Looking to enhance or expand an existing project? Are you a youth-led grassroots group or a youth-adult partnership with over two years of experience delivering a community project? If yes, then apply for a Youth Innovations Scale grant to enhance your existing project for a deeper impact on youth or to expand your project to reach more youth.
Youth Innovations Scale grants support youth-led grassroots groups and youth-adult partnerships who want to expand their reach or enhance their impact on young people.
Funding Information
Maximum $125,000
Minimum 3 years, Maximum 4 years
Outcomes
Creating safe spaces for Indigenous and/or Black youth to build strong community and cultural connections
Addressing racism and its impacts on youth in urban, rural, and/or Northern communities
Supporting Indigenous, Black, and/or newcomer youth to enter the labour market and transition to sustainable career pathways
Supporting youth who are not connected to education programs, employment programs, and training programs (i.e. NEET) to exit poverty and social assistance
Empowering girls and young women to lead, including women’s economic empowerment initiatives
Providing mentorship opportunities for youth in and leaving care and/or youth involved in the justice system
Youth living with disabilities or special needs between the ages of 12 to 29
Youth living in rural, remote and/or Northern communities
Youth in conflict or at risk of being in conflict with the law
Youth in care or leaving care
Youth in low-income situations or from low-income families
Youth who are homeless or at risk of being homeless
Youth at-risk of dropping out or have dropped out
The YOF supports projects led by youth and youth-adult partnerships who share identities, experiences with, and face the same systemic barriers as the people who will benefit.
Your group may be eligible if it meets our definitions of a youth-led group or youth-adult partnership below, and:
Has three or more core members
Is based in Ontario, and programming benefits youth in Ontario
If a group is incorporated as a not-for-profit; board members and day-to-day management continues to meet youth-led and youth adult-partnership definitions
Exists independent of a larger organization. This means the group has autonomy to choose their Organizational Mentor, design the project, identify group members, and plan for the future.
Core team members have a history and experience doing work together. This experience can include delivering core program model or other activities.
Is an:
Unincorporated group or
Incorporated not-for-profit with independently managed revenues no higher than $50,000 in either of the last two years. Board members and day-to-day management must also meet youth-led and youth adult-partnership definitions
Agrees to work with an Organizational Mentor (OM)
Ineligible
Groups specifically designed to serve young people through committees or clubs of institutions, including municipalities, universities, schools, and hospitals
Adult-initiated groups
Groups/projects based at an existing organization (not-for-profit or for profit)
Groups composed of all team members ages 30 years or older (all-adult teams)
