The System Innovations Grant (Youth Opportunities Fund) is a multi-year funding opportunity from the Ontario Trillium Foundation that supports collaborative projects working to understand and strengthen systems so they function better for young people.

Grants of up to $1,250,000 over five years fund collaboratives of two or more Ontario-based nonprofits aiming to create lasting systemic change that expands opportunities for youth ages 12 to 29, with a particular emphasis on Indigenous, Black, and other racialized youth facing systemic barriers.

Eligible applicants are not-for-profit organizations incorporated for at least five years in Ontario with a mandate to serve youth, forming a formal collaborative. Indigenous- and Black-led organizations and collaboratives are prioritized. Applications were due March 11, 2026—check the Ontario Trillium Foundation website for upcoming intake cycles.

System Innovations Grant | Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant Investment Framework Grant Application Deadlines Community Investments Grants Community Investments Grants Youth Innovations Test Grant Youth Innovations Scale Grant Family Innovations Test Grant Family Innovations Scale Grant About Organizational Mentors Definitions of Black and Indigenous Groups, Organizations and Collaboratives Resilient Communities Fund Economic Recovery and Resilience Fund Community Investments Grant Resources Community Investments Grant Resources Seed Grant Application Resources Grow Grant Application Resources Capital Grant Application Resources Youth Opportunities Fund Resources Youth Opportunities Fund Resources Youth Innovations Test Grant Resources Youth Innovations Scale Grant Resources Family Innovations Test Grant Resources Family Innovations Scale Grant Resources System Innovations Grant Resources Organizational Mentors Resources Current Grantee Resources Current Grantee Resources Grant Recognition Requirements How to Plan a Recognition Event How We Make Application Decisions Board Governance Framework Annual Reports and Financial Statements Business Plans and Governing Documents System Innovations grants support collaboratives as they aim to understand and strengthen systems so they work better for youth.

Click to print this page or save it to PDF using your system's print functionality. To save to PDF, select 'PDF', then 'Save as PDF'. You may first need to select 'Print using system dialog' or search for an option to 'Print to PDF'.

Minimum 2 years, Maximum 5 years Amount awarded (per year) Sectors such as education, justice, child welfare, language and culture, social services and employment play a critical role in the social and economic wellbeing of youth. When there are gaps in the infrastructure and interactions within and between these sectors, communities and organizations work together to create meaningful change. This is what we define as systems change.

Systems change work examines how policies, practices and procedures can be improved to better reflect the needs of youth impacted by systemic issues. In this grant stream, YOF prioritizes systems change work that improves the experiences of Indigenous and Black youth who continue to face system barriers and oppression. YOF recognizes that systems change takes time, trust and a deep understanding of how systems function.

Youth must be included in the process along with youth-serving organizations and other key stakeholders who directly support policy, design and grassroots work. This collaboration ensures real change goes beyond any single organization and/or isolated program. In the System Innovations grant stream, we invest in collaborative work that strengthens systems to: Improve how young people navigate and experience services.

Reimagine more unique and equitable access to supports, resources and programs. Involve youth in the creation of new processes and approaches to better meet their needs. Reduce the impact of systemic barriers and oppression as a result of historical and current-day realities of Indigenous (First Nation, Métis and Inuit) and Black youth.

Important dates and deadlines Resources and application checklist Most common application mistakes The deadline for lead organizations to submit the Organization Information has passed. Only lead organizations that meet eligibility criteria will be invited to complete the grant application.

Important dates and deadlines Application period opens and pre-application coaching calls begin October 15, 2025 Step 1: Deadline for lead organizations to complete the required pre-application coaching call. Closed February 11, 2026, at 5:00 p. m.

ET. Closed Step 2: Deadline for lead organizations to submit the Organization Information February 18, 2026, at 11:59 p. m.

ET Closed Only lead organizations that are eligible for funding will be invited to complete the grant application. Step 3: Deadline for eligible lead organizations to submit the grant application March 11, 2026, at 5:00 p. m.

ET Discover the full application process . We invest in collaborative work that strengthens systems for youth. Review the eligibility criteria below to help you determine if your collaborative and community-based project are a fit with what we fund.

