OTF: Family Innovations Scale Grant

The Ontario Trillium Foundation's Family Innovations Scale Grant supports grassroots projects led by parents and caregivers. This grant aims to enhance and expand initiatives that engage families, particularly those facing systemic barriers. Eligible groups must have a proven track record of delivering projects for over two years, demonstrating their commitment to improving community well-being. By providing funding, the OTF seeks to empower diverse communities, fostering stronger relationships and cultural connections among families.

Are you a grassroots group led by parents, guardians, and caregivers? Apply for a Family Innovations Scale grant to support a project that you’ve been delivering for over two years, and that is designed to engage parents, guardians, and caregivers in your community. Parent-guardian-caregiver groups can;
Enhance the quality of parents, guardians and caregivers' experiences to deepen the impact of a current project.Expand a project to reach more parents, guardians, and caregivers
Project Types
Add to an Existing Project - This is a project you have already been successfully delivering for more than two years. Now you want to make it even better to increase its positive impact on parents, guardians, and caregivers. Choose this project type if:This is a project your group currently delivers and/or has delivered for at least two years.You have developed a program model with positive results. You can sustain the program as a result of your group’s track record and continued engagement with parents, guardians, caregivers, and community.You have strong evidence of the project's success and impact that aligns with one of the Priority Outcomes associated with this grant stream.Your core group has three or more members with history and experience doing work together.
Expand an existing project - This is a project you have already been successfully delivering for over two years. Now you want to reach more parents, guardians, and caregivers and expand its impact. Choose this project type if:Your group has already been successfully delivering core activities through this project for at least two years.You have strong evidence of the project's success and impactYou can demonstrate how you can expand its reach and achieve your chosen Priority OutcomeYour core group has three or more members with history and experience doing work together. This experience can include delivering the core program model or other activities.
Priority Outcomes
Create opportunities for Indigenous and/or Black parents, guardians and caregivers to help families build strong community and cultural connections, strengthen relationships, and heal from trauma.Supporting parents, guardians, and caregivers to navigate and access resources for economic stabilitySupporting parents, guardians and caregivers to effectively navigate, access, and influence systems that affect family well-being
Primary Beneficiaries
Who do you want to benefit from your project activities? The YOF invests in projects led by and for parents, guardians, and caregivers who face systemic barriers to wellbeing. If you see members of your core group and the people you want to engage through your project reflected in the list below, it's likely that your group is eligible.
Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit) parents, guardians, and caregivers
Francophone parents, guardians, and caregivers
Parents, guardians, and caregivers and/or their children who are two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning, intersex, asexual (2SLGBTQIA+).
Parents, guardians, and caregivers and/or their children living with disabilities or special needs
Parents, guardians, and caregivers and/or their children living with mental health needs and/or addiction
Parents, guardians, and caregivers living in rural, remote and/or Northern communities
Parents, guardians, and caregivers and/or their children in conflict or at risk of being in conflict with the law
Parents, 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 in low income situations
Parents, guardians and caregivers who are homeless or at risk of being homeless
Parents, guardians, and caregivers whose children are not engaged or are at risk of not being engaged with education programs, employment programs, or training programs

Eligibility

The YOF supports projects led by parents, guardians, and caregivers who share identities, experiences, and face the same systemic barriers as those who will benefit from the project. This “by and for” principle is a requirement in all YOF funding streams. Your group may be eligible if it:Is led by parents, guardians, and caregivers who share identities and experiences with those they will engage in project activitiesExists independent of a larger organization.Is based in OntarioHas three or more core membersIs either an unincorporated group or an incorporated non-profit organization with independently managed revenues no higher than $50,000 in either of the last two years.Your project may be eligible if it:Is a complete applicationStrongly aligns with your chosen YOF Priority OutcomeProject model has been implemented for two or more years, and there are strong benefits to parents, guardians and caregivers you’re engagingComplies 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 caregiversEligible expenses:Staffing (with considerations for Mandatory Employee Required Costs (MERC) of 20%) Transportation Honorarium (participants, volunteers) Support Services (translation, interpretation, child-minding) Project supplies and materials Project equipment (rental or purchase) Food Communications (website, promotions)Fees (for services delivered) Contingency (maximum of 10% per year) Capacity Building: up to $4,000 per year (Capacity building is optional for the family innovation stream).

Ineligibility

The following are not eligible to apply:Registered charitiesGroups specifically designed to serve parents, guardians, and caregivers through committees or clubs of institutions, including municipalities, universities, schools, and hospitals.Religious entities established for the observation of religious beliefs, including, but not limited to, churches, temples, mosques and synagogues. Groups looking to design programming for childrenFor-profit businesses IndividualsIneligible expensesCapital infrastructure expenses (renovations to space) Expenses related to political or religious activities General or ongoing operating expenses (unrelated to the project) Bursaries, scholarships, sponsorships or individual requests (including regranting funds to other projects or people)Fundraising campaigns