OTF — Organizational Mentors

• 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)

• Be an eligible entity: a registered charity, an incorporated non-profit (without share capital) in a Canadian province/territory, or a First Nation.
• Have a primary purpose, presence, and reputation for delivering community programs and services that directly benefit communities in Ontario.
• Have at least $250,000 in annual revenue in each of the last two fiscal years (mentorship level requirements may be higher).
• Have board authorization and a senior leader with signing authority to submit the application.
• Have the capacity and infrastructure (policies, procedures, insurance, and staff resources) to support grassroots groups and their projects.

Who is eligible?

• Registered charities
• Incorporated non-profit organizations (without share capital) in Canada
• First Nations

Who is not eligible

• For-profit organizations or businesses
• Individuals applying in their personal capacity
• Municipalities and their cultural or recreational agencies (including municipal libraries and museums)
• Universities, colleges, schools, hospitals, and their affiliated agencies
• Religious institutions or organizations

Eligible expenses

• Overhead and administrative costs (15% of the grant budget retained by the Organizational Mentor)

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Expenses incurred prior to being notified of grant approval

Eligible geographic areas

• Ontario

• 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.

• Organizational Mentors (OMs) assume legal and financial responsibility for project deliverables and funds as the OTF grantee.
• Intellectual property developed through the project by the Grassroots Group remains the property of the Grassroots Group.
• If the OM–Grassroots Group relationship ends during the grant term, the grant may be rescinded and cannot automatically be transferred to a new OM.
• Grassroots groups must choose an OM; each OM may have its own partnership selection process.