Partnership Investments Policy

1.0 Rationale

OTF has established a Partnership Investment (PI) program to support the mobilization of relationships and resources to enable a more resilient and sustainable non-profit sector in Ontario. The PI program is part of OTF’s Investment Framework. The program furthers OTF’s mandate from the province of Ontario to strengthen the impact of Ontario’s non-profit sector, in this case through multi-stakeholder initiatives.

2.0 Purpose

This policy outlines partnership requirements and eligibility criteria for potential and existing partners for OTF’s PI program.

3.0 Policy

3.1 PI Partnership Requirements

A PI partnership must:

• support Ontario’s non-profit sector to drive innovation, deepen impact and/or deliver better outcomes for Ontarians through sector strengthening initiatives that align with the program’s funding priorities;
• articulate the partnership’s expected results and value for the non-profit sector in Ontario;
• ensure that each partner, including OTF, makes financial and/or non-financial contributions to the partnership and shares accountability for achieving expected results;   
• be governed by an OTF partnership agreement which will document partner roles and responsibilities, sources and uses of financial and non-financial contributions and provide for the circumstances in which the agreement may be terminated and in which any partner, including OTF, may withdraw from the PI partnership;
• designate a fiduciary partner for every partnership project that is a non-profit organization (a charitable organization or foundation registered with the Canada Revenue Agency, or an organization incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation without share capital in a Canadian jurisdiction), an Indigenous community (a First Nation, a Chartered Community Council, operating under the Métis Nation of Ontario, or Inuit); 
• meet OTF’s responsibilities under the French Language Services Act, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, OTF’s Commitment to Reconciliation, and OTF’s Framework for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
   

3.2 Eligible Partners

Partners in OTF’s PI program may include, but are not limited to:

• non-profit organizations (a charitable organization or foundation registered with the Canada Revenue Agency, or an organization incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation without share capital in a Canadian jurisdiction)
• Indigenous communities (a First Nation, a Chartered Community Council, operating under the Métis Nation of Ontario, or Inuit)
• universities; 
• corporations;
• public and private foundations;
• municipalities;
• government agencies and ministries; 
• unincorporated groups

To be an eligible OTF partner, an organization must comply with OTF’s Anti-Discrimination Policy and all legislation applicable to their activities.

PI Program partners may not all be eligible for an OTF grant. Consult OTF’s Eligibility Policy for more information.

3.3 Political Activity

OTF will not partner on any initiative or with any organization that is engaged in political activity supporting or opposing any political party, elected representative, or candidate for public office.

3.4 Withdrawals and Cancellations

OTF has the right to decline to enter into or withdraw from a PI partnership if a partner engages in political activity by supporting or opposing any political party, elected representative, or candidate for public office.  OTF also reserves the right to withdraw from a PI partnership in such circumstances as may be authorized in the Partnership Agreement governing the PI partnership.