Deadline: 14-Oct-20
The Ontario Trillium Foundation is currently inviting proposals for the Youth Innovations Stream to invest in the work of grassroots groups that are youth-led or youth-adult partnerships by funding projects that test an idea or grow a successful project.
Through this stream, the Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) provides young people facing systemic barriers with the resources they need to design and deliver inspiring solutions to issues that matter to them.
Funding Information
- Youth Innovations TEST Grant: Up to $85,000 per year
- Youth Innovations SCALE Grant: Up to $125,000 per year
Outcomes
The six Priority Outcomes that drive YOF Youth Innovations projects across Ontario.
- Creating safe spaces for Indigenous and/or Black youth to build strong community and cultural connections;
- Addressing racism and its impacts on youth in urban, rural and/or Northern communities;
- Supporting Indigenous, Black, and/or newcomer youth to enter the labour market and transition to sustainable career pathways;
- Supporting youth who are not connected to education programs, employment programs, and training programs (i.e. NEET) to exit poverty and social assistance;
- Empowering girls and young women to lead, including women’s economic empowerment initiatives;
- Providing mentorship opportunities for youth in and leaving care and/or youth involved in the justice system.
Type of Youth Innovations Stream
There are two types of grants within the Youth Innovations Stream:
- Youth Innovations TEST Grant: Allows grassroots groups to research, strategize or test new ideas that will advance a Youth Innovations Priority Outcome. Newly formed and more established grassroots groups. With newer groups, they will be interested in learning about individual members and the experiences they are bringing to the group and the proposed project.
- Youth Innovations SCALE Grant: Enables grassroots groups to grow an existing project that has demonstrated success in achieving a Youth Innovations Priority Outcome. Groups that have already delivered core project activities over a two-year period. This means the group is experienced at working together and has tested all core activities ensuring a solid foundation to scale the project. You should also be able to demonstrate the success of the model you are looking to scale.
Eligibility Criteria
- The Youth Innovations Stream invests in projects led by grassroots groups that respond to issues in new and inspiring ways.
- Grassroots work is about community-led and community-inspired work. Shared identities and lived experiences between core group members who are leading the project and the young people who will benefit is critical to the Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) understanding of ‘grassroots’.
- Groups eligible to apply to the Youth Innovations Stream:
- Are led by youth, age 12-29 years who share identities and experiences with those they will engage in project activities.
- Operate as a youth-led group or a youth-adult partnership, where members share identities and experiences with those, they will engage in project activities.
- Exist independent of a larger organization.
- Are based in Ontario.
- Have three or more core members.
- Are either an unincorporated group or an incorporated non-profit organization with independently managed revenues no higher than $50,000 in either of the last two years. Registered charities are not eligible to apply to the YOF Youth Innovations Stream.
For more information, visit https://otf.ca/yof/youth-innovations-stream
