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 June 16, 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

Agincourt Community Services Association 

Scarborough-based groups

Grassroots groups capacity: 2 

 

  • Youth justice
  • Systems navigation
  • Housing and social supports 

 

Laura Harper 
Program Director 
416-321-6912, ext. 301 
hlaura@acsa.ca 

Ampere Association 

Durham, Haliburton, Kawartha & Pine Ridge 

Grassroots groups capacity: 2 

 

 

  • Creating safe spaces for Indigenous youth and families
  • Education and training
  • Employment and training
  • Youth justice
  • Systems navigation
  • Improving access to resources for economic stability
  • Increasing access to mentors 

Nicolas Polito 
Chief Sustainable Funding Officer 
705-878-8980 
development@amp.ca 

The Arab Community Centre of Toronto

Toronto


 

  • 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 ext. 229
dima@acctonline.ca
 

This organization is not accepting any new requests for OM partnerships.

Art Windsor-Essex 

Windsor 

Grassroots group capacity: 1 

 

  • Arts and culture

Jennifer Matotek 
Executive Director 
519 977-0013 
jmatotek@artwindsoressex.ca 

Arts Etobicoke 

Halton Peel, Toronto 

Grassroots groups capacity: 2 

  • Culture and arts 

Wendy Rading 
Executive Director  
647-809-8731  
wendy@artsetobicoke.com 

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
 

BGC East Scarborough 

Toronto 

 

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

Georgele Weller 
Director, Programs & Community Services 
416 282-7284 
gweller@esbgc.ca 

This organization is not accepting any new requests for OM partnerships.

Black Canadians for Cultural Educational and Economic Progress 

Essex, Kent, Lambton, Grand River, Hamilton, Thames Valley, Waterloo, Wellington & Dufferin  

 

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

 

Ruphine Makenne 
Accountant   
438 937-6400 
makenne_ruphine@yahoo.fr 

This organization is not accepting any new requests for OM partnerships.

Britannia Woods Community House 

Champlain 

Grassroot group capacity: 1 

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

Diana Belghali 
House & Administrative Coordinator 
613 820-0853 
diana@britanniawoods.com 

Boys & Girls Club of London 

Essex, Kent, Lambton, Grey, Bruce, Huron & Perth, Thames Valley 

Grassroots groups capacity: 2 

 

  • Creating safe spaces for Indigenous and Black youth and families
  • Education and training
  • Employment and training
  • Improving access to resources for economic stability
  • Arts and culture
  • Increasing access to mentors  

Hilda Cristales 
Manager of Finance  
519-434-9115 ext. 224 
hcristales@bgclondon.ca 

Centre canadien pour l'unité de famille (CCF) 

Ontario 

Grassroot group capacity: 1 

*Francophone organization

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

 

Franklin Weledji 
Executive Director  
647 679-5391 
direction@centrecanadiendelafamille.ca 

Centre d’Établissement, de Soutien et d’Orientation Communautaire (CESOC)

Champlain 

 

(Francophone groups) 

 

  • Employment and training
  • Systems navigation 
  • Improved access to resources for economic stability 

Saint-Phard Désir 
Executive director 
613 248-1343 ext. 306 
sdesir@cesoc.ca 

This organization is not accepting any new requests for OM partnerships.

Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Chapter 

Simcoe York, Toronto 

Grassroot group capacity: 1 

  • Creating safe spaces for Indigenous and Black youth and families
  • Education and training
  • Youth justice
  • Arts and culture
  • Increasing access to mentors
  • Other 

Eleanor Yang 
Executive Director  
647 280-6189 
executivedirector@ccnctoronto.ca 

Community Family Services of Ontario 

Toronto 

Grassroots groups capacity: 2 

 

  • Education and training
  • Employment and training
  • Youth justice
  • Systems navigation
  • Housing and social supports
  • Improving access to resources for economic stability,  
  • Arts and culture
  • Increasing access to mentors
  • Mental wellness support
  • Support for youth with disabilities
  • Newcomer programming 

Anna Victoria Wong 
Executive Director 
647 980-1822 
awong@cfso.care 

CultureLink Settlement and Community Services 

Toronto 

Grassroots groups capacity: 2 

  • Creating safe spaces for Indigenous and Black youth and families
  • Education and training
  • Employment and training
  • Systems navigation
  • Arts and culture

Jemima Sabapathy 
Executive Director  
647-403-8992 
jsabapathy@culturelink.ca 

Delta Family Resource Centre 

Toronto 

 

 

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

Gillian Dennis 
Manager, Capacity Building 
647 459-8925 
gdennis@dfrc.ca 

This organization is not accepting any new requests for OM partnerships.

