OTF: Family Innnovations Test Grant

The Family Innovations Test Grant, offered by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, empowers parent-led grassroots organizations in Ontario to explore innovative solutions that support the well-being of families. This initiative recognizes the importance of diverse cultural perspectives and aims to address systemic barriers faced by Indigenous and Black caregivers. By fostering community-led projects, the grant helps create networks of support, ensuring families can navigate challenges and enhance their social and economic stability.

Family Innovations Test Grant
Grants support grassroots groups led by parents, guardians or caregivers to test new ideas, explore different approaches, or research important issues.
New ways to meaningfully support families
The Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) recognizes the impact that healthy and resilient families have on the future success of young people.
By investing in grassroots projects that are community-led and community-designed, opportunities are created for families to develop culturally anchored solutions to issues faced by people like them, and empower parents, guardians and caregivers to improve their social and economic stability. Through shared identities, culture and traditions, families can find ways to connect and create networks of support to navigate social systems and services that present obstacles to their success through a Family Innovations Grant.
Focus Areas
With a Family Innovations Test grant, parents, guardians and caregivers can::
Try out a new idea that has the potential to make a positive impact on the wellbeing of parents, guardians and caregiversResearch, learn and understand more about a specific topic or issue
Bring parents, guardians and caregivers together to discuss an issue and explore new approaches collectively
Priorities
YOF prioritizes grassroots groups that are looking to address the experiences of Indigenous (First Nation, Métis or Inuit) and/or Black parents, guardians and caregivers who continue to face systemic barriers and oppression.
In addition to the prioritization of Black and Indigenous grassroots groups and parents, guardians and caregivers, YOF prioritizes investing in projects that positively impact parents, guardians and caregivers with the following intersecting lived experiences or identities:
Parents, guardians, and caregivers and/or their children in conflict or at risk of being in conflict with the lawParents, guardians, and caregivers at risk of contact or in contact with child welfare services
Parents, guardians, and caregivers whose children are at-risk of dropping out or have dropped out of school
Parents, guardians, and caregivers and/or their children living with disabilities or special needs
Parents, guardians, and caregivers and/or their children who are two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning, intersex, asexual (2SLGBTQIA+)

Eligibility

The Youth Opportunities Fund supports projects led by parents, guardians and caregivers who share identities, experiences, and face the same systemic barriers as the parents, guardians and caregivers who will benefit from the project. This “led by and for” principle is a requirement in all funding streams.Eligible groupsA grassroots group that is not registered as a charity or as an incorporated not-for-profitThe work of a parent, guardian and caregiver-led grassroots group is community-led and community-inspired.Grassroots group means that core group members share the identities and lived experiences of the parents, guardians and caregivers who will benefit from the project.If you are a grassroots group from a First Nation, you are eligible to apply. Your group cannot have more than 50% of its members as part of the band office or band councilAn organization incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation without share capital in a Canadian jurisdiction This includes a Chartered Community Council, operating under the Métis Nation of Ontario, or Inuit communities that are registered as not-for-profit corporations without share capital in Canada.  The organization cannot have more than $50,000 in gross revenue in each of the last two fiscal years. Revenue also needs to be independently managed.The group is led by parents, guardians and caregivers.Groups need to meet the following requirements to be eligible for funding.Reflect communities servedCore group members (including board members, where applicable) need to share the identities and lived experiences of the parents, guardians and caregivers they are working with and for.YOF prioritizes projects led by and for Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) and Black parents, guardians and caregivers. Core groupThe group has at least three core group members.
More than 50% of core group members need to be at arm’s length relationship to each other. An ‘arm's length’ relationship means board members and group members are not married or related to each other, do not work as business partners or are otherwise in a relationship where interests may be compromised.
Parents, guardians and caregivers must make up more than 50% of the core group.
The group is based in Ontario and the work will benefit parents, guardians, and caregivers in Ontario.
The group exists independently of a larger organization (other not-for-profit), charitable organization or municipality, university, school, religious institution and/or hospital.
The group agrees to work with an Organizational Mentor and has autonomy to choose their Organizational Mentor, design the project, identify group members, and plan for the future.Groups can only apply for one Youth Opportunities Fund grant at a time. If your group has an active Youth Opportunities Fund grant, you can only apply for funding if you are in the last year of your active grant. Project eligibility
Your project may be eligible if it meets the assessment criteria. Ensure that your project:Strongly aligns with your chosen YOF Priority OutcomeComplies with OTF policies: Our policy requirements define eligibility for OTF funding and outline exclusions.Funds are granted to eligible applicants delivering eligible project activities that directly align with YOF Priority Outcomes.Benefits parents, guardians, and caregivers

Ineligibility

Ineligible applicants include, but are not limited to:Registered charitiesReligious entities established for the observation of religious beliefs, including, but not limited to, churches, temples, mosques and synagogues.MunicipalitiesGroups/projects based at an existing organizationGroups specifically designed to serve parents, guardians, and caregivers through committees or clubs of institutions, including municipalities, universities, schools, and hospitalsGroups looking to design programming for childrenFor-profit organizations or businessesIndividuals
Ineligible costsTaxes, such as GST and HST, for which the Organizational Mentor is eligible for a tax rebate, and all other costs eligible for rebates
Costs related to political or religious activities
General or ongoing operating costs (unrelated to the project)
Personal one-on-one professional services (including expenses related to direct therapy, counselling/ legal and/or accounting advice)
Costs related to paying for participant groceries, household supplies, or equipment
Bursaries, scholarships, sponsorships or individual requests (including regranting funds to other projects or people)