Toronto Urban Health Fund (TUHF)

The Toronto Urban Health Fund is currently undergoing a program review and not accepting new funding applications at this time. Information on the TUHF program review can be found here. Additional details about the next funding call will be available in 2027.

Toronto Urban Health Fund (TUHF) provides funding for not-for-profit community-based organizations in Toronto to address HIV prevention and substance use. TUHF funds projects under the following funding streams:

  1. Prevention of HIV through sexual transmission
  2. Harm reduction
  3. Child and youth resiliency
  4. Indigenous

    Toronto Public Health Commitment to Reconciliation with Indigenous Communities

    In May 2024, the Board of Health directed the Medical Officer of Health to evaluate and reset the TUHF Indigenous Funding Stream using an Indigenous-led approach. In alignment with this direction and Indigenous Funding Framework, adopted by the City of Toronto, Toronto Public Health has partnered with the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council (TASSC) as the interim administrator for the 2024–2025 TUHF Indigenous Funding Stream One-Year-Cycle funds.

    This one-time partnership includes a community basket approach outlined in the Framework and is a step toward equitable Indigenous-led funding processes. TPH is committed to reconciliation and responding to feedback from Indigenous service providers and community members. Collaborative assessment of the interim approach will occur.

    The long-term reset of the TUHF Indigenous Funding Stream will be designed in partnership with the Indigenous community. Additional information on next steps will be submitted to the Board of Health.

    The Toronto Urban Health Fund (TUHF) is a Toronto Public Health (TPH) program that provides project funding for community-based health promotion projects that aim to prevent HIV infections and harms from substance use. TUHF funds projects that:

    • deliver high-quality services to people in Toronto who experience high risk for HIV infection and substance use harms
    • employ trained and competent staff, including people with lived experience
    • offer up-to-date and accurate education, skills building opportunities, and resources to promote health and build resiliency
    • provide culturally appropriate and responsive services

    Projects funded through TUHF help to increase access to effective public health services in communities that face linguistic, cultural, and geographic barriers.

    Eligible Organizations

    To be considered for funding, TUHF applicants must meet ALL eligibility criteria:

    • Be a community-based organization that is:
      • Incorporated
      • Not-for-profit
      • Operating with a head office in Toronto
      • Governed by a Board of Directors, where at least 50% of directors live in Toronto.
    • Submit:
      • Articles of Incorporation (formerly, Letters Patent)
      • List of all active Board members
      • Signed Audited Financial Statement (within last 2 years)*

    * Applicants without a signed Audited Financial Statement may be eligible to receive funding through a TUHF-approved Trustee or Sponsor.

    • Submit a TUHF funding application that confirms the proposed project will:
    • Provide services in Toronto.
    • Start and finish within the funding timeline.

    TUHF project funding applications are assessed based on the following criteria:

    1. Evidence-informed
      The application shows that project planning, health promotion strategies and services are effective (proven to work) OR based on health promotion theory and if funded, will demonstrate it can be effective.
    2. Reach
      The proposed project’s health promotion services are accessible to a specified group of people who face high-risk for HIV infection, substance use, or substance use harms, and are under-served or not accessing support services available through the City of Toronto.
    3. Addresses risk
      The proposed project aims to lessen specific risks for HIV, substance use, or substance use harms for the specific group or people the project aims to support.
    4. Aims to improve health
      The proposed project services aim to improve health through addressing gaps in awareness, knowledge, personal skills, supportive environments, and service access for the target population.
    5. Cost effective
      The proposed project has strong potential to prevent HIV infections, substance use, or substance use harms for groups of people who experience high-risk and do not have access to public health services, within a budget that TUHF’s limited resources can support.

    The following reports describe projects funded by TUHF in 2024 and 2025.

    The Toronto Urban Health Fund is not accepting new funding applications at this time. Additional details about the next funding call will be available in 2027.

    TUHF applications must be submitted using the Toronto Grants, Rebates and Incentives Portal (TGRIP).

    TUHF funding applications are assessed by TPH staff and TUHF’s community review panel. Successful project applications are then put forward to the Toronto Board of Health for approval and funding allocation.

    The Toronto Urban Health Fund program is not accepting review panel applications at this time. Additional details about future membership recruitment will be available in 2027.