Potential Organizational Mentors

All grassroots groups applying for a Youth Opportunities Fund grant through the Youth Innovations and Family Innovations Streams must partner with an Organizational Mentor (OM) and sign a collaborative agreement together. 

​​​​​​​On this page is a list of organizations that are pre-approved to be Organizational Mentors for the 2025-2026 round of Youth Opportunities Fund grants. 

Connect with an organization

As you identify potential Organizational Mentors and prepare to approach them, review the conversation guide that contains questions your group can ask the organization.   

Organizations will have their own selection process when choosing to partner with a grassroots group and may require a meeting to determine if your group and project align with their mission and mandate.

Submit a grant application with a collaborative agreement

Grassroots groups applying to the Youth Innovations and Family Innovations Streams with shortlisted Expressions of Interest from the most recent deadline are invited to complete the grant application that includes a signed collaborative agreement with an Organizational Mentor.

Download the OM – Grassroots Group Collaborative Agreement template.     

  • Take time to review the agreement 
  • Make sure that your group agrees with the terms and conditions 
  • Consider how the agreement will help build your relationship with the Organizational Mentor throughout the project

OMs approved as of March 25, 2025

This list may be updated over time. If you require support finding an Organizational Mentor, connect with us at yof@otf.ca.

Organization and
OTF Catchment served
Areas of FocusLead Contact Information

The Arab Community Centre of Toronto

Etobicoke

Grassroots group capacity: 2
 

  • Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families
    Employment and training
  • Youth justice
  • Housing and social supports
  • Systems navigation 
  • Improving access to resources for economic stability 
  • Arts and culture  
  • Increasing access to mentors
Dima Amad        
Executive Director
416 231-7746 poste 229
dima@acctonline.ca
 

Aspire For Higher

Brampton

Grassroots group capacity: 2
 

  • Employment and training
  • Youth justice
  • Housing and social supports 
Eldon Holder
VP. of Social Impact & Stakeholder  
819 209-5104 
eldon@aspireforhigher.ca
 

Immigrant Women Services Ottawa

Champlain

Grassroots group capacity: 2
 

  • Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families
  • Employment and training
  • Improving access to resources for economic stability  
     
Mercy Lawluvi 
Executive Director
613 729-3145
mercy@iwso.ca
 

Impact ON
Toronto

Grassroots group capacity: 2

*Francophone organization 
 

 •    Creating safe spaces for Indigenous and Black youth and families  
•    Education and training
•    Employment and training
•    Housing and social supports 
•    Housing and social supports 

 
Julien Geremie
Executive Director
416 364-4545 ext. 113
julien.geremie@cco.coop

 

Keystone Child, Youth & Family Services

Grey, Bruce, Huron & Perth

Grassroots group capacity: 1
 

  • Creating safe spaces for Indigenous youth and families
  • Education and training
  • Employment and training
  • Youth justice
  • Housing and social supports
  • Systems navigation  

David Willis
President and CEO
226 668-4745
davidwillis@keystonebrucegrey.com

KIP Canada

Toronto

Grassroots group capacity: 1
 

  • Creating safe spaces for Indigenous youth and families
  • Youth justice
Derek Reid
Co-founder and director of operations
416 505-5333
dreid.kipcanada@gmail.com

Nigerian Canadians for Cultural, Educational and Economic Progress

Toronto

Grassroots group capacity: 2

  • Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families 
  • Youth justice
  • Systems navigation 
  • Improving access to resources for economic stability 
  • Arts and culture   

 

Celine Madjoufang
Senior administrator
519 966-2767
c.carelle@ncceep.com

Preston Heights Community Group

Waterloo, Wellington & Dufferin

Grassroots group capacity: 1

  • Creating safe spaces for Black and Indigenous youth and families
  • Arts and culture  

Justin West
Executive director
226 988-6016
justinw@prestonheights.ca

SAW Video Media Art Centre

Champlain

Grassroots group capacity: 2

  • Creating safe spaces for Black and Indigenous youth and families
  • Arts and culture  

Emily Ramsay
Director
613-238-7648
director@digitalartsresourcecentre.ca

Social Planning Council of Ottawa 

Champlain

Grassroots group capacity: 2

  • Creating safe spaces for Black and Indigenous youth and families 
  • Education and training
  • Employment and training
  • Youth justice
  • Housing and social supports
  • Systems navigation 
  • Improving access to resources for economic stability 
  • Arts and culture   

Dianne Urquhart
Executive Director
613-236-9300 poste 303
dianneu@spcottawa.on.ca

The Teresa Group

Toronto

Grassroots group capacity: 2

 

  • Creating safe spaces for Black and Indigenous youth and families
  • Education and training
  • Employment and training
  • Youth justice
  • Systems navigation 
  • Housing and social supports
  • Arts and culture  
  • Increasing access to mentors 

Rajesh Pisharody
Executive Director
416 564-5985
rpisharody@teresagroup.ca

Windsor Family Homes & Community Partnerships

Essex, Kent, Lambton

Grassroots group capacity: 2

  • Creating safe spaces for Indigenous youth and families
  • Housing and social supports
  • Arts and culture  
  • Systems navigation  

Angela Yakonich
Executive Director
519 258-4501
angela@wfhcp.com

Women's Health in Women's Hands Community Health Centre

Toronto

Grassroots group capacity: 2

  • Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families, 
  • Youth justice
  • Systems navigation 
  • Improving access to resources for economic stability  

Tomilola John
Determinants of Health Program Manager
416 593-7655
tomilola@whiwh.com

  

  

  

Person walking down the road on a directional arrow.

Discover More YOF resources

For each stream, get to know the tools that can help you plan your application. They include sample expression of interest applications, project plans and budgets.

Read more