Requirements for lead organizations Collaboratives applying for a System Innovations grant need to have one lead organization. The lead organization needs to meet the requirements below and must meet OTF’s Eligibility Policy . We prioritize collaboratives that are led by Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) or Black organizations.

Read more about how we define collaboratives that are Indigenous or Black led. Have a primary purpose, presence, and reputation for delivering programs and services with direct community benefit in Ontario. Demonstrate the financial capacity to manage OTF funds, deliver and complete the proposed project as per OTF’s Financial Need and Health of Applicants Policy .

Demonstrate that they provide services in Ontario. Be incorporated as a not for profit for a minimum of 5 years from the time of application submission. Have a clear mandate and track record for serving and engaging youth between the ages of 12-29.

If a lead organization does not meet OTF’s requirements, their application will not be eligible for funding. If a lead organization has an active System Innovations grant, it is not eligible to apply again until the current grant is closed. This includes submitting the final report and evaluation.

Eligible lead organizations include: All First Nations are eligible for funding. Organizations, including Métis and Inuit organizations, that have been registered or incorporated and actively operating for at least 5 years may be eligible for funding. This includes: A charitable organization or foundation registered with the Canada Revenue Agency.

An organization incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation without share capital in a Canadian jurisdiction. A Chartered Community Council, operating under the Métis Nation of Ontario. A Chartered Community Council must apply through the Métis Nation of Ontario.

Responsibilities for lead organizations Accepts responsibility for the grant. This includes submitting the grant application, managing the payments and reporting requirements if the project is approved for funding. Plays a key role in bringing stakeholders to the table for the delivery of the project and stewarding the project over the life of the grant.

Needs to have strong community connections, the respect of community stakeholders, and an established reputation. Needs to have a strong track record for serving and engaging youth. This includes knowledge and experience in delivering work that benefits young people who are Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) and/or Black.

Ineligible lead applicants Organizations that do not have a primary purpose, presence, and reputation for delivering community-based programs and services with direct community benefit in Ontario. A person applying as an individual. Municipalities or their cultural or recreation agencies, including municipal libraries and museums.

Universities, colleges, schools and hospitals, and their affiliated agencies. Religious organizations or institutions. Newly formed organizations (less than 5 years as a registered not for profit).

For profit organizations or businesses. While these organizations may not be able to be the lead organization, they can participate as members of the collaborative. Requirements for collaboratives A collaborative is a group of two or more organizations, each with specific roles and responsibilities working towards a shared goal.

It can be made up of local organizations, experts, system partners, grassroots groups and more. We recognize that collaboratives will enter this process in different stages of readiness. If there are other organizations not currently in your collaborative that you consider essential to the work, you will have the opportunity to describe how your collaborative will secure their engagement as part of the application.

Collaborative agreements need to be completed and signed by the grant application deadline. We may ask to review the agreement during the assessment stage. Learn how to create a collaborative agreement .

Reflect communities served The lead organization and collaborative members need to reflect the communities and populations served. This includes in the mandate, leadership, and staff teams of all collaborative organizations. Organizations in the collaborative also need to come from diverse sectors and backgrounds relevant to the system they want to strengthen.

This includes, but is not limited to: Indigenous and Black organizations Organizations led by and serving specific communities System partners and/or institutions Community networks and/or leaders, subject matter experts Readiness: Are you prepared for this work? Collaboratives need to demonstrate that they are ready for the systems change project they are looking to steward.

As a collaborative, the following requirements must be met: The collaborative has the capacity to lead culturally responsive systems change work that is youth centered. There is a common goal, shared decision making and accountability to each collaborative member. This includes having clearly defined roles, responsibilities and accountabilities for the project.

The collaborative and/or the members have a strong track record of serving the youth who are the intended primary beneficiaries of the project. Requirements for projects Collaboratives interested in applying for a System Innovations grant need to be focused on identifying opportunities for improvement within a specific system and creating thoughtful strategies for change.

Projects need to help create improved experiences for the following young people: Youth between the ages of 12-25 with diverse identities and lived experiences who are facing systemic barriers Youth between the ages of 12-29 living with special needs and/or disabilities Youth between the ages of 12-29 living with mental health needs and/or addictions Collaborative members need to share identities and lived experiences with those who will benefit from the project.

