Youth Innovations Scale Grant Program in Canada

Deadline: 24-Aug-22

Looking to enhance or expand an existing project? Are you a youth-led grassroots group or a youth-adult partnership with over two years of experience delivering a community project? If yes, then apply for a Youth Innovations Scale grant to enhance your existing project for a deeper impact on youth or to expand your project to reach more youth.

Youth Innovations Scale grants support youth-led grassroots groups and youth-adult partnerships who want to expand their reach or enhance their impact on young people.

Funding Information

• Maximum $125,000
• Minimum 3 years, Maximum 4 years

Outcomes

• 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

Eligibility Criteria

• Beneficiaries:
  • Indigenous youth (First Nation, Métis, or Inuit)
  • Black youth
  • Racialized youth
  • Newcomer youth
  • Francophone youth
  • Two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (2SLGBTQ+) youth
  • Youth living with disabilities or special needs between the ages of 12 to 29
  • Youth living in rural, remote and/or Northern communities
  • Youth in conflict or at risk of being in conflict with the law
  • Youth in care or leaving care
  • Youth in low-income situations or from low-income families
  • Youth who are homeless or at risk of being homeless
  • Youth at-risk of dropping out or have dropped out
• The YOF supports projects led by youth and youth-adult partnerships who share identities, experiences with, and face the same systemic barriers as the people who will benefit.
• Your group may be eligible if it meets our definitions of a youth-led group or youth-adult partnership below, and:
  • Has three or more core members
  • Is based in Ontario, and programming benefits youth in Ontario
  • If a group is incorporated as a not-for-profit; board members and day-to-day management continues to meet youth-led and youth adult-partnership definitions
  • Exists independent of a larger organization. This means the group has autonomy to choose their Organizational Mentor, design the project, identify group members, and plan for the future.
  • Core team members have a history and experience doing work together. This experience can include delivering core program model or other activities.
  • Is an:
    • Unincorporated group or
    • Incorporated not-for-profit with independently managed revenues no higher than $50,000 in either of the last two years. Board members and day-to-day management must also meet youth-led and youth adult-partnership definitions
  • Agrees to work with an Organizational Mentor (OM)

Ineligible

• Groups specifically designed to serve young people through committees or clubs of institutions, including municipalities, universities, schools, and hospitals
• Adult-initiated groups
• Groups/projects based at an existing organization (not-for-profit or for profit)
• Groups composed of all team members ages 30 years or older (all-adult teams)
• Groups with charitable status
• For-profit businesses
• Individuals

For more information, visit https://otf.ca/our-grants/youth-opportunities-fund/youth-innovations-scale-grant