Deadline: 2-May-23
Do you have a passion for improving your community? Are you a youth-led group (ages 15-29) with a great idea that needs funding? Consider applying for the Identify ‘N Impact (INI) Grant Program to help make an impact in your community.
Since 2006, the City of Toronto’s Identify ‘N Impact (INI) Grant Program continues to provide funding supports for youth-led initiatives in Toronto.
Purpose
The purpose of the Identify ‘N Impact Grant Program is to:
- Help promote youth engagement and community safety in the City of Toronto
- Support youth to turn ideas into action
- Support emerging (new, small, grassroots) youth-led groups and collaborative youth-led networks
- Motivate and encourage Most Vulnerable People (MVP) youth to become involved in their communities
Funding Information
- Groups can apply for up to $17,000 in project funding for youth to lead and deliver projects up to one year in length.
- Additionally, accessibility costs for deaf and/or disabled individuals: up to $2,000 in additional funds may be made available for projects involving Deaf and/or disabled individuals. These funds are being made available to support youth participants or members of your group that are Deaf and/or disabled.
Eligible Projects
- All funded projects (programs or initiatives) must work towards advancing one or more of the following grant program priorities to be eligible to apply:
- mental health, including wellbeing
- skills development
- increasing access to educational attainment
- community safety / violence prevention
- youth friendly spaces
- arts
- In addition, project proposals will be given priority if they:
- Work with and/or engage MVP youth, or have a focus specifically on Indigenous (First Nations, Metis, and Inuit, including Afro-Indigenous), African-Caribbean-Black, and/or 2SLGBTQ+ youth
Eligibility Criteria
- INI was developed to support emerging (i.e.: new, small, grassroots) youth-led groups and networks. Your group is eligible to apply if it:
- Is youth-led and includes at least three or more youth members, ages 15 to 29 years old
- Is based in Toronto
- Is a not-for-profit proposing project activities that will run in Toronto only
- For the INI grant program, a group is considered “youth-led” if the following eligibility criteria are met:
- A majority of the group’s leadership are youth between the ages of 15 to 29 years old
- The group makes decisions about its activities independent from any other community organization
- Youth are the leaders in the project planning/design, management, and delivery
- Youth Committees/Groups of Non-Profit Organizations:
- A youth committee or initiative of a non-profit organization can apply if it is the applicant group. Youth must write the application, plan the project and make the project happen. Adult-led non-profit organizations cannot apply on behalf of a youth program, committee, or initiative.
- Youth Committees/Groups of Religious Organizations:
- A youth committee or group of a religious organization can apply if it meets the criteria for being youth-led and clearly shows a separation between religious activities and community activities.
- Project activities must be open and accessible to youth outside of the religious group’s participants.
- Project activities cannot include any religious content.
- Youth-led groups that are not incorporated:
- Youth-led groups that are not incorporated and do not have audited financial statements can still apply for INI funding.
- If recommended for funding, your group will need to work with a Trustee or organizational mentor. Groups will be provided with a list of potential Organizational Mentors to choose from. Funded groups are also able to work with an existing trustee, as long as the City of Toronto’s trusteeship requirements are met.
Ineligible
- Individuals (artists, motivational speakers, athletes, etc.)
- Projects led by youth who live outside of Toronto
- Adult-led organizations, including foundations
- Registered business or other for-profit groups
For more information, visit City of Toronto.
