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Youth Opportunities Fund – Youth Innovations Test Grant │ Ontario Trillium Foundation

April 15, 2026

Value

Maximum $100,000

Description

Through this grant stream, the Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) invests in projects led by youth or youth-adult partnerships to improve the social and economic well-being of youth. YOF’s work is founded in the belief that young leaders have the tools and skills to come together based on shared experiences to address the needs of youth. Young leaders are driven to find solutions that can have lasting impact and design projects that reflect how culture and traditions can enhance learning and life-long skills development to improve wellbeing.

A Youth Innovations Test grant is designed to help groups:

  • Try out a new idea that has the potential to make a positive impact on the lives of young people.
  • Research, learn and understand more about a specific topic or issue.
  • Bring youth together to discuss an issue and explore new approaches collectively.

Eligible Applicants

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

  • The work of a grassroots group is inspired by the community. Grassroots group means that core group members share the identities and lived experiences of 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.

Eligible Expenses

Test grants aim to drive positive change in your community. Explore what we fund below through this grant stream.

Three types of projects qualify for a Test grant. All project types must align with one Priority Outcome. Choose the type that most closely aligns with your project:

Pilot a new project idea

This type of project focuses on trying out a new idea that has the potential to make a positive impact on the lives of young people. For example:

  • Start a new project that supports youth to learn a new skill.
  • Create a space that honours youth wellbeing and creativity.
  • Connect youth to knowledge of land, culture and language.
  • Support youth to navigate systems (such as education, health, child welfare, justice).

Research an issue or new concept

Choose this project type if your group wants to learn and understand more about a specific topic or issue. For example:

  • Develop participatory research about an experience or issue youth face.
  • Explore something new in your community that can be enhanced through technology.
  • Discover how a new initiative may impact youth in your community.

Consider how your group will conduct the research, how much time this work will take, and how your group will share what you learn, for example through a research paper, report, website, or presentation.

Strategize around an issue affecting youth

This is an opportunity to bring youth together to discuss an issue and explore new approaches collectively with youth and community. For example:

  • Understand an issue and its impact on your community.
  • Discover who is already working on an issue, who is joining the conversation, and who might be left out.
  • Develop some common goals or strategies to respond to the issue.
  • Come up with next steps as a collective.

Deadline Date

April 15, 2026

Contact

Contact Name: OTF

E-mail Address: otf@otf.ca

Website: https://otf.ca/our-grants/youth-opportunities-fund/youth-innovations-test-grant#what-we-fund

Industry:

Non-Profit

Location:

Ontario

Tags:

Youth

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