Open
OTF — Economic Recovery and Resilience Fund
Supports Black youth pathways to jobs and entrepreneurship
Last Update: March 3, 2026
Funding available
$ 125,000
Timeline
- Open continuously
Location
Ontario, Canada
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.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop workforce 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
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
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)
Eligibility
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)
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
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.
What is the OTF — Economic Recovery and Resilience Fund?
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.
How much funding can be received?
OTF — Economic Recovery and Resilience Fund Funds up to $125,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the OTF — Economic Recovery and Resilience Fund program?
To be eligible for the OTF — Economic Recovery and Resilience Fund program, you must:
Black-led or Black-focused organization
Project in Ontario, outside the GTA
Registered charity or incorporated not-for-profit
What expenses are eligible under OTF — Economic Recovery and Resilience Fund?
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)
Who can I contact for more information about the OTF — Economic Recovery and Resilience Fund?
You can contact Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) by email at yof@otf.ca.
Where is the OTF — Economic Recovery and Resilience Fund available?
The OTF — Economic Recovery and Resilience Fund program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the OTF — Economic Recovery and Resilience Fund a grant, loan, or tax credit?
OTF — Economic Recovery and Resilience Fund is a Grant and Funding