Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Youth and Philanthropy Initiative Canada (YPI)

Youth and Philanthropy Initiative Canada (YPI Canada) is a national non-profit organization that combines experiential education with community grantmaking. Founded in 2002 by Julie Toskan and established through the Toskan Casale Foundation, YPI partners with high schools across Canada to give students a direct role in allocating charitable funds. Through a structured classroom project, student teams research local social issues, identify grassroots social service charities, visit organizations, and advocate for them in a school-wide competition.

The culminating event is a final presentation assembly where teams present to peers and a panel of judges. The winning team in each participating school directs a real grant—typically $5,000 in public schools and $2,500 in private schools—to their chosen charity. This model ensures that young people are not simulating philanthropy; they are making concrete funding decisions that support front-line organizations serving their communities.

YPI Canada raises the full value of each grant before a school can officially participate. For every school enrolled in a given semester, the organization secures dedicated grant funds from philanthropic partners, corporations, foundations, and individual donors. Twice a year, schools are notified whether sufficient funding has been raised to confirm their participation, at which point YPI guarantees that at least one student team will be able to direct a grant to a local charity.

This approach links education and funding in a transparent way: donors see their contributions translated into youth-led grants, and charities receive unrestricted support selected by informed young advocates. The organization publishes impact and financial information, shares lists of grant recipients, and emphasizes responsible stewardship of donated funds.

YPI Canada primarily serves three groups: high school students, educators, and community-based charities. Students gain skills in research, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking while developing empathy and civic engagement. Educators receive a fully resourced program aligned with provincial curricula and supported by YPI training and materials. Local charities benefit from increased visibility among youth, potential volunteers, and, for winning organizations, significant grants that can be won multiple times across different schools.

Since its inception, YPI has granted more than $20 million to charities selected by youth. Each year, tens of thousands of students in dozens of schools participate, supporting organizations working on issues such as poverty, mental health, homelessness, violence prevention, disability, and newcomer supports. YPI publishes impact reports that detail student outcomes and community benefits, as well as lists of recent grantee charities.

YPI’s mission is to engage youth in philanthropic giving through experiential learning in high schools across Canada. Its vision is of young people invested in their communities today in order to build a better tomorrow. The organization’s work is grounded in values of empowerment, compassion, integrity, inclusivity, and innovation. A volunteer Board of Directors with experience in education, business, non-profit management, and philanthropy provides governance and oversight, while a dedicated staff team delivers program support to schools nationwide.

Through this combination of education and grantmaking, Youth and Philanthropy Initiative Canada occupies a unique position in the funding ecosystem: it channels donor resources into local communities while cultivating the next generation of informed, community-minded philanthropists and leaders.