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OTF — System Innovations Grant
Collaborative systems-change funding for youth
Last Update: April 9, 2026
Funding available
$ 250,000
Timeline
- Open Date : October 15, 2025
- Closing date : March 11, 2026
Location
Ontario, Canada
Overview
Supports collaborative systems-change projects for youth in Ontario. Funding can reach $250,000 per year for groundwork or implementation focused on improving services, reducing barriers, and strengthening youth outcomes.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Increase social or community impact
- Improve governance or administrative structure
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
Timeline
- Open Date : October 15, 2025
- Closing date : March 11, 2026
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Newcomers to Canada
- Other Racialized Persons
- Black Canadians
- Rural or Northern Residents
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Youth (<40)
- Women
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Culture and Arts
- Primary and Secondary Education
- Higher Education
- Other Education
- Mental Health and Crisis Intervention
- Law and Legal Services
- Social Services
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Employment and Training
- Children and Youth Organizations
- Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups
- Children & youth
- Young adults
- Indigenous peoples
- New immigrants & refugees
- People with disabilities
- Women & girls
Revenue structures
- 100% donations / grants
Scope
- Provincial
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Groundwork to prepare a systems-change strategy
- Implementation of a systems-change action plan
- Both groundwork and implementation within one project
Documents Needed
- Organization information
- Most recent financial statements
- Board of directors list
- By-laws
- Signed collaborative agreement
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Charitable organizations and public foundations
- Not-for-profit corporations
- First Nations
- Small municipalities and their cultural or recreational agencies
Who is not eligible
- Individuals
- For-profit businesses
- Newly formed nonprofits under 5 years
- Municipalities above the small-municipality threshold
- Universities, colleges, schools, hospitals, and affiliated agencies
- Religious organizations or institutions
Eligible expenses
- Personnel costs directly tied to the project
- Purchased services, equipment, supplies, and materials
- Meetings, convenings, travel, and knowledge-sharing event costs
- Honorariums and evaluation costs
- Project-related overhead and administration up to 15%
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Extended service or program delivery
- Ongoing operating costs of the lead organization
- Direct therapy, counseling, legal, or accounting services
- Capital renovations and infrastructure projects
- Political, religious, fundraising, bursary, scholarship, and contingency costs
- Taxes eligible for rebate
Eligible geographic areas
- Ontario
Selection criteria
- People: 30%
- Strategy and impact: 45%
- Process: 25%
- Youth have a meaningful role in the project
- Project strategy is feasible and aligned with systems change
How to apply
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
7
Recommendation and Selection
The Grant Review Committee makes funding recommendations to the OTF’s Board of Directors for approval of projects.
8
Notification
Receive notification of the funding decision approximately four months after the grant application deadline.
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.
Processing and Agreement
- Application is reviewed by OTF staff and volunteers.
- Funding recommendations are made by the Grant Review Committee.
- OTF’s Board of Directors reviews and approves selected projects.
- Applicants are notified about four months after the deadline.
- If approved, grantees must report, be evaluated, and host one knowledge-sharing event.
- Final payment is released after the final report is approved.
Additional information
- Projects require a formal, signed collaborative agreement.
- OTF may request updated organization information during the grant period.
- Knowledge sharing is required before the grant ends.
- Selected grantees must work with an external evaluation partner provided by OTF.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the OTF — System Innovations Grant Program
What is the OTF — System Innovations Grant?
Supports collaborative systems-change projects for youth in Ontario. Funding can reach $250,000 per year for groundwork or implementation focused on improving services, reducing barriers, and strengthening youth outcomes.
How much funding can be received?
OTF — System Innovations Grant Funds up to $250,000 of admissible expenses.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program was March 11, 2026.
Who is eligible for the OTF — System Innovations Grant program?
To be eligible for the OTF — System Innovations Grant program, you must:
Ontario-based lead organization
Collaborative with youth involvement
At least 5 years as a nonprofit
What expenses are eligible under OTF — System Innovations Grant?
Groundwork to prepare a systems-change strategy
Implementation of a systems-change action plan
Both groundwork and implementation within one project
Who can I contact for more information about the OTF — System Innovations Grant?
You can contact Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) by email at yof@otf.ca or by phone at 1 800 263-2887.
Where is the OTF — System Innovations Grant available?
The OTF — System Innovations Grant program is available the province of Ontario.