Youth Opportunities - Youth Innovations Test Grant

The Youth Innovations Test Grant, offered by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, empowers grassroots groups by funding projects led by youth or youth-adult partnerships. This initiative aims to enhance the social and economic well-being of young people, especially those from Indigenous and Black communities facing systemic barriers. Eligible projects should foster collaboration, innovation, and cultural connection, enabling youth to address issues collectively and create lasting positive impacts in their communities.

Look for better ways to support young people
Grassroots work is community-led and community-designed. Shared identities and lived experiences are essential to building relationships with those benefiting from the work and help set the stage for grassroots groups delivering impactful, local projects. The principle of delivering projects that are led by and for priority populations that will benefit from the projects is a key requirement for Youth Innovations grants.
Through this grant stream, Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) invests in projects led by youth or youth-adult partnerships to improve the social and economic well-being of youth. YOF’s work is founded on the belief that young leaders have the tools and skills to come together based on shared experiences to address the needs of youth. Young leaders are driven to find solutions that can have lasting impact and design projects that reflect how culture and traditions can enhance learning and life-long skills development to improve well-being.
A Youth Innovations Test grant is designed to help groups:
Try out a new idea that has the potential to make a positive impact on the lives of young peopleResearch, learn and understand more about a specific topic or issueBring youth together to discuss an issue and explore new approaches collectivelyYOF prioritizes grassroots groups that are looking to address the experiences of Indigenous (First Nation, Metis or Inuit) and/ or Black youth who continue to face systemic barriers and oppression.

Eligibility

The YOF supports projects led by youth who share identities, experiences, and face the same systemic barriers as the people 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 meets our definitions of a youth-led group or youth-adult partnership, and:Is led by youth, ages 29 years or under, who share identities and experiences with those they will engage in project activities Has three or more core membersIs 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 group 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.
Is based in Ontario
Agrees to work with an Organizational Mentor (OM)Your project may be eligible if it:Includes all required information
Strongly aligns with your chosen YOF Priority Outcome
Complies 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 young people ages 12-25, and/or 12-29 for youth living with special needs and/or disabilitiesEligible expenses include:Staffing (with considerations for Mandatory Employee Required Costs (MERC) of 20%)
As you consider the roles and responsibilities of staff, ensure you include livable wages to support your program delivery.
Honorarium (participants, volunteers)
Support Services (translation, interpretation, child-minding)
Fees (for services delivered by experts, facilitators)
Contingency (maximum of 10% per year) Mandatory Expenses that need to be included in every request:Administrative Support Costs (OM)- 15% of total budget
Capacity Building: minimum of $4,000 per year required and up to a maximum of $6000 per yearTerm Length: Minimum 1 year, Maximum 3 years

Ineligibility

The following are not eligible to apply: Registered charities
Groups composed of all team members ages 30 years or older (all-adult teams)
Groups/projects based at an existing organization (not-for-profit or for profit)
Groups specifically designed to serve young people through committees or clubs of institutions, including municipalities, universities, schools, and hospitals
For-profit businesses
Individuals Ineligible expenses include:Capital 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)