Demonstrated youth and community engagement Young people need to be engaged at all stages in the project and need to be the primary beneficiaries of the project.

This is demonstrated when youth: Help identify challenges and issues in a system Are collaboratively creating the solutions and vision for change Participate in the decision-making process at the leadership level Organizations in the collaborative also need to engage diverse people, organizations and partners in the project.

Note: The focus of a System Innovations grant is to lay the groundwork for systems change and to implement strategies to strengthen systems that affect your primary beneficiaries. If your project is mainly designed to deliver programs and services, consider other OTF grants to support your collaborative's work.

Ineligible project activities The following activities are not eligible for funding: Service and/or program delivery for any of the collaborative members. Pilot programs that are delivered for more than one year. The focus of a System Innovations grant is to lay the groundwork for systems change and to implement strategies to strengthen systems that affect your primary beneficiaries.

If your project is mainly designed to deliver services and/or offer programming, consider other OTF grants to support your collaborative's work. Explore what we fund below through this grant stream. YOF has identified specific Priority Outcomes for the System Innovations grant.

All approved projects must advance one of these outcomes through project activities: Supporting youth in and leaving care and/or involved in the justice system to navigate and access resources for wellbeing. Addressing racism and its impacts on youth in urban, rural, and/or Northern communities. Empowering girls and/or young women to lead, including women’s economic empowerment initiatives.

Supporting Indigenous, Black, and/or newcomer youth to enter the labour market and transition to sustainable career pathways. Creating safe spaces for Indigenous and/or Black youth to build strong community and cultural connections.

How to choose a Priority Outcome When choosing your Priority Outcome, think through the following questions: What are the key issues and/or challenges your selected YOF youth face in accessing and interacting with the system you are focusing on? Issues and challenges could include those related to policy frameworks, ideologies, culture, service design, or integration of service delivery.

What are the root causes of the issues you want to address? How can your collaborative advance change for youth through this work? What results are you hoping to achieve in the long run?

With your responses in mind, choose the Priority Outcome that most directly aligns with the change you hope to make as a collaborative. Your proposed system change project should be aligned with the youth named in your selected Priority Outcome. As you consider the system your collaborative will focus on, identify the youth that will benefit from your work and the other identities or experiences that they share.

When selecting Indigenous youth (First Nations, Métis or Inuit), youth can be from urban, rural and on reserve communities.

Select only those that apply to your System Innovations project: Indigenous youth (First Nation, Métis, or Inuit) Two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning, intersex, asexual (2SLGBTQIA+) youth * Youth living with disabilities and/or special needs between the ages of 12 to 29 * Youth living with mental health needs and/or addictions between the ages of 12 to 29 Youth living in rural, remote and/or Northern communities Youth in conflict or at risk of being in conflict with the law * Youth in care or leaving care * Youth in low-income situations or from low-income families Youth who are homeless or at risk of being homeless Youth at-risk of dropping out or have dropped out of school * Youth who are not engaged and/or at risk of not being engaged with education, employment, and training programs (NEET) *YOF prioritizes investing in collaborative projects that positively impact youth with these lived experiences or identities.

Project budget and eligible costs The term for a System Innovations grant is a minimum of two years up to a maximum of five years, depending on your project type. The System Innovations Grant Application funding request cannot exceed $1,250,000 over five years (or $250,000 per year). All costs funded must be eligible and directly attributable to the project.

Ensure that budget amounts align with Project Plan activities. Do not include budget amounts or requests from other funders. Eligible Budget Categories You can apply for funding to cover project costs across the following categories: Direct Personnel Cost (Full Time): All personnel costs directly attributable to the project, for the delivery of project activities.

Direct Personnel Cost (Part-Time): All personnel costs directly attributable to the project, for the delivery of project activities, on a part-time basis. Direct Non-Personnel Costs Purchased Services: Services purchased from service providers or subject experts specifically relating to the delivery of the project. Equipment Purchase or Rental: Cost to purchase or rent equipment related to the delivery of the project.

Meetings and Convenings (space, food, accommodations): Meeting/convening costs incurred relating to the delivery of the project. Project Supplies And Materials: Items purchased to use in the delivery of the project.

Honorariums: To acknowledge, in a small way, the contributions of community leaders and experts in the groundwork and/or implementation stages of work Travel: Includes expenses for collaborative members, youth members, and stakeholders to travel to meetings and other project related activities.

Knowledge Sharing Event (space, food, accommodations): All costs related to preparing for and hosting a knowledge sharing event, including venue, facilitators, resources, accommodation, etc. Learning and Evaluation (beyond supports provided by OTF): YOF grants include evaluation supports to determine progress toward the selected Priority Outcome at no cost to the grantee.

If the collaborative would like to go further in the evaluation of your work, up to a maximum of 10% of the total grant request budget can be used for planning and executing an evaluation of your grant project. This amount is only for the evaluation of your grant project. Other : Include any other costs that have not been included in the lines above.

Overhead and Administration OTF will support overhead and administrative costs directly associated with the funded project, to a maximum of 15% of the total grant request budget. Include all costs related to supporting the project. Do not include the direct costs to run or deliver the project - those should be accounted for in the budget lines above.

Please refer to the Eligibility Policy for further details. Please note that 10% of the awarded funding will be held back, to be paid upon satisfactory review of the final report. For each goods and services valued above $5,000, a minimum of one quote or estimate is required.

However, OTF prefers to receive two or more quotes or estimates to help your organization establish accurate budget amounts and demonstrate the best value for money. Multiple sub-contracts with a supplier on the same project: Multiple sub-contracts with a supplier on the same project will be considered as a cumulative total.

This means if the total of these goods and/or services exceeds $5,000, a minimum of one itemized quote or estimate (preferably two or more from different suppliers) needs to be uploaded. An itemized quote or estimate breaks down the cost of each good and service into line items.

All documentation needs to be: Prepared by a third-party professional Dated and obtained within 6 months prior to the application deadline Completed with information about the vendor or supplier Review what is not eligible for funding Expenses related to programming or service delivery for an extended period. Ongoing expenses of the lead organization to sustain its program offerings.

Expenses related to personal one-on-one professional services, such as direct therapy, counseling (health services), or other services such as legal or accounting. Capital infrastructure projects (renovations to space). Expenses related to political or religious activities.

General or ongoing operating expenses (unrelated to the project). Bursaries, scholarships, sponsorships or individual requests (including regranting funds to other projects or people). Taxes, such as the Goods and Services tax (GST) and the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), for which the recipient is eligible for a tax rebate, and all other costs eligible for rebates are not eligible OTF request items.

For a full list of ineligible expenses, review OTF’s Eligibility Policy . We know that collaboratives may be in different stages of readiness as they begin this work. You may be ready to begin groundwork activities or to implement strategies based on past collaborative work focused on specific issues that affect the experiences of youth.

You can apply to do groundwork, implementation, or both within the same grant. Your collaborative can spend a maximum of two years on groundwork activities that allow you to prepare for systems change work. Any Project Plans and Budgets that exceed a two-year term will not be assessed.

This project type is for collaboratives who are building the foundations for effective strategies (e.g. establishing strong partnerships and building effective processes for youth leadership). A groundwork project is most appropriate for newly established collaboratives who clearly understand the issue they plan to address through their grant. As part of a groundwork project, the following deliverables need to be developed.

These deliverables focus on specific issues addressed in the project: Collaborative’s Governance Model : Formalize the collaborative and governance structure. At a high level, in this document, you will: Identify the purpose and principles of your project. Define the governance and decision-making structures.

Explain how you will engage with community stakeholders and seek feedback. Identify the main focus areas of your project. Youth Governance Model: Share how you will engage and formalize the role of youth in the collaborative.

Summary of Research and Evidence : This summary must cover relevant research and findings on the issues and barriers within the system you want to improve. This can include other program models or personal experiences gathered from young people and the community. Summary of Youth Experiences and Needs : Share how youth are experiencing the issues and barriers within the system you want to improve.

This includes their needs, priorities, and interests. Theory of Change : Develop a theory of change that links the activities and steps to the anticipated impact and expected results. This should be developed by engaging in conversations to help identify how deep change can be seen across all members.

Action Plan : Pull the above deliverables together in an action plan. Identify strategies, steps, engagement opportunities, and other activities needed to achieve results and improve outcomes for youth.

Project example with groundwork activities The following are examples of groundwork activities for a System Innovations project focused on addressing the impacts of racism experienced by urban Indigenous youth accessing the mental health system: Deepen understanding of how the mental health system is structured, accessed, and experienced by urban Indigenous youth through system or journey maps.

Enhance the capacity, skills and knowledge of the collaborative so it is equipped to deliver on the strategy. This may include recruiting additional collaborative members with different lived experiences and identities. Ensure Indigenous organizations, grassroots groups and youth are leading the work of reimagining what mental health supports look like and how they are delivered.

Identify the structural, policy, process and behavioral changes that need to be implemented for organizations directly supporting Indigenous youth and invest in capacity building work to support the adoption of new approaches. Craft a theory of change for system strengthening using culturally anchored values and practices.

Build a strategy that identifies purpose, values, goals, objectives, and tactics for strengthening the mental health system for urban Indigenous youth. The Implementation project type is a fit for collaboratives who have: Completed groundwork activities and are ready to implement their action plan.

A well-researched and co-developed strategy for systems change (including a theory of change) A long-standing history of working together to address issues in the community, beyond one organization. A strong governance and youth leadership model. A clear understanding of what effective change looks like for the system they want to improve.

Your collaborative can spend up to three years doing implementation work. If you choose only the implementation project type: In addition to a signed Collaborative Agreement , you are required to upload documentation that details the work completed in the groundwork phase of your project.

This includes: Collaborative's Governance Model Summary of Research and Evidence Summary of Youth Experiences and Needs Completed groundwork activities should also be outlined in the groundwork table. This information helps OTF assess the readiness of your project.

Project example with implementation activities The following are examples of what implementation work can look like in a project focused on improving a system of supports for Black youth leaving care: Develop and implement a set of shared policies and procedures to ensure Black youth leaving care can find and access a consistent and caring adult who will help them navigate and access housing, employment, and education supports across a number of agencies.

Create conditions for changes in policy and practice for young people leaving care within collaborative organizations. Establish an advisory group composed of Black youth with experience in the child welfare system to guide policy implementation and provide regular feedback on service improvements.

Design and implement a shared intake process that would be used by all collaborative organizations to improve system coordination and service navigation for youth leaving care. Ensure all parts of the system are working in a coordinated manner through strategic and time-limited testing of new ideas.

Regularly convene service providers to develop a set of training and/or conduct an equity audit of service providers to strengthen their practices and understanding of culturally anchored programming. Resources and application checklist The grant application involves specific information about applicants and their proposed collaborative projects.

The submitted information helps us evaluate if eligibility criteria for lead organizations are met and eligible projects are then assessed for overall strength and clarity. Explore all System Innovations grant resources , including the grant application questions .

1) Gather your organization information and assess your eligibility Once the lead organization of the collaborative submits their Organization Information , the eligibility of the lead organization is assessed. Only lead organizations that meet eligibility criteria will be invited to complete the grant application.

The following lists will help you gather up-to-date information required for your application: Incorporation number and year of incorporation (not-for-profits only) Charitable registration number and year of registration (registered charities only) Business number (for all applicants) Financial statements covering your organization's most recent fiscal year and comparative information for the prior fiscal year.

These statements must be completed within six months of your most recent fiscal year-end. Accumulated surplus and deficit documentation (if applicable) Do you need help determining which financial statements you need based on your fiscal year-end? Use OTF’s self-serve fiscal year tool .

All applicants, except for First Nations, need to comply with OTF’s Financial Statement Requirements . List of active board of directors (required to have at least three active members, with 50% of members at arm’s length relationship to each other) List of current senior staff, Director level and above All applicants, except for First Nations, need to provide governance information. Not eligible?

If applicants do not meet OTF’s requirements, they will not be able to complete the grant application. Instructions for returning applicants If your Organization Information was submitted with a previous application and your financial statements still meet OTF requirements, your information will remain valid for the upcoming application deadline.

What this means for your new application: The Organization Information section will be locked and not available to update. Your organization’s eligibility remains valid, and you can proceed to the Project Information.

When updates are required If your grant application was previously declined based on not meeting organizational requirements, or if your financial statements no longer meet OTF requirements for the upcoming application deadline: The Organization Information section will be available to update and resubmit with your grant application. OTF will reassess your organization’s eligibility during the assessment process.

Note: Successful applicants may be required to update their Organization Information before OTF Grant Contracts are issued or at any time while the grant is active. 2) Gather your project information and documentation Proposed projects are first reviewed to ensure they meet eligibility requirements. This includes checking that the proposed strategy, groundwork deliverables and process are aligned and feasible for system change work.

Eligible projects are then assessed against specific criteria .

Use the following list to help you prepare and submit the required information and documentation as part of the grant application : Prepare your Partners Table Select a Priority Outcome Prepare your Groundwork Table Develop your Project Plan If applicable, obtain quotes and estimates for goods and services valued above $5,000 Prepare a formal, signed Collaborative Agreement with all collaborative members.

Learn more about what to include in your Collaborative Agreement . If you only choose the implementation project type, you are required to upload additional documents. This documentation should outline the work completed in the groundwork phase of your project.

These documents include: Collaborative's Governance Model Summary of Research and Evidence Summary of Youth Experiences and Needs 3) Complete and submit your application OTF requires all grant applications to be submitted through its Granting Portal. Before starting an application, you will be asked to complete a short questionnaire to ensure you are a fit for this grant stream.

Returning users: Sign-in to the Granting Portal when the application becomes available. New users: To access available grant applications, create an OTF account . Start your application as soon as it becomes available and work with your team to finalize requirements.

Once submitted, your application is final and cannot be changed. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. The application process involves various steps for collaboratives and the lead organizations.

1. Prepare your application Understand the eligibility requirements for lead organizations and collaborative members. This is a critical step to ensure you are eligible for funding.

Read the System Innovations grant application questions . Discover how we define Black and Indigenous groups and organizations . Learn how to create a collaborative agreement .

2. Book a required pre-application coaching call Collaboratives are required to complete a pre-application coaching call before accessing the grant application. During this call, we discuss key eligibility requirements, the details of your project and the readiness of your collaborative.

We recommend that all collaborative members join the call. Lead organizations need to have an OTF account to access grant applications through OTF’s Granting Portal. Once the pre-application coaching call is complete, create an account to begin the application.

If the lead organization is new to OTF, create a new account . If the lead organization is already registered with OTF, reach out to yof@otf. ca .

We will verify if the organization’s information is up to date. 4. Complete the Organization Information Review the application questions in the Organization Information section.

Once you submit this information, the eligibility of the lead organization is assessed. Only lead organizations that meet funding requirements will be invited to complete the grant application. 5.

Complete the grant application Review the grant application questions . Ensure that you have answered all the questions clearly and that the application is complete. 6.

Review and application assessment Our experienced staff and volunteers review and assess your application against the assessment criteria for System Innovations grants. 7. Recommendation and selection The Grant Review Committee makes funding recommendations.

OTF’s Board of Directors reviews and approves projects for funding. All applicants will receive news on the status of their grant application approximately four months after the grant application deadline. Start date: Grantees can choose project start dates as early as September 1, 2026.

Reporting & monitoring: In addition to scheduled touch points twice a year, grantees track activities, spending, and learning to complete the annual report and a final report. Evaluation: Grantees are required to work with an external evaluation partner provided by OTF. Grantees will be given resources and further information once their projects start.

The evaluation partner will measure the engagement of youth in the project and the collaborative’s work to advance the system change work and the selected YOF Priority Outcome. Knowledge sharing: If your project is approved for funding, YOF requires all System Innovations grantees to host one knowledge sharing event before the end of the grant.

Completion: After OTF staff approve a final report, the grant hold-back funds are released and the grant is closed. Grantee compliance: A random sample of grants are subject to a Grantee Compliance Audit. Grants can be audited for compliance at any point within the grant's life, or after the grant has been closed.

Your System Innovations grant application will be assessed by experienced OTF staff and volunteers based on the eligibility requirements for lead organizations, collaboratives and projects. Review all assessment criteria Assessment criteria for the eligibility of lead organizations The eligibility of lead organizations is assessed using the following criteria: The lead organization is based in Ontario.

The application is complete and includes