Deadline: 11-Apr-23
The City of Toronto has launched its Youth Violence Prevention Grant of up to $200,000 for projects aimed at programming that is responsive to violence prevention, intervention and interruption in thirty (30) Toronto Communities.
The goal is to strategically align programs to better support youth most vulnerable to involvement in serious violence and crime through strategic collaborations with local community based not-for-profit organizations and grassroots groups/organizations. Grassroots organizations play a key role in supporting MVP youth as many have existing relationships with youth in community and have already established the trust required to do this important work.
The Youth Violence Prevention Grant will prioritize the leadership and participation of Indigenous, Black, and other equity-deserving organizations and groups. Indigenous applications will be reviewed by an Indigenous Grant Review Panel.
Grant-Prioritized Neighbourhoods
The list of prioritized communities that will receive intensive, locally based supports through this Grant were identified through an extensive analysis of data that combines key trends and themes associated with risk factors, the number of critical violent incidents and social determinants of health that are impacting youth, aged 10-29. Each zone will receive at least one Grant. Additional Grants will be prioritized for:
- Applicants requesting to work in Scarborough – Zone 5.
- Applicants requesting to work in multiple neighbourhoods within a zone.
- Zones with increased needs for additional resources (data-driven and informed.)
Funding Information
- Applicants may apply for up to $200,000 per zone. The total available budget for this Grant is approximately $2.2 million annually.
- If you are applying to more than one zone, please submit a separate application for each.
- Funding is available for up to a maximum of three (3) years.
- Activities funded through this Grant will begin in June 2023.
Deliverables
The City of Toronto is looking to partner with organizations working with youth most vulnerable to involvement in serious violence and crime through this investment. In taking a Community Development approach to de-escalate community conflict and support the wellbeing of youth and their families, this Grant will see successful Grant recipients join the City-wide Youth Violence Prevention Network to:
- Increase collaboration and connectivity within the youth-serving sector in real-time.
- Empower local leadership and connections to City services & strategies.
- Build capacity of the youth-serving sector to prioritize youth violence prevention strategies, resources, and services.
- Empower collective community-led solutions to emerging issues.
- Strategically align funding opportunities to fill gaps in services and decrease duplication.
- Integrate youth violence prevention investments by deepening community involvement in the implementation of SafeTO and other strategic City initiatives.
- Ensure investments are complimentary and working towards a common goal.
- Develop community leadership by identifying cohorts of emerging leaders to ensure succession planning.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants to the Youth Violence Prevention Grant will be accepted from partnerships comprised of an established, community-based non-profit lead organization and a grassroots group/organization. These two parties must demonstrate a balanced division of labour, a strong commitment to collaboration and partnership, a proven track record of two (2) or more years of working with youth most vulnerable to involvement in serious violence and crime (MVP youth, aged 10-29) and solid communication and risk mitigation plans.
- To Apply, the Established Not-for-Profit Lead and Grassroots Partner Must Both Meet the Following Eligibility Criteria:
- Have experience in trauma-informed, culturally appropriate, healing-centred approaches including appropriate supports for justice-involved, gang-involved, and gang-associated youth.
- Have two (2) or more years of proven work within the selected neighbourhood(s) that includes established relationships with community members in youth violence prevention, intervention, or interruption programming.
- Have proven and demonstrated experience in data collection and evaluation with MVP youth, aged 10-29.
- Have access to safe spaces for youth in selected communities.
- Have knowledge of positive youth development principles and practices in the mental health and justice sectors.
- Organizational Eligibility | The Established Not-for-Profit Lead Must:
- Be an incorporated not-for-profit organization that operates without financial gain for its members or directors.
- Be based in the City of Toronto. This means the organization must be located in Toronto with an address that begins with an M postal code and Grant supported activities must take place in Toronto.
- Be accountable to the community through an elected Board of Directors who are representative of the community served.
- More than 50% of Board members reside in the City of Toronto.
- Have audited financial statements for the most recent fiscal year.
- Be in good standing with the City of Toronto.
- Comply with the City of Toronto Grants Policy.
- Have proven financial and program management experience.
- Have proven experience and ability to manage the project (i.e.: administrative oversight, financial processes and procedures).
- Partners have a clear role in the project and there is a clear structure for the decision-making process. Organizational Eligibility | The Grassroots Partner Must:
- Consist of three (3) or more members/staff who will be compensated for project work.
- Be a separate entity from the established not-for-profit organizational partner.
- Be based in the City of Toronto. This means the organization must be located in Toronto with an address that begins with an M postal code and Grant supported activities must take place in Toronto.
For more information, visit City of Toronto.