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OTF — Economic Recovery and Resilience Fund
Last Update: March 3, 2026
Ontario, Canada
Supports Black youth pathways to jobs and entrepreneurship
Grant and Funding
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.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increasing community impact
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop employee skills
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 125,000 $
Timeline
- Open continuously
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
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
