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OTF — Organizational Mentors

Supports organizations mentoring grassroots groups

Offered by
Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF)
Official source: otf.ca

Source change captured

Funding available
Up to 15% of project cost
Deadline
Unspecified
Location
Ontario, Canada
Who can apply
A registered charitable organization
See full eligibility

Overview

The Organizational Mentor stream of the Youth Opportunities Fund supports registered charitable organizations, incorporated not-for-profit corporations without share capital in a Canadian jurisdiction, and First Nations in Ontario. It funds administrative support, project mentoring, and financial accountability for grassroots groups delivering community projects.

At a glance

Funding available

Maximum share of project costs
15%
Financing goals
  • Increase social or community impact
  • Improve governance or administrative structure
  • Develop strategic partnerships
  • Develop workforce skills

Eligible candidates

Location
  • Ontario
Eligible Industries
All industries
Annual revenue
$ 250,000 minimum revenue
Organisation size
All organization sizes
Audience
  • Indigenous Peoples
  • Persons with Disabilities
  • Language Minorities
  • Newcomers to Canada
  • Black Canadians
  • Canadians
  • Youth (<40)
Legal structures
Non-profit

Receipt of requests is now closed

Get notified about updates to this grant.

Availability timeline

2026
Periods: 3

Latest changes

Application acknowledgment policy update

The Organizational Mentor Application Questions now names OTF’s Digital Services and Data Policy, Access to Information Policy, and Privacy Statement in the application acknowledgment.

See more

The Organizational Mentor Application Questions page updated the application acknowledgment to reference OTF’s Digital Services and Data Policy, Access to Information Policy, and Privacy Statement. The prior explicit agreement wording tied to the Open Data Policy was removed.

Official source: otf.ca
September 23, 2026

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

  • A registered charitable organization
  • An organization incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation without share capital in a Canadian jurisdiction, including a Chartered Community Council operating under the Métis Nation of Ontario or Inuit organizations that are registered as not-for-profit corporations without share capital in Canada
  • A First Nation

Who is not eligible

  • Organizations that do not have a primary purpose, presence, and reputation for delivering community-based programs and services with direct community benefit in Ontario
  • A person applying as an individual
  • Municipalities or their cultural or recreation agencies, including municipal libraries and museums
  • Universities, colleges, schools, hospitals, and their affiliated agencies
  • Religious organizations or institutions, organizations with less than 5 years as a registered not-for-profit, and for-profit organizations or businesses

Eligible expenses

  • Overhead and Administrative Support Costs

Ineligible Costs and Activities

  • Expenses incurred prior to the project start date

Eligible geographic areas

  • Ontario

Activities funded

  • Providing administrative support to projects carried out by grassroots groups
  • Providing project mentoring to projects carried out by grassroots groups
  • Providing financial accountability for projects carried out by grassroots groups

How to apply

  • Plan the application and documentation, including reviewing the eligibility criteria, upcoming deadlines, and the Organizational Mentor application questions, and ensuring the organization has an OTF account to access the Granting Portal.
  • Submit Organization Information so OTF can review and assess eligibility.
  • Complete the Organizational Mentor application when invited.
  • Build a partnership with a Grassroots Group and complete, review, and sign the OM–Grassroots Group Collaborative Agreement, which must be included with the grant application.
Open application portal

Documents Needed

  • Signed OM–Grassroots Group Collaborative Agreement
  • Corporate registration details (e.g., business number and year of incorporation) where applicable
  • Registered charity number and year of registration where applicable
  • Financial statements meeting OTF requirements (most recent fiscal year, with comparative prior year)
  • Governance information (e.g., board member list and bylaws)

Processing and Agreement

  • OTF reviews and assesses eligibility based on the submitted “Organization Information.”
  • Eligible organizations are invited to complete the Organizational Mentor application.
  • If the grant application is approved, the Organizational Mentor must enter into a formal, legally binding grant agreement with OTF.
  • Final report is reviewed by OTF staff; once approved, holdback funds are released and the grant is closed.

Additional information

  • The legal boundaries of the relationship between an Organizational Mentor and a grassroots group are set by the Canada Revenue Agency and are non-negotiable.
  • Once a grant application is approved by OTF’s Board of Directors, the Organizational Mentor will take on the role of the grantee and be fully responsible for the project deliverables and management of project funds.
  • If the relationship between an Organizational Mentor and a grassroots group ends while a grant is active, the grant will be rescinded.

Contacts

yof@otf.ca

Official sources

About Organizational Mentors

Program guide

Organizational Mentor Application Questions

Application portal

Apply for a Youth Opportunities Fund Grant through OTF’s Granting Portal

Supporting document

OM ResponsibilitiesOM ResponsibilitiesOrganizational Mentors Resources
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Frequently Asked Questions about the OTF — Organizational Mentors Program

What is the OTF — Organizational Mentors?

The Organizational Mentor stream of the Youth Opportunities Fund supports registered charitable organizations, incorporated not-for-profit corporations without share capital in a Canadian jurisdiction, and First Nations in Ontario. It funds administrative support, project mentoring, and financial accountability for grassroots groups delivering community projects.

How much funding can be received?

OTF — Organizational Mentors Funds up to 15% of admissible expenses.

Who is eligible for the OTF — Organizational Mentors program?

To be eligible for the OTF — Organizational Mentors program, you must: Registered charitable organizations, incorporated not-for-profit corporations without share capital in a Canadian jurisdiction, and First Nations Applicants must have at least $250,000 in annual revenues in each of the last 2 fiscal years and 5 years as an incorporated non-profit or charitable organization, unless they are First Nations Applicants must have the capacity and infrastructure to support Grassroots Groups in Ontario

What expenses are eligible under OTF — Organizational Mentors?

Overhead and Administrative Support Costs

Who can I contact for more information about the OTF — Organizational Mentors?

You can contact Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) by email at yof@otf.ca.

Where is the OTF — Organizational Mentors available?

The OTF — Organizational Mentors program is available the province of Ontario.

Is the OTF — Organizational Mentors a grant, loan, or tax credit?

OTF — Organizational Mentors is a Grant and Funding