Eligible groups

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

  • The work of a youth-led grassroots group or youth-adult partnership is community-led and community-inspired. Grassroots group means that core group members share identities and lived experiences with the young people 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 meet youth-led group and youth adult-partnership definitions. 

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.  

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 in the project.


Group requirements

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

1. Core group

  • Youth must make up more than 50% of the core group.
  • Youth are defined as individuals aged 12 to 29.
  • 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.
  • The group is based in Ontario and the work will benefit youth 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.

2. Reflect communities served

  • Core group members (including board members, where applicable) reflect the identities and experiences of the youth they are working with and for.
  • The proposed project will benefit young people between 12-25, and/or 12-29 for youth living with special needs and/or disabilities, mental health needs and/or addictions.
  • YOF prioritizes projects led by and for Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) and Black youth. 

3. Leadership structure 

There are three types of eligible leadership structures:

A youth-led group 

  • The project is managed by youth, from planning and implementation to evaluation.
  • Governance and decision-making roles are held entirely by youth.

A youth-adult partnership 

This is a group that has young people as its primary audience and where youth and adults share power. This looks like:

  • Shared responsibility for decision-making about the project and the group. 
  • Shared responsibility for planning and delivery of activities and the budget.
  • Shared responsibility for planning for the future of the project and the group. 

An adult-initiated youth partnership

This group has adults, 30 years of age and over, who have brought youth together to build out an idea and have a significant role in decision-making about the project and group. Over time, adults will:

  • Have a reduced role in the partnership and will ensure the leadership of youth to drive the work.
  • Create space for youth to take on more responsibility in planning, delivering of activities and establishing plans for the future of the project and group.
  • Note: This type of leadership is only applicable in Test grants. 

Note: Adult groups, where most or all members are 35 or younger, are eligible to apply if they seek to advance the following Priority Outcome: Supporting youth in and/or leaving care and/or involved in the justice system to navigate and access resources for wellbeing. 


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 who are largely or entirely composed of adults, aged 30 or older
  • Groups with all adult board of directors, aged 30 or older (only applicable for registered not-for-profits)
  • Groups or projects that are part of an existing organization (only applicable for not-for-profit or for profit organizations)
  • Groups specifically designed to serve young people through committees or clubs of institutions, including municipalities, universities, schools, and hospitals
  • For-profit organizations and businesses
  • Individuals
Subscribe to Group requirements, eligible and ineligible groups (YI-Test)