Closed
Source verified August 11, 2026
OTF — Organizational Mentors
Supports organizations mentoring grassroots groups
Receipt of requests is now closed
Get notified about updates to this grant.
Latest source updateLast Update: April 2, 2026Latest change: The OTF Organizational Mentors page has been updated for the 2026-2027 grant round, with significant changes to the available mentor organization list.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: April 2, 2026
Latest change: The OTF Organizational Mentors page has been updated for the 2026-2027 grant round, with significant changes to the available mentor organization list.
OTF Organizational Mentors program updated for new grant round
The OTF Organizational Mentors page has been refreshed for the 2026-2027 grant round. The most significant change is a substantial reduction in the list of available Organizational Mentor organizations, dropping from approximately 54 organizations to 13 organizations, which dramatically affects the options available to grassroots groups seeking a mentor partner. The page is now current and active after previously displaying an out-of-date notice. Contact information and catchment areas have been updated for multiple remaining organizations. Core eligibility criteria, mentorship tier requirements, funding terms, and application steps remain unchanged.
Funding available
Up to 15% of project cost
Deadline
Closed
Location
Ontario, Canada
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.
Receipt of requests is now closed
Get notified about updates to this grant.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Improve governance or administrative structure
- Develop strategic partnerships
Eligible Funding
- Up to 15% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Non-profit
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)
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
- 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
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)
Official resources
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
How to apply
- Step 1: Plan application
- Review Organizational Mentor eligibility criteria and upcoming deadlines.
- Use the Organizational Mentor application questions to prepare required information.
- Ensure your organization has an OTF account to access the Grant Portal (create an account if new).
- Step 2: Submit organization information for eligibility review
- Provide required organization details for OTF to assess eligibility.
- Step 3: Complete Organizational Mentor application
- Submit the Organizational Mentor application when invited.
- Step 4: Partner with a Grassroots Group
- Work with the Grassroots Group to complete, review, and sign the OM–Grassroots Group Collaborative Agreement.
- Ensure the signed collaborative agreement is included with the Grassroots Group’s grant application (Youth Innovations or Family Innovations streams, when invited).
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
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?
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
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