Durham Rape Crisis Centre 

Durham, Haliburton, Kawartha & Pine Ridge  

Grassroots groups capacity: 2 

  • Youth justice
  • Housing and social supports  

 

Gemma Broderick 
Executive Director 
905-749-1032 
gemma@drcc.ca 

For Youth Initiative 

Toronto 

Grassroots groups capacity: 2 

  • Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families
  • Education and training
  • Employment and training
  • Youth justice 

Dennison Harcharan
437 229-1177 
dennison@foryouth.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 


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

 

Jane Alliance Neighbourhood Services 

Toronto  

Grassroots groups capacity: 2 

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

Mohamud Mohamud 
Executive Director  
416 249-6742  
mmohamud@janealliance.com 

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

Lady Ballers Camp 

Toronto 

 

 

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

Toyo Ajibolade 
Executive Director 
647 236-8696 
executivedirector@ladyballerscamp.org 

This organization is not accepting any new requests for OM partnerships.

LAMP Community Health Centre 

Halton Peel, Toronto 

Grassroots groups capacity: 2 

  • Creating safe spaces for Black and Indigenous youth and families 
  • Systems navigation  
  • Housing and social supports
  • Improving access to resources for economic stability 

Jacqueline St.Kitts 
Senior Director, Community Programs  
4162529701 ext. 299  
jacquelines@lampchc.org 

Midaynta Community Services 

Toronto 

Grassroots group capacity: 1 

 

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

Amina Noor  
Program Manager  
416 544-1992  
anoor@midaynta.com 

Nigerian Canadians for Cultural, Educational and Economic Progress

Toronto

 

  • 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

This organization is not accepting any new requests for OM partnerships.

Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre  

Halton Peel 

Grassroots groups 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
  • Improving access to resources for economic stability
  • Arts and culture
  • Increasing access to mentors 

Michelle Knoll 
Executive Director  
905 257-6029
michelle@opnc.ca 

Operation Come Home 

Champlain 

 

 

 

  • Education and training
  • Employment and training
  • Systems navigation
  • Housing and social supports
  • Improving access to resources for economic stability
  • Increasing access to mentors 

John Heckbert 
Executive Director  
343-996-5874  
jheckbert@operationcomehome.ca 

This organization is not accepting any new requests for OM partnerships.

Oshawa Senior Citizens Center 

Durham, Haliburton, Kawartha & Pine Ridge 

Grassroots groups capacity: 2 

 

  • Education and training
  • Employment and training
  • Systems navigation
  • Housing and social supports
  • Improving access to resources for economic stability

Kimberly Lepine 
Executive Director 
905 436-3889 
KLepine@oshawa.ca 

Parents partenaires en éducation 

Algoma, Cochrane, Manitoulin & Sudbury, Champlain, Hamilton, Niagara, Toronto  

 

*Francophone organization

 

  • Creating safe spaces for Black and Indigenous youth and families
  • Education and training

Balguissa Ouedraogo  
Director of inclusion projects
613 890-5424  
balguissa.ouedraogo@ppeontario.ca 

This organization is not accepting any new requests for OM partnerships.

Peel Career Assessment Services Inc. 

Halton Peel  

Grassroots groups capacity: 2 

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

Devanand Maharaj 
Executive Director  
905-670-1967 ext. 0227 
dev@peelcareer.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

Project READ Literacy Network 

Waterloo, Wellington & Dufferin 

Grassroots groups capacity: 2 

 

  • Creating safe spaces for Indigenous and Black youth and families
  • Education and training
  • Employment and training
  • Improving access to resources for economic stability
  • Systems navigation

Robin Crank  
Executive Director  
519-570-3054  
info@projectread.ca 

Restoration and Empowerment for Social Transition Centres (R.E.S.T.)  

