The Youth-Led Projects Stream of the Identify N Impact Grant Program is a City of Toronto grant that funds emerging youth-led groups and networks working to improve community safety and engagement in Toronto. Initiated through the Toronto Youth Cabinet, the program has supported youth-led initiatives since 2006.

Eligible applicants are youth-led groups aged 15 to 29, particularly those representing Most Vulnerable People youth, small grassroots organizations, and collaborative networks. Projects must turn community ideas into action, promote youth engagement, or motivate at-risk youth to participate in civic life. The program is currently closed; check City of Toronto resources for future intake dates.

Identify ‘N Impact Grant Program – City of Toronto Identify ‘N Impact Grant Program The Identify ‘N Impact Grant Program is now closed. Do you have a passion for improving your community? Are you a youth-led group (ages 15-29) with a great idea that needs funding?

Consider applying for a grant to help make an impact in your community. Identify ‘N’ Impact (INI) was initiated through the advocacy efforts of the Toronto Youth Cabinet (TYC), the City of Toronto’s official youth advocacy body. Since 2006, the City of Toronto’s Identify ‘N Impact Grant Program continues to provide funding supports for youth-led initiatives in Toronto.

The purpose of the Identify ‘N Impact Grant Program is to: Help promote youth engagement and community safety in the City of Toronto Support youth to turn ideas into action Support emerging (new, small, grassroots) youth-led groups and collaborative youth-led networks Motivate and encourage Most Vulnerable People (MVP) youth to become involved in their communities.

MVP stands for Most Vulnerable People and is the acronym used to describe “youth most vulnerable to involvement in serious violence and crime”.

All funded projects must work towards advancing one or more of the following priorities to be eligible to apply: Community safety and violence prevention Civic engagement (political activity is not eligible for funding) Mental health and wellbeing Increasing access to educational attainment *Note: Sports-related projects are eligible for the 2025 and 2026 grant cycle in celebration of the FIFA World Cup 26™.

Please note: The information below pertains to the 2025-2026 grant call, which is now closed. The Toronto Youth Equity Strategy (TYES) recognizes that there are various and intersecting factors that affect youth’s resilience and vulnerability to involvement in serious violence and crime.

The term MVP youth (Most Vulnerable People) is used to describe youth who face multiple and/or intersecting vulnerabilities identified in the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services’ Roots of Youth Violence report. These roots include poverty, racism, community design, issues in the education system, family issues, health/mental health, lack of economic opportunity and issues in the justice system.

Through the City’s work on gender-based youth violence, ability, homophobia, transphobia, and community violence exposure, these have also been added as roots of youth vulnerability. Identify ‘N Impact (INI) was developed to support emerging (new, small, grassroots) youth-led groups. Your group is eligible to apply if it: Is youth-led and includes at least three or more youth, ages 15 to 29 years old.

Is based in Toronto (use the Find Your Neighbourhood tool to find out which neighbourhood you live in).

Is a non-profit that is proposing project activities that will run in Toronto only (Unless specifically for Indigenous-based cultural activities outside of Toronto as per the City of Toronto Grants Policy ) For the INI grant program, a group is considered “youth-led” if the following criteria are met: A majority of the group’s leadership are youth between the ages of 15 to 29 years old.

The group makes decisions about its activities independent from any other community organization. Youth are the leaders in the project planning/design, management and delivery. Youth-led groups that are not incorporated and do not have audited financial statements can still apply for INI funding.

If recommended for funding, your group will need to work with a Trustee. The City of Toronto has launched a dedicated trusteeship pilot program, which means the City will directly fund the trusteeship fees of trusted non-profit organizational partners. Funded groups are also able to work with an existing trustee, as long as the City of Toronto’s trusteeship requirements are met.

Groups can apply for up to $17,000 in project funding for youth to lead and deliver projects up to one year in length. Review the Guidelines for more details and examples of eligible project costs.

Additionally, accessibility costs for deaf and/or people living with disabilities : Up to $2,000 in additional funds may be made available to support youth leaders and members of youth-led groups or participants who are deaf and/or living with disabilities lead and/or participate in your INI project.

Some examples of eligible accessibility costs for deaf and/or disabled individuals includes the following: American Sign Language (ALS) interpretation Assistive device equipment rentals To apply for these additional funds, applicants must complete extra questions in the online grant application form in TGRIP. Documentation may be required.

Please note: It is not guaranteed these accessibility funds will be approved even if the project grant is successful. If these funds are approved and unused, they must be returned to the City of Toronto. Please contact a staff person to request approval for other supports not listed here before you submit your application.

Toronto Grants, Rebates and Incentives Portal (TGRIP) Account If your group does not have a TGRIP account, you will need to sign-up / register your group on the Toronto Grants, Rebates and Incentives (TGRIP) Portal . Review the instructions on How to Register for a TGRIP Account or watch the TGRIP video before you begin your applications.

If your group is a grassroots group or unincorporated non-profit , please select “community group” when registering your account for the first time and select “resident led-group” when completing the organization profile. How do I complete and submit the organization profile if we do not have documents to upload (i.e. we are a youth-led grassroots or unincorporated non-profit group)?

When setting up your organization profile in TGRIP, answer “Yes” to the question, “Is your group a resident-led group leading a project in your neighbourhood? ” You do not need to sign and complete the Declaration of Compliance with Anti-Harassment/Discrimination Legislation & City Policy. This will need to be completed by groups once they are approved for funding.

To bypass this step, click “Save”. Then log out and then log back on. Finding the INI application in TGRIP after I have registered an account and completed the organization profile.

Once you have completed registering and setting-up your organizational profile, log out and then log back in. 2025-2026 Grant Guidelines Download the grant guidelines for more information. Review the grant guidelines to ensure your group/organization and project proposal are eligible to apply for funding.

Attend an optional grant information session if you have any questions about the application process. Register your group on the Toronto Grants, Rebates and Incentives (TGRIP) Portal if you have not created a TGRIP account before. Review the instructions on How to Register for a TGRIP Account or watch the TGRIP video before you begin your application.

Complete your group’s eligibility self-assessment found on the City of Toronto’s online grant system – TGRIP (Toronto Grants, Rebates and Incentives Portal): Complete and submit your INI online grant application, including your project budget and work plan Note: Only one application per group is permitted. Only eligible and complete applications will be considered for funding.

In partnership with the Toronto Youth Cabinet , the Grant Review Committee (GRC) is a volunteer panel made up of diverse youth from across the city of Toronto, including Indigenous, Black and/or 2SLGBTQ+ youth. All eligible and shortlisted INI grant applications will be reviewed by the GRC who will make the INI grant recommendations for approval.

The City of Toronto awarded 54 grants to support youth-led initiatives that promote youth engagement and community safety. The recommendations were made by a youth-led grants review panel. The 2025 youth-led groups that received funding are: National Network for Immigrants and Refugees in Canada 22 Scarborough-Agincourt, 24 Scarborough-Guildwood 7 Humber River-Black Creek.

18 Willowdale 7 Humber River-Black Creek Galloway Youth United: Indoor Soccer & Wellness Initiative Youth Voices Project- Regent Park 7 Humber River-Black Creek Unity For Change Coalition Scarborough 21 Scarborough Centre, 24 Scarborough-Guildwood BrushForward - Youths Empowering Survivors Through Creative Healing UBUNTU NEIGHBOURHOOD ORGANIZATION (UNO) The Digital Healing Studio 1 Etobicoke North, 5 York South-Weston WoodGreen Community Services Youth Advisory Council 2025 5 York South-Weston, 17 Don Valley North,1 9 Beaches-East York, 20 Scarborough Southwest Chimneystack Homework Club 7 Humber River-Black Creek Post-Secondary Access Collective (PAC) MWNYE - Muslim Women of North York & Etobicoke 3 Etobicoke-Lakeshore, 5 York South-Weston, 6 York Centre 7 Humber River-Black Creek, 14 Toronto-Danforth, 25 Scarborough-Rouge Park Youth Inclusivity Program 21 Scarborough Centre, 23 Scarborough North 7 Humber River-Black Creek The 2026 youth-led groups that received funding are: ENAGB Indigenous Youth Agency 5 York South-Weston, 14 Toronto-Danforth 3ES Grassroot Organization LoveCry the Street Kids Organization 13 Toronto Centre,14 Toronto-Danforth, 19 Beaches-East York 19 Beaches-East York, 24 Scarborough-Guildwood SAM Scarborough Mural Collective 7 Humber River-Black Creek 11 University-Rosedale, 13 Toronto Centre, 20 Scarborough Southwest Learn and Grow Empringham 25 Scarborough-Rouge Park 13 Toronto Centre, 16 Don Valley East, 24 Scarborough-Guildwood 12 Toronto-St.

Paul’s, 20 Scarborough Southwest The Canadian Courage Project 1 Etobicoke North, 13 Toronto Centre, 20 Scarborough Southwest Uptown Climate Conversations 17 Don Valley North, 18 Willowdale 1 Etobicoke North,13 Toronto Centre, 15 Don Valley West, 24 Scarborough-Guildwood 7 Humber River-Black Creek Active Minds T. O.

(Toronto) Youth Group 13 Toronto Centre, 14 Toronto-Danforth, 22 Scarborough-Agincourt Planted Oaks, Rooted Cedars: A Workshop Series for Youth Growth and Development