Being Initiative Funding 2026 is a grant from Grand Challenges Canada, a global health innovation funder. The Being Initiative is Grand Challenges Canada's global mental health program that envisions a world where young people feel well and thrive. Funding supports bold, community-driven innovations that improve mental health and well-being for youth, particularly in low- and middle-income settings.

Projects can span prevention, treatment, and recovery approaches. Grand Challenges Canada uses a blended finance model to identify and scale high-impact mental health solutions, combining seed grants with subsequent investment support to help promising innovations reach greater scale and impact.

Apply for funding - Grand Challenges Canada About us Learn more about Grand Challenges Canada What we do We fund and support innovations that save and improve lives Impact See how our investments are transforming lives and driving global change Partner with us Partner with us to fund bold ideas and scale impact Learn more about Grand Challenges Canada Our vision Our vision to build a world where innovation helps everyone thrive Our approach Learn more about how Grand Challenges Canada invests in bold ideas for big impact Grand Challenges model Overcoming barriers through innovation Leadership & team Meet the people driving strategy, partnerships and impact Accountability Our audited financials, policies, and commitment to transparency.

Governance How we're governed and held accountable Innovator resources Resources, policies and helpful documents for GCC-supported innovators Work with us Join our team and help drive innovation that changes lives We fund and support innovations that save and improve lives Learn more about what we do How we fund Learn how we find, find and support high-impact innovations Blended finance We use blended finance and strategic investments to support innovators on their journey to scale Investment funds Learn more about our role as a catalytic investor in global health investment funds Gender lens investing We apply a gender lens to all of our investments Our portfolios Our portfolio includes bold ideas that span global health, humanitarian and Indigenous innovation Being Initiative Being is a global mental health initiative that envisions a world where young people feel well and thrive Climate and health An emerging area of our work: we’re exploring bold, locally driven solutions to address the growing health impacts of our changing climate Creating Hope in Conflict: A Humanitarian Grand Challenge Humanitarian grand challenge that focuses on life-saving interventions in crisis and conflict settings Global Mental Health Community-driven solutions to promote mental health and well-being Indigenous Innovation Initiative Investing in First Nations, Inuit and Métis innovators in Canada to advance community-led solutions Maternal and newborn health Innovations to improve care, outcomes, and survival for mothers and newborns.

OPTions Initiative Expanding access and the creation of next generation methods for pregnancy termination, where there are legal grounds to support it Play Learn Thrive Supporting early childhood development and education for children in crisis settings Sanitation Innovations that improve access to safe, sustainable sanitation for all Saving Brains Early childhood innovations that protect and nurture brain development in the first critical years of life.

Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Investing in community-led solutions to end sexual and gender-based violence Stars in Global Health Seed funding for bold, early-stage ideas to address pressing global health challenges See how our investments are transforming lives and driving global change Learn more about our impact By the numbers Explore the impact of our investments around the world How we measure impact How we learn, adapt, and measure what matters Reports & publications Annual reports, case studies, white papers, evaluations and more How to apply Find out if you're eligible and how to apply for funding.

Innovator resources Resources, policies and helpful documents for GCC-supported innovators Being is a global mental health initiative that envisions a world where young people feel well and thrive. We are investing in Transition to Scale (TTS) innovations that address the root causes of young people’s distress before they escalate.

Strengthening the environments where they live, learn, and grow in Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Vietnam. Apply by March 31, 2026 at 2:00 P. M.

ET (7:00 P. M. GMT) To apply for any open funding opportunity with Grand Challenges Canada, you must submit your application through our online grants management system, called Fluxx .

Resources, policies and helpful documents for GCC-supported innovators Our Proof of Concept review and selection process Step 1: Eligibility check We screen applications for eligibility. Ineligible applications are eliminated, and we notify the applicant. Step 2: Innovation screen All eligible applications are assessed for relevance and innovation by a panel of GCC staff.

Applications assessed as not relevant and not sufficiently innovative are eliminated and notified The remaining applications are reviewed in detail by three external experts. These external reviews help GCC make the final funding decision. Step 4: Grant negotiations Successful applicants work with GCC to agree on the grant terms, project objectives, and budget.

Timeframe: 3-6 months (depending on complexity) Our Transition to Scale review and selection process Step 1: Eligibility check We screen applications for eligibility. Ineligible applications are eliminated, and we notify the applicant. Step 2: Innovation screen All eligible applications are assessed for relevance and innovation by a panel of GCC staff.

Applications assessed as not relevant and not sufficiently innovative are eliminated and notified The most promising applicants will be asked to submit a full application (stage 2). Step 3: Stage-two application period Applicants who are invited to submit a full application (stage 2) application develop and submit their proposals. Full applications (stage 2) are carefully reviewed by three external experts.

These reviews inform which applicants are invited to engage in due diligence conversations with the GCC team. Applicants who are not selected to proceed will be informed. Step 5: Due diligence steps The strongest applicants are invited to engage in due diligence conversations with the GCC team.

This can include follow-up questions and interviews to explore topics like potential for impact, operations, finances, intellectual property, and partnerships. Step 6: Funding decisions After due diligence, only proposals with the greatest potential for impact are recommended for funding. Final funding decision are made by GCC management, our Investment Committee, and/or our Board of Directors, depending on the funding amount.

Step 7: Grant negotiations Successful applicants work with GCC to agree on the grant terms, project objectives, and budget.