Closed
Source verified September 24, 2026
OTF — Family Innovations Test Grant
Family-led innovation funding for Ontario groups
Get notified when OTF — Family Innovations Test Grant reopens
Latest source updateLast Update: September 24, 2026Latest change: OTF’s eligibility policy was substantially rewritten, and the Family Innovations Test Grant now shows updated annual funding over 1, 2 or 3 years.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: September 24, 2026
Latest change: OTF’s eligibility policy was substantially rewritten, and the Family Innovations Test Grant now shows updated annual funding over 1, 2 or 3 years.
Eligibility policy and award terms updated
OTF’s Eligibility Policy was extensively rewritten, adding new conditions for eligible applicants, capacity, good standing, Ontario delivery, and project alignment, while revising ineligible applicants and ineligible activities and costs. The policy now references incorporation under the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010. The Family Innovations Test Grant page now shows updated annual funding for 1, 2 or 3 years.
Funding available
$ 300,000
Deadline
Unspecified
Location
Ontario, Canada
Who can apply
Grassroots groups that are not registered as a charity or as an incorporated not-for-profit.
See full eligibility
Overview
Supports grassroots family-led projects to test new ideas, research issues, or explore collective approaches. Provides up to $100,000 per year for work that benefits parents, guardians, and caregivers in Ontario.
Receipt of requests is now closed
Get notified about updates to this grant.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop a new program or service
- Increase social or community impact
- Strengthen organizational capacity
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 300,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- $ 50,000 maximum revenue
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Language Minorities
- Other Racialized Persons
- Black Canadians
- Rural or Northern Residents
- 2SLGBTQI+
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Social Services
- Children and Youth Organizations
- Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups
- Indigenous peoples
- New immigrants & refugees
- People with disabilities
- LGBTQ+ community
- Rural / Remote communities
- Low-income individuals / families
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- Mixed revenue (<50% earned)
Scope
- Provincial
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 2
Activities funded
- Pilot a new idea for families
- Research an issue or new concept
- Strategize around an issue affecting parents, guardians, and caregivers
Documents Needed
- Most recent completed financial statements with comparative information for the prior fiscal year
- Additional documentation if the organization has an accumulated surplus greater than 12 months or an accumulated deficit greater than 10%
Official resources
Program guide
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Grassroots groups that are not registered as a charity or as an incorporated not-for-profit.
- Organizations incorporated as not-for-profit corporations without share capital in a Canadian jurisdiction, including a Chartered Community Council operating under the Métis Nation of Ontario, or Inuit communities that are registered as not-for-profit corporations without share capital in Canada.
- Grassroots groups from a First Nation.
Who is not eligible
- First Nations.
- Registered charities.
- Religious entities established for the observation of religious beliefs, including churches, temples, mosques and synagogues.
- Municipalities.
- For-profit organizations or businesses, individuals, groups/projects based at an existing organization, groups specifically designed to serve parents, guardians, and caregivers through committees or clubs of institutions, including municipalities, universities, schools, and hospitals, and groups looking to design programming for children.
Eligible expenses
- Staffing costs, including wages and related employer costs
- Transportation, food, honoraria, and support services
- Project supplies, materials, and equipment
- Communications, website, and promotion costs
- Fees for experts, facilitators, and consultants
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Taxes, such as GST and HST, for which the Organizational Mentor is eligible for a tax rebate, and all other costs eligible for rebates.
- Capital infrastructure costs, contingency costs, costs related to political or religious activities, general or ongoing operating costs unrelated to the project, personal one-on-one professional services, participant groceries, household supplies or equipment, bursaries, scholarships, sponsorships or individual requests, including regranting funds to other projects or people, and fundraising campaigns.
- Hiring staff members to perform a specific role related to the delivery of your project, paying honoraria to volunteers, organizational infrastructure or equipment, wellness activities used for an individual member, any in-person activities taking place outside of Ontario, and activities that don’t strengthen your core group or relate to building skills to enhance your project delivery.
Eligible geographic areas
- Ontario
Selection criteria
- YOF prioritizes grassroots groups that are looking to address the experiences of Indigenous (First Nation, Métis or Inuit) and/or Black parents, guardians and caregivers who continue to face systemic barriers and oppression.
How to apply
- Step 1: Prepare the application
- Review the deadlines and application resources.
- Create an OTF account in the Granting Portal.
- Step 2: Submit the Expression of Interest
- Complete and submit the Expression of Interest by the deadline.
- Late submissions are not accepted.
- Step 3: Review and shortlist
- OTF reviews eligibility and assesses the Expression of Interest.
- Shortlisted groups are notified about 6 weeks after the deadline.
- Step 4: Confirm Organizational Mentor
- Identify and confirm an eligible Organizational Mentor.
- Review and finalize the collaborative agreement.
- Step 5: Submit the grant application
- Work with the Organizational Mentor to complete and submit the full application.
- Upload the signed collaborative agreement.
- Step 6: Decision and next steps
- Wait for the funding decision, usually about 8 weeks after the deadline.
- If approved, complete orientation and sign the Grant Contract through the Organizational Mentor.
Processing and Agreement
- Expression of Interest is reviewed for eligibility, readiness, impact, and fit with beneficiaries.
- Shortlisted groups are invited to submit a full grant application with an Organizational Mentor.
- Grant recommendations are approved by OTF’s Board of Directors.
- Successful groups complete orientation and the Grant Contract is signed by the Organizational Mentor.
- Grantees must submit progress and final reports and may be audited.
Additional information
- Shortlisted groups receive feedback on the Project Plan and Budget.
- Successful groups must complete orientation and trainings.
- Progress and final reports are required after approval.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the OTF — Family Innovations Test Grant Program
What is the OTF — Family Innovations Test Grant?
Supports grassroots family-led projects to test new ideas, research issues, or explore collective approaches. Provides up to $100,000 per year for work that benefits parents, guardians, and caregivers in Ontario.
How much funding can be received?
OTF — Family Innovations Test Grant Funds up to $300,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the OTF — Family Innovations Test Grant program?
To be eligible for the OTF — Family Innovations Test Grant program, you must:
Led by parents, guardians, or caregivers.
Based in Ontario.
Requires an Organizational Mentor.
What expenses are eligible under OTF — Family Innovations Test Grant?
Pilot a new idea for families
Research an issue or new concept
Strategize around an issue affecting parents, guardians, and caregivers
Who can I contact for more information about the OTF — Family Innovations Test Grant?
You can contact Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) by email at yof@otf.ca or by phone at 18002632887.
Where is the OTF — Family Innovations Test Grant available?
The OTF — Family Innovations Test Grant program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the OTF — Family Innovations Test Grant a grant, loan, or tax credit?
OTF — Family Innovations Test Grant is a Grant and Funding