OTF — Youth Innovations Scale Grant

• Organizational Mentor application

Who is eligible?

• Established groups led by parents, guardians, or caregivers.

Who is not eligible

Certain groups and organizations are not eligible for the Youth Innovations Scale Grant due to their registration status, governance structure, or primary activity. These restrictions are in place to ensure that the funds support grassroots, community-driven initiatives that directly benefit youth.

• Registered charities.
• Religious entities established for the observation of religious beliefs, including churches, temples, mosques, and synagogues.
• Municipalities.
• Groups composed entirely of members aged 30 years or older (all-adult groups).
• Groups that are part of an existing organization (not-for-profit or for-profit).
• Committees or clubs of institutions like universities, schools, and hospitals.
• For-profit organizations and businesses.
• Individuals.

Eligible expenses

The Youth Innovations Scale Grant supports projects focused on enhancing or expanding successful community projects to benefit youth. Eligible activities align with objectives like improving the quality of youth engagements or increasing the reach of projects to impact more young people.

• Enhancing the quality of current youth initiatives to deepen their impact.
• Adding new components or modifying existing project models for greater effectiveness.
• Expanding current projects to reach a larger number of youth beneficiaries.
• Increasing the accessibility of programs by adding more locations or operational hours.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Political activities or activities aimed at changing law or government policy.
• Fundraising campaigns.
• Capital infrastructure costs, such as renovations.
• Personal one-on-one professional services, including therapy, counselling, legal, or accounting advice.

Eligible geographic areas

• Ontario

• Group eligibility and completeness of the Expression of Interest.
• Youth leadership and lived-experience alignment with the youth served.
• Readiness to scale an existing project with at least two years of core activities.
• Strength of the project strategy and expected impact on the chosen Priority Outcome.
• Ability to administer the project, including planning, reporting, and budget management.

• Step 1: Prepare the Expression of Interest
  • Create or sign in to an OTF account through the Granting Portal.
  • Complete and submit the Expression of Interest by the deadline.
• Step 2: Shortlisting and mentor matching
  • Wait for the Expression of Interest review and notification.
  • If shortlisted, identify and confirm an Organizational Mentor.
• Step 3: Submit the full grant application
  • Work with the Organizational Mentor to finalize the application and collaborative agreement.
  • Submit the complete grant application through the portal.
• Step 4: After review
  • Await the funding decision.
  • If approved, complete orientation and contract steps with the Organizational Mentor.

• Expressions of Interest are reviewed for eligibility, readiness, project impact, and understanding of the target youth group.
• Shortlisted groups are invited to submit a full grant application with an Organizational Mentor.
• Grant recommendations are approved by OTF’s Board of Directors after review by the Grant Review Committee.
• Successful groups must complete orientation, sign the grant contract through their Organizational Mentor, and submit regular progress and final reports.

The Youth Innovations Scale Grant offers funding to scale successful youth-led projects focused on addressing systemic barriers faced by specific youth groups in Ontario. Successful applicants must work with an Organizational Mentor to receive support in project administration, mentorship, and financial accountability.

• YOF invests in established youth-led or youth-adult partnerships that are community-led and community-inspired.
• The grant stream emphasizes supporting Black and Indigenous youth and those with intersecting experiences of systemic oppression.
• Applicants must comply with OTF policies and funding exclusions, including advocacy-related restrictions.
• Groups must have an independent operation with no more than $50,000 in revenue in the past two years.
• An Organizational Mentor is mandatory for all applicants, providing administrative support and project oversight.
• Eligible expenses include staffing, transportation, honorarium, support services, project supplies, and relevant fees.
• Ineligible expenses include capital infrastructure, political or religious activities, fundraising campaigns, and direct therapy or professional services.
• Expression of Interest is the first stage, leading to a detailed grant application for shortlisted groups, with a focus on strong youth leadership and impactful strategies.
• All projects must contribute towards a specific Youth Innovations Priority Outcome aligned with the grant's objectives.