Identify ‘N Impact Grant Program

Eligible organizations are invited to apply for the Identify ‘N Impact (INI) Grant Program by Thursday, October 6, 2022 at noon.
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The City of Toronto is hosting virtual information sessions to inform and advise applicants on how to write the grant application. Please see below for more details.

 

The City of Toronto’s Identify ‘N Impact (INI) Grant Program provides 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
  • Motivate and encourage Most Vulnerable People (MVP) youth to become involved in their communities

MVP youth definition: 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.

Eligible Projects

The grant supports a by-youth-for-youth approach and projects that address issues outlined in the Toronto Youth Equity Strategy(TYES).

All projects must support one or more of the following TYES priorities:

  • Mental health
  • Skills development
  • Increasing access to educational attainment
  • Community safety / violence prevention
  • Youth friendly spaces
  • Arts

Project proposals will be given priority if they:

  • Work with and/or engage MVP youth, or have a focus specifically on Black, Indigenous and/or 2SLGBTQ+ youth
  • Involve youth from/and or based in one of the 31 Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs) in the City of Toronto. Use the Find Your Neighbourhood tool to find out which neighbourhood you live in or are offering your project activities. Scroll down to the bottom of the webpage to see a list of all 158 neighbourhoods and whether they are a Neighbourhood Improvement Area (NIA).

Eligible Organizations

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.

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 work with an Organizational Mentor (OM), also referred to as a trustee or administrative partner. Groups will be provided with a list of potential Organizational Mentors to choose from. Funded groups are also able to work with an existing trustee if the City of Toronto’s trusteeship requirements are met.

Organizational Mentor (also referred to as a trustee or administrative partner)

  • An Organizational Mentor (OM) is a non-profit or charitable organization that works with you to provide the financial and management support needed for the project to succeed.
  • OMs can provide coaching, training, and templates to help strengthen your project’s effectiveness and project delivery.
  • The OM provides financial accountability for the funding if a group does not have the financial systems or organizational structure to do so.
  • The OM will provide insurance coverage for the project activities.

Qualified OMs are incorporated non-profit or charitable organizations with recent audited financial statements.

The deadline to submit your online application is Thursday October 6, 2022 by noon. Late applications will not be considered.

Application Package

Download the application package below:

Application Process

  1. Review the program guidelines to ensure your group/organization and proposal are eligible to apply for funding.
  2. Attend an information / grant writing session to gather information and tips to successfully apply.
  3. Develop your answers using the MSWord document containing the application questions.
  4. Submit your online application by Thursday October 6, 2022 by noon by clicking the link below. You will find out the outcome of your application by November 30, 2022.

Note: Only one application per group is permitted.

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Groups are able to apply for up to $17,000 per project as follows:

Project Costs: $15,000 for youth to lead and deliver projects up to one year in length.

Capacity Building: $2,000 will be provided to groups that express a need for capacity building supports such as training and mentorship.

Accessibility Costs:  $2,000 in additional funds may be made available for projects involving Deaf youth leaders / participants and youth leaders / participants with disabilities. These funds may be used to support the youth leading the project and/or youth participants.

To apply for these additional funds, applicants must complete extra questions in the grant application form.

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.

  • A mentorship program for newcomer Afghan youth living in east Scarborough that provided life and leadership skills to address issues of domestic and gang violence.
  • Opportunities for female youth to learn about science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) post-secondary opportunities
  • Co-ed boxing classes and certification for youth with experiences in the criminal justice system and those experiencing mental health challenges
  • A four (4) week workshop series for Queer and Trans People of Color that promoted conversations on LGBTQ2S self-love from African Canadian and Indigenous perspectives
  • Land-based programming for Indigenous youth with a traditional knowledge keeper.

“I am extremely grateful and honoured to have been an Identify ‘N Impact grant recipient, as Rise In STEM would not be where it is today without this initial funding opportunity. The INI program allowed us to pilot our very first after school STEM program and introduced us to our organizational mentor who continues to support us to strengthen and scale our work. It allowed us to see what we were capable of, provide leadership opportunities to youth, and propelled us to see the importance and impact of our work. “

– Irene Duah-Kessie, Rise In Stem, Identify ‘N Impact (INI) Grant Recipient 2019

Information Sessions / Grant Writing Sessions

These sessions will explore the basics of preparing a grant application for the upcoming INI deadline. The sessions will break down the main components of the application, including the proposal, work plan and budget. Tips will be provided for creating a clear and concise application. Registration is not required.

Information Session / Grant Writing Session #1

Wednesday September 14, 2022, 6 – 8 p.m.

Note: If requested, please enter your name and email address. If a password is required, enter pR4EwSGsS79 and click join. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

Information Session / Grant Writing Session #2

Thursday September 22, 2022, 6 – 8 p.m. 

Note: If requested, please enter your name and email address. If a password is required, enter UPawi6EWS83 and click join. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

Virtual Drop-in Office Hours & Links

These virtual meetings are an opportunity for applicants to meet one-on-one with staff to receive feedback on application ideas, support with planning out projects, and feedback on draft applications.

Monday September 19, 1 – 3 p.m.

WebEx Link

Note: If requested, please enter your name and email address. If a password is required, enter TmBKRMx2W25 and click join. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

Thursday September 22, 10 a.m. – Noon

WebEx Link

Note: If requested, please enter your name and email address. If a password is required, enter UPawi6EWS83 and click join. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

Monday September 26, 1 – 3 p.m.

WebEx Link

Note: If requested, please enter your name and email address. If a password is required, enter XSn8AWPuf39 and click join. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

Wednesday September 28, 5 – 7 p.m.

WebEx Link

Note: If requested, please enter your name and email address. If a password is required, enter xw3CXh and click join. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

Monday October 3, 1 – 3 p.m.

WebEx Link

Note: If requested, please enter your name and email address. If a password is required, enter ctSWjrfd524 and click join. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

Please contact the following staff to book a separate time to meet virtually or by phone:

Said Abdi, Youth Development Unit: Said.Abdi@toronto.ca
Shahina Sayani, Community Funding Unit: Shahina.Sayani@toronto.ca

The applications will be reviewed by a panel of youth and youth sector leaders and they will make the INI grant recommendations for approval. You will find out the outcome of your application by November 30, 2022.