Halton Peel, Toronto 

 

 

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

 

Dagma Koyi  
Executive Director  
905 863-1118  
dagma.koyi@restcentres.org 

This organization is not accepting any new requests for OM partnerships.

Rise Up Youth Program 

Essex, Kent, Lambton 

 

  • Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families 
  • Education and training 
  • Employment and training 
  • Increasing access to mentors 

 

Richard Wells 
Founder 
226 344-2182 
rjwells32@gmail.com 

This organization is not accepting any new requests for OM partnerships.

Routes Connecting Communities Inc. 

Simcoe York 

Grassroots groups capacity: 2 

 

 

 

  • Education and training 
  • Employment and training
  • Systems navigation
  • Housing and social supports
  • Improving access to resources for economic stability
  • Arts and culture
  • Increasing access to mentors
  • Social Enterprise
  • Community development
  • Health promotion 

Jordan Prosper 
Executive Director  
905-722-4616 
jordan@routescc.org 

SAVAC-South Asian Visual Arts Centre  

Toronto 

 

 

  • Education and training 
  • Employment and training 
  • Improving access to resources for economic stability  
  • Arts and culture   
  • Increasing access to mentors 

Indu Vashist  
Executive Director 
416 542-1661  
indu@savac.net 

This organization is not accepting any new requests for OM partnerships.

SAW Video Media Art Centre

Champlain

 

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

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

This organization is not accepting any new requests for OM partnerships.

Sisters in Sync 

Halton Peel, Hamilton, Niagara, Toronto 

 

 

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

Joelle Kabisoso 
Executive Director 
519 280-9395 
joelle@sistersinsync.org 

This organization is not accepting any new requests for OM partnerships.

Social Enterprise for Canada 

Halton Peel, Simcoe York 

 

 

  • 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  
  • Increasing access to mentors 

Darcy MacCallum  
CEO  
289 470-5329  
darcy.maccallum@socialenterprise.ca 

This organization is not accepting any new requests for OM partnerships.

Social Planning Council of Ottawa 

Champlain

 

  • 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   

Reuben M. Nashali 
Executive Director
613 291-9528 
reuben@spcottawa.on.ca

This organization is not accepting any new requests for OM partnerships.

Somali Canadian Association of Etobicoke 

Halton Peel, Toronto 

 

 

  • Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families
  • Education and training,
  • Housing and social supports
  • Improving access to resources for economic stability
  • Increasing access to mentors 

Barlin Nur Ali  
Director of Programs  
4167424601 
somcan925@gmail.com 

This organization is not accepting any new requests for OM partnerships.

Spark Employment Services 

Algoma, Cochrane, Manitoulin & Sudbury  

Grassroots groups capacity: 2 

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

Chantal Makela 
Executive Director 
705 671-2544 
chantalm@sudburyemployment.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

L'union Culturelle des Franco-Ontariennes 

Champlain 

 

*Francophone organization

  • Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families
  • Education and training
  • Employment and training
  • Improving access to resources for economic stability
  • Arts and culture

Janie-Renee Myner 
Executive Director
613-679-1334 
directrice@franco-ontariennes.ca 

This organization is not accepting any new requests for OM partnerships.

University Settlement  

Toronto 

 

 

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

Raymond White 
Executive Director 
416 598-3444 
raymond.white@universitysettlement.ca 

This organization is not accepting any new requests for OM partnerships.

West Scarborough Neighbourhood Community Centre 

Toronto 

Grassroots groups capacity: 2 

 

  • Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families
  • Education and training
  • Employment and training
  • Youth justice
  • Arts and Culture 

Joshua Hood 
Executive Director 
416 755-9215 
jhood@wsncc.org 

Windfall Ecology Centre 

Durham, Haliburton, Kawartha & Pine Ridge, Simcoe York, Toronto 

Grassroots groups capacity: 2 

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

Brent Kopperson 
Executive Director 
289 809-4841 
brent@windfallcentre.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

Workforce Development Board Windsor-Essex 

Essex, Kent, Lambton 

Grassroots groups capacity: 2 

  • Creating safe spaces for Indigenous youth and families
  • Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families
  • Education and training
  • Employment and training
  • Systems navigation, Improving access to resources for economic stability
  • Increasing access to mentors 

Tashlyn Teskey 
226-674-3220 ext. 3020 
tteskey@workforcewindsoressex.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