OTF — System Innovations Grant ON Canada

OTF — System Innovations Grant

ON, Canada
Empower collaboratives to enact meaningful systems change, prioritizing Indigenous and Black youth by addressing systemic barriers and improving service accessibility
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grant_single|eligibleFinancing
  • grant_single|maxCount
  • grant_single|projectCostPercent
grant_single|deadlines
  • grant_single|openingDateNovember 05, 2024
  • grant_single|closingDateMarch 12, 2025
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Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
  • Educational services
  • Health care and social assistance
  • Other services (except public administration)
  • Public administration
grant_single|grantors
  • Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF)
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grant_card_status|open

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The System Innovations Grant supports collaborative efforts aimed at understanding and improving systems to better serve youth, focusing particularly on Indigenous and Black communities. Eligible activities include groundwork and implementation projects that enhance how young people navigate services, reimagine access to resources, and involve youth in creating new processes. The grant prioritizes projects that address systemic barriers and empower youth aged 12-29, with funding up to $250,000 per year for a term of 2 to 5 years.

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Eligible applicants must be based in Ontario, and all project activities need to be conducted within this area. The funding is directed toward organizations that demonstrate a direct community benefit in Ontario.
  • Organizations based in Ontario, Canada.

grant_single_labels|admissibility

Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant's profile and collaborative structure.
  • The lead organization must be a charitable organization or foundation registered with the Canada Revenue Agency or a not-for-profit corporation without share capital incorporated in a Canadian jurisdiction.
  • Eligible Indigenous communities as lead organizations include a First Nation, a Chartered Community Council operating under the Métis Nation of Ontario, or Inuit communities.
  • The lead organization must have a primary purpose, presence, and reputation for delivering community benefit programs in Ontario.
  • The lead organization must demonstrate financial capacity to manage the grant funds as per OTF’s Financial Need and Health of Applicants Policy.
  • The organization must have been incorporated as a not for profit for at least 5 years at the time of application.
  • The lead organization must have a track record of serving and engaging youth aged 12-29.
  • The lead organization should not have an active System Innovations grant.
  • The collaborative must reflect the communities it serves, including in its mandate, leadership, and staff teams, and involve diverse organizations.

grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply

Collaboratives that include lead organizations meeting specific criteria are eligible to apply for the System Innovations grant. These collaboratives must focus on identifying opportunities for systemic improvement for youth and creating strategies for change. To be eligible, the collaboratives must:- Be led by a charitable organization registered with the Canada Revenue Agency or a not-for-profit corporation without share capital in Canada.- Include Indigenous communities such as a First Nation, a Chartered Community Council under the Métis Nation of Ontario, or Inuit.- Have a primary purpose of providing a community benefit in Ontario with at least five years of historical operation.- Have a track record of serving and engaging youth between the ages of 12-29, with specific focus on Indigenous and Black youth.- Engage youth actively at all stages of the project as both participants and beneficiaries.- Focus on systemic improvements within education, justice, child welfare, employment, and other relevant sectors impacting youth.- Demonstrate financial and organizational capacity to manage outreach and deliver the proposed project within Ontario.Collaboratives that reflect the communities they serve in terms of leadership and organizational mandate and include participation from diverse sectors relevant to the systemic change they aim to address are encouraged to apply. However, certain organizations such as municipalities, universities or colleges, for-profit entities, newly formed not-for-profits, and individuals are not eligible as lead applicants, though they may participate in collaboratives.

grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply

The System Innovations Grant is designed with specific exclusions to ensure alignment with its objectives. Organizations are primarily limited based on their structural and operational nature.
  • Individuals applying on their own behalf.
  • Municipalities or their cultural and recreation agencies or institutions.
  • Universities, colleges, schools, and hospitals, including any affiliated agencies.
  • Religious organizations or institutions.
  • Recently established not-for-profit entities, under 5 years of operation.
  • For-profit organizations or businesses.

grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses

This grant focuses on supporting collaborative approaches to system change for the benefit of youth facing systemic barriers. Eligible projects encompass groundwork and implementation activities designed to address specific systemic issues and improve outcomes for youth.
  • Developing a collaborative governance model that includes roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes.
  • Creating a youth governance model to engage youth meaningfully in the collaborative.
  • Conducting research to summarize issues and barriers in the current system affecting youth.
  • Collecting and summarizing youth experiences and needs concerning systemic barriers.
  • Formulating a theory of change to clarify the intended impact and long-term results of the project.
  • Drafting an action plan that includes strategies, engagement opportunities, and activities tailored to achieve improved youth outcomes.
  • Implementing strategies and policies that ensure systemic coordination and consistent support for youth, particularly those in transition (e.g., youth leaving care).
  • Facilitating an advisory group of youth to guide policy implementation and service improvements.
  • Designing a shared intake process among organizations to enhance service navigation for youth.
  • Regularly convening service providers to conduct equity audits and develop culturally anchored practices.

grant_eligibility_criteria|zone

The grant covers specific expenses directly related to the implementation and success of the project.
  • Direct Personnel Cost (Full Time): All personnel costs directly attributable to the project, for the delivery of the program/service.
  • Direct Personnel Cost (Part-Time): All personnel costs directly attributable to the project, for the delivery of the program/service, on a part-time basis.
  • Purchased Services: Services purchased from service providers or subject experts specifically relating to the delivery of the project.
  • Equipment Purchase or Rental: Cost to purchase or rent equipment related to the delivery of the project.
  • Meetings | Convenings (space, food, accommodations): Meeting/convening costs incurred relating to the delivery of the project.
  • Project Supplies And Materials: Items purchased to use in the delivery of the project.
  • Honorariums: To acknowledge, in a small way, the contributions of community leaders and experts in the groundwork and/or implementation stages of work.
  • Travel: Includes expenses for collaborative members, youth members, and stakeholders to travel to meetings and other project related activities.
  • Knowledge Sharing Event (space, food, accommodations): All costs related to preparing for and hosting a knowledge sharing event, including venue, facilitators, resources, accommodation, etc.
  • Learning and Evaluation: Up to a maximum of 10% of the total grant request budget can be used for planning and executing an evaluation of your grant project.
  • Overhead and Administration: OTF will support overhead and administrative costs directly associated with the funded project, to a maximum of 15% of the total grant request budget.

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The evaluation and selection of projects for the System Innovations Grant are based on specific criteria with allocated point scores to ensure alignment with the grant’s objectives.
  • People (30%): The capacity and community knowledge of the lead organization; appropriateness of the collaborative's size and composition; the role and involvement of YOF youth in the project; collaborative's capacity and legitimacy in stewarding the process.
  • Setting the Context (20%): Understanding of the system, its issues, and impacts on selected YOF youth; alignment between system issues, YOF youth, and Priority Outcome; understanding of context, opportunities, and barriers to system change.
  • Strategizing for System Change (25%): Evidence of groundwork already set or to be established; clarity of steps to lay groundwork or make system change; coherence of case for system change with long-term impact at various levels; project designed to meet needs of YOF youth.
  • Process (25%): Feasibility of approach to achieve project deliverables; clearly defined project deliverables in the plan; alignment of activities, project plan, and budget; clarity and robustness of budget and project plan to assess feasibility and viability.

grant_single_labels|register

Here are the steps to submit an application for this grant:
  • Step 1: Prepare Your Application
    • Understand the eligibility requirements for lead organizations and collaborative members to ensure you are eligible for funding.
    • Review important dates and deadlines associated with the application process.
    • Read the System Innovations grant application questions to fully understand what information is required.
    • Learn how Black and Indigenous groups and organizations are defined in this context.
    • Discover how to create a collaborative agreement.
  • Step 2: Book a Required Pre-application Coaching Call
    • Discuss key eligibility requirements and details of your project during this call.
    • Assess the readiness of your collaborative for the application process.
  • Step 3: Create an OTF Account
    • Lead organizations need to have an OTF account to access grant applications through OTF’s Granting Portal.
    • Complete your pre-application coaching call before setting up an account for application access.
    • If new to OTF, create a new account. If already registered, contact yof@otf.ca to verify and update organizational information.
  • Step 4: Complete the Organization Information
    • Review and answer the application questions in the Organization Information section carefully.
    • Submit the Organization Information to have the eligibility of the lead organization assessed.
    • Only eligible lead organizations will be invited to complete the full grant application.
  • Step 5: Complete the Grant Application
    • Answer all grant application questions clearly and ensure completeness.
    • Gather necessary documentation, including supporting documents like the Collaborative Agreement, if applicable.
  • Step 6: Review and Application Assessment
    • Experienced staff and volunteers will review and assess the grant application based on the assessment criteria for the System Innovations grants.
  • Step 7: Recommendation and Selection
    • The Grant Review Committee makes funding recommendations to the OTF’s Board of Directors for approval of projects.
  • Step 8: Notification
    • Receive notification of the funding decision approximately four months after the grant application deadline.
  • Step 9: After Approval
    • Begin the project as early as August 1, 2025, if approved.
    • Engage in scheduled touch points and reporting, including tracking activities and spending, with the requirement to complete annual and final reports.
    • Work with an external evaluation partner provided by OTF for project and system change assessments.
    • Host a knowledge sharing event before the end of the grant.
    • Receive release of grant hold-back funds upon approval of the final report.
    • Be aware of potential compliance audits during or after the grant period.

grant_single_labels|otherInfo

The System Innovations Grant is aimed at facilitating systems change to better serve youth, with a focus on collaborating with community stakeholders and youth-serving organizations. The grant provides a structured application process and requires a deep engagement with the targeted communities.
  • The grant prioritizes projects that improve the experiences of Indigenous and Black youth, who face systemic barriers.
  • Pre-application coaching and eligibility assessments are mandatory parts of the application process.
  • Applicants must demonstrate a history of collaborative work and a strong track record of community service, particularly with youth.
  • Knowledge sharing is a key aspect, and grantees must host a knowledge sharing event during the grant period.
  • Up to 15% of the total grant request budget can be allocated to overhead and administration costs directly associated with the project.
  • The grant process includes an assessment of readiness, strategy, and impact, focusing on youth engagement and system change deliverables.

Apply to this program