
Open
OTF — Economic Recovery and Resilience Fund
Last Update: February 24, 2026
ON, Canada
Supports Black youth pathways to jobs and entrepreneurship
Grant and Funding
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
Develop employee skills
Develop strategic partnerships
Raise awareness and mobilize the public
See more
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 125,000 $
Timeline
- Unspecified
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Persons with Disabilities
- Black Canadians
- Rural or Northern Residents
- Canadians
- Youth (<40)
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- All industries
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- All dimensions
Overview
One-time, two-year funding of up to $125,000 per year supports locally developed projects outside the Greater Toronto Area that improve the social and economic success of Black children, youth, and young adults. Eligible activities include skill-building and employability supports, pathways to meaningful work and professional networks, and entrepreneurship/business-building supports delivered in Ontario.
Activities funded
- Support for key life transitions (e.g., school transitions and school-to-work transitions) for Black children and youth
- Mentorship and access to relevant peer, educational, and professional networks
- STEM and other in-demand career exposure activities
- Job readiness, employability, and leadership programming; workplace initiatives to improve inclusion and safety
- Entrepreneurship and business-building supports (coaching/mentoring, incubator/accelerator participation, essential business skills)
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 95,000
Modernize sales systems and strengthen resilience through digital operations
$ 92,000
Launch hybrid services with upgraded booking, CRM, and streaming tools
$ 98,000
Upgrade efficient equipment and training to reduce costs and delays
Eligibility
- Be a CRA-registered charity/foundation or an incorporated not-for-profit without share capital in Canada (or an eligible collaborative with an eligible lead).
- Be a Black-led or Black-focused organization (or a collaborative led by a Black-led/Black-focused organization).
- Carry out all project activities in Ontario and outside the Greater Toronto Area.
- Select and align the project to one Economic Recovery and Resilience Fund outcome.
- Complete the required pre-application coaching call and organization registration before accessing the application.
Who is eligible?
- CRA-registered charitable organizations or foundations
- Incorporated not-for-profit corporations without share capital (in a Canadian jurisdiction)
- Collaboratives of two or more organizations (with an eligible lead organization)
Who is not eligible
- Organizations based in York, Durham, Toronto, Peel, or Halton (Greater Toronto Area)
Eligible expenses
- Project-specific staff salaries (full-time and part-time)
- Purchased services (consultants/contractors/subject experts) for project delivery
- Equipment purchase or rental; materials and supplies
- Travel, food (project delivery), honorariums, and communications/promotional costs
- Capacity building/professional development (up to $3,000/year) and project learning & evaluation (up to 10% of total grant request)
- Project-related overhead/administration (up to 15% of the total YOF grant budget)
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Capital infrastructure projects (e.g., renovations to space)
- Costs related to political or religious activities
- General or ongoing operating costs unrelated to the project
- Bursaries, scholarships, sponsorships, individual requests, or regranting to other projects/people
- Fundraising campaigns
Eligible geographic areas
- Ontario (all project activities must take place in Ontario)
- Communities outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
Selection criteria
- Organization experience and capacity to advance the selected outcome (40%)
- Strategy and impact to support the selected beneficiaries and outcome (35%)
- Project plan and budget quality and feasibility (25%)
How to apply
1
Check eligibility and fit
- Review the fund’s eligibility requirements (organization type, beneficiaries, geography, project eligibility)
- Confirm your project aligns with one Economic Recovery and Resilience Fund outcome
2
Book coaching call
- Book a required one-on-one pre-application coaching call by September 7, 2022
- Contact 1 800 263-2887 or yof@otf.ca for support
3
Register with OTF
- Register your organization with OTF after completing the coaching call
- If already registered, email yof@otf.ca to confirm whether profile updates are needed
- If applying as a collaborative, the lead organization registers and accepts accountability
4
Prepare application responses
- Review the fund’s application questions and planned responses
- Select a 1-year or 2-year request term (maximum 24 months)
5
Create the project plan
- Build a Project Plan with milestones, timing, frequency, beneficiaries, and resources
- Confirm the project start date is January 3, 2023
6
Finalize the budget
- Prepare the budget using only eligible costs and respecting caps (e.g., overhead up to 15%; capacity building up to $3,000/year; evaluation up to 10%)
- Ensure the request does not exceed $125,000 annually
- Be prepared to provide two written quotes for any individual good/service above $10,000 if requested
7
Submit the application
- Submit the grant application by September 28, 2022 at 5 PM ET
- Confirm all required declarations and acknowledgements in the application
8
Await notification
- Wait for a status update approximately 3 months after the deadline
Processing and Agreement
- YOF verifies organizational eligibility during the organization registration step.
- Applications are assessed by YOF staff and Grant Review Committee members, including an initial yes/no eligibility assessment.
- Applicants are notified of the application status approximately 3 months after the deadline.
- If approved, grantees participate in monitoring and submit a progress report and/or final report, including reporting on key metrics and learnings.
- 10% of funds are held back and released after the final report is approved; grants may be selected for a compliance audit during or after the grant term.
Additional information
- Maximum grant term length is 24 months.
- No future deadlines: all funds have been allocated and there are no further granting rounds.
- Projects must start on January 3, 2023 (per the application questions).
- Two written quotes are required for individual goods and/or services over $10,000 (may be requested during assessment or if approved).
Contacts
yof@otf.ca
ON, Canada
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Frequently Asked Questions about the OTF — Economic Recovery and Resilience Fund Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the OTF — Economic Recovery and Resilience Fund. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
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