2024 Grant Recipients

Single-Year Grantees

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oxford County, School Focused Mentoring, $10,000

School Focused Mentoring empowers youth by combating pandemic-induced learning loss with personalized academic support, engaging activities, and confidence-building. Through positive connections and essential resources, it works to ignite a commitment to learning. It's about more than catching up—it's about propelling forward and transforming challenges into opportunities for success.

Canadian Foundation for the Prevention of Family Violence, PACT (Group Coaching) Leadership Lunch Clubs for High-Needs Middle School Students, $9,840

PACT's early-intervention group-coaching Leadership Lunch Clubs support and empower high-needs disruptive Grade 7 and 8 middle school students while promoting their school success and overall well-being. Facilitated by our professionally certified and trauma-informed coaches, these 8-week sessions utilize an evidence and strength-based life coaching model and Positive Youth Development approach.

Creating Together, Family and Child Program, $5,000

Creating Together welcomes children ages 0-6 and their families/caregivers in a safe, educational, fun, and nurturing environment. Programