Family Innovations Scale Grant

Grow your proven community project or deepen the impact on parents, guardians and caregivers.

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Term length

Minimum 2 years, Maximum 3 years

Amount awarded (per year)

Minimum N/A

Maximum $150,000

Enhance or expand an existing project

The Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) recognizes the impact that healthy and resilient families have on the future success of young people. Through the Family Innovations grant stream, established groups led by parents, guardians and caregivers can apply for a grant to scale work they have been delivering to community. YOF believes that grassroots leaders with at least two years of experience running community-based projects have the skills to expand and improve them for the communities they serve.

We define a parent, guardian, or caregiver as someone, or one of the people, responsible for the physical, emotional, and economic wellbeing of children and youth. Our definition of parents, guardians and caregivers is inclusive and respects diverse cultural and decolonized interpretations of these roles. With a Family Innovations Scale grant, parents, guardians and caregivers can:

Enhance the quality of parents, guardians and caregivers’ experiences to deepen the impact of a current project, or
Expand a current project to impact more parents, guardians and caregivers.

YOF prioritizes grassroots groups that are looking to address the experiences of Indigenous and Black parents, guardians and caregivers who continue to face systemic barriers and oppression.

In addition to prioritizing Black and Indigenous grassroots groups, 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 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 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+)

Deadlines

Step 1: Deadline to submit the Expression of Interest Only applicants with a successful Expression of Interest will be invited to submit a grant application.	April 9, 2025, at 5 PM ET
Notification of status of the Expression of Interest	Approximately 6 weeks after the Expression of Interest deadline
Organizational Mentor application period	December 4, 2024 to June 18, 2025
Step 2: Deadline to submit the grant application	July 9, 2025, at 5 PM ET
Notification of funding decision	Approximately 8 weeks after the grant application deadline
Start date for all grants	November 1, 2025

Who is eligible to apply

YOF 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 YOF funding streams.

Eligible groups

A grassroots group that is not registered as a charity or as an incorporated not-for-profit

The work of a parent, guardian and caregiver-led grassroots group is community-led and community-inspired. Grassroots group means that core group members share identities and lived experiences with 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 council.

An 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.
Board members and day-to-day management must also be parents, guardians and caregivers.
The group is led by parents, guardians and caregivers.

Group requirements

Groups need to meet the following requirements to be eligible for funding.

1. Reflect communities served

Core group members (including board members, where applicable) reflect the identities and 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.

2. Experience

Core group members have experience doing work together. This experience can include delivering core program model or other activities.
The group demonstrates that collectively they have the skills and experiences to deliver project activities and scale this project.

3. Core group

The 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.

Note

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.

Ineligible groups

The following are not eligible to apply:

Registered charities
Religious entities established for the observation of religious beliefs, including, but not limited to, churches, temples, mosques and synagogues.
Municipalities
Groups/projects based at an existing organization (not-for-profit or for profit)
Groups specifically designed to serve parents, guardians, and caregivers through committees or clubs of institutions, including municipalities, universities, schools, and hospitals
Groups looking to design programming for children
For-profit organizations and businesses
Individuals

Project eligibility

Your project may be eligible if it meets the assessment criteria. Ensure that your project:

Strongly aligns with your chosen 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 one Priority Outcome.
Benefits parents, guardians, and caregivers

What we fund

This grant can help you improve or expand your program if you have successfully delivered core activities for at least two years and have had a positive impact on parents, guardians and caregivers. You also need to demonstrate that your group can sustain the program because of your group’s track record and continued engagement with youth and the community.

Familiarize yourself with the full list of assessment criteria.

Choose the project type that closely aligns with your specific work:

Enhance the quality of parents, guardians and caregivers’ experiences to deepen the impact of a current project

This project type is for groups that want to make a project event better to increase impact on PGC’s. This project type includes adding new program components, such as modifying and/or making refinements to your existing model.

Choose this project type if:

This is a project your group currently delivers and/or has delivered for at least two years
Your group has strong evidence of the project's success and the impact of the core project aligns with one of the Priority Outcomes associated with this grant stream.
Your group can demonstrate how you can enhance your core project and deepen the impact for the parents, guardians and caregivers you are currently working with.
Your core group of three or more members have history and experience doing work together. This experience can include delivering the core program model or other activities.

Expand a current project to impact more parents, guardians and caregivers

This project type is for groups that want to reach more PGC’s and expand the impact of their project. Expanding an existing successful project should also include aiming to increase the number of PGC’s who can access your program. For example, you could add more locations or hours to expand program delivery and increase access for youth beneficiaries.

Choose this project type if:

This is a project your group currently delivers and/or has delivered for at least two years
Your group has strong evidence of the project's success and the impact of the project aligns with one of the Priority Outcomes associated with this grant stream.
Your group can demonstrate how you can expand the reach of the project and achieve your chosen Priority Outcome to serve more parents, guardians and caregivers.
Your core group, of three or more members, has a history and experience of doing work together. This experience can include delivering the core program model or other activities.

Expanding an existing successful project should also include seeking to increase the number of parents, guardians and caregivers who can access your program. For example, you could add more locations or contact frequency to expand program delivery and increase access for your beneficiaries.

Priority Outcomes reflect the changes YOF is investing in. While many of the outcomes focus on key priority populations or experiences, we continue to prioritize Indigenous and Black parents, guardians and caregivers as part of our ongoing commitment to address systemic barriers to economic and social wellbeing.

The one Priority Outcome your group chooses must align with the impact you have already had on one of YOF’s primary beneficiaries. Your project should build on that impact in your Scale grant.

List of Priority Outcomes

Creating opportunities for Indigenous and/or Black parents, guardians, and caregivers to strengthen relationships, build strong community and cultural connections, and heal from trauma
Supporting parents, guardians, and caregivers to navigate and access resources for economic stability
Supporting parents, guardians and caregivers to effectively navigate, access, and influence systems that affect family wellbeing

How to choose a Priority Outcome

When choosing your Priority Outcome, ask yourself:

What key issues and/or challenges do your selected parents, guardians, and caregivers face?
Over the past two years, what changes did your group achieve through your core project activities and what changes do you want to sustain as a group?
What results does your group hope to achieve through your project?

As you fill out your application, you should align your answers to the Priority Outcome your project will achieve.

All approved projects must advance one of these outcomes through project activities. The one you choose identifies the impact your project will have.

As you complete your Expression of Interest, align your Scale project with the primary beneficiaries named in your chosen Priority Outcome.

We recognize that your primary beneficiaries may hold other identities and experiences that are critical to the design and delivery of your project. In your Expression of Interest, identify the primary beneficiaries of your project and their intersecting identities and lived experiences. Your core group members should share the identities and lived experiences of your primary beneficiaries.

List of Primary Beneficiaries

Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit) parents, guardians, and caregivers
- When selecting Indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit), beneficiaries can be from urban, rural and on-reserve communities.
Black parents, guardians, and caregivers
Racialized parents, guardians, and caregivers
Newcomer 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 in low-income situations
Parents, guardians and caregivers who are homeless or at risk of being homeless
Parents, guardians, and caregivers whose children are at-risk of dropping out or have dropped out of school
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

Prepare a clear Budget and ensure that the identified costs correspond with the deliverables and major activities of your Project Plan.

All costs funded must be eligible and directly attributable to the project. Ensure that budget amounts align with Project Plan activities. Familiarize yourself with the sample Project Plan and Budget.

Eligible budget categories

You can apply for funding to cover project costs across the following categories:

Staffing

As you consider the roles and responsibilities of staff, ensure you include livable wages to support your program delivery (with considerations for Mandatory Employee Required Costs (MERC) of 20%).

Full Time Staff (35 hours or more per week)
Part Time Staff (less than 35 hours per week)

Project expenses

Transportation
Honorarium (to recognize the contributions of community leaders, elders and/or volunteers)
Support Services (translation, interpretation, child-minding)
Project supplies and materials
Project equipment (rental or purchase)
Food (for program participants)
Communications (website, promotions)
Fees (for services delivered by experts, facilitators)

Required budget categories

The following costs are required for this grant:

Administrative Support Costs (for Organizational Mentors): 15% of total budget.
Capacity Building Costs: $2,000 to $4,000 per year. Learn more about eligible capacity building activities.

Ineligible costs

Taxes, such as GST and HST, for which the Organizational Mentor is eligible for a tax rebate, and all other costs eligible for rebates.
Capital infrastructure costs (renovations to space).
Contingency costs.
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).
Fundraising campaigns.

Review all ineligible activities.

Application resources and support

Complete the Expression of Interest: Step 1 of the grant application

The Expression of Interest is the first step of a grant application and it provides OTF with the information needed to assess your proposed project. Groups with Expressions of Interest that are shortlisted will be invited to complete step 2 of the grant application.

Review the Expression of Interest.
Use the sample Project Plan and Budget.
Familiarize yourself with the assessment criteria.

Work with an Organizational Mentor

All applicants need to partner with an Organizational Mentor and enter into a collaborative agreement. An Organizational Mentor provides administrative support, project mentoring, and financial accountability to grant recipients and is a partner to the project. Learn more about Organizational Mentors.

Access application supports

General webinars are available year-round to learn about the YOF program and eligibility criteria for applicants. Register for a webinar today!
For immediate support, contact us at 1 800 263-2887 or yof@otf.ca.

Expression of Interest assessment

Your Expression of Interest is assessed based on three areas of the application: Group Eligibility, People and Strategy.

The Project Plan and Budget will not be assessed with the Expression of Interest. However, if your Expression of Interest is shortlisted, it will be reviewed by a Program Manager at the grant application stage. A Program Manager will contact you to share feedback on the Project Plan and Budget prior to the grant application deadline.

If your Expression of Interest is shortlisted, you’ll be invited to submit a grant application with an Organizational Mentor.

Group Eligibility

The eligibility of the group is reviewed and assessed as either Eligible or Not Eligible.

Core group members reflect the identities and experiences of those parents, guardians and caregivers they are working with and for.
The application is complete and contains clear and detailed responses.
Parents, guardians, and caregivers are the clear and direct beneficiaries of the project.
The group has delivered at least two years of core activities that have had an impact on parents, guardians and caregivers.
The group exists independently of a larger organization (other not-for-profit), charitable organization or municipality, university, school, and/or hospital.
The group is based in Ontario and the work will benefit parents, guardians, and caregivers in Ontario.
The group has at least three core group members.
Parents, guardians and caregivers must make up more than 50% of the core group.
More than 50% of core group members are at an 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.
The group is not a registered charity.
The Board of Directors table is complete with all active board members and all board members are included in the core group table. (for registered not-for-profits only).
The project complies with OTF Policies.
The group is in compliance with advocacy requirements of OTF’s Eligibility Policy.
The group is either an unincorporated group or an incorporated not-for-profit corporation, with independently managed revenues of $50,000 or less in either of the last two years.

People

Assessment weight: 40%

Strong Grassroots Leadership

The group members have a history of working together.
The group demonstrates that collectively they have the skills and experiences to deliver project activities and scale this project.
The group demonstrates that they can effectively administer the grant (annual planning and reporting, budget management etc.).

Strategy

Assessment weight: 60%

Setting the Context (Issue and Idea)

The group clearly and fully demonstrates they have delivered activities over two years to parents, guardians and caregivers.
The group has fully and clearly described how they want to scale their current project and for what purpose (to “Enhance the quality of parents, guardians, and caregivers' experiences to deepen the impact of a current project” or “Expand a current project to impact more parents, guardians, and caregivers”).
The need, issue or opportunity connects to systemic barriers that parents, guardians and caregivers face.
Original core activities and proposed plan to scale are an effective response to the need, issue or opportunity the group is addressing.
The idea (including plan for scaling) is culturally anchored and has been designed to respond to the experiences, needs and assets of parents, guardians and caregivers.

Potential for Impact (Idea and Impact)

Parents, guardians and caregivers are clear and direct beneficiaries of the project.
The changes the group hopes to make can be achieved through their project.
The changes or impacts the group hopes to make align with their chosen Priority Outcome.