities
  • Religious entities established for the observation of religious beliefs, including, but not limited to, churches, temples, mosques and synagogues.
  • Municipalities
  • Groups/projects based at an existing organization (not-for-profit or for profit)
  • Groups specifically designed to serve parents, guardians, and caregivers through committees or clubs of institutions, including municipalities, universities, schools, and hospitals
  • Groups looking to design programming for children
  • For-profit organizations or businesses

For more information, visit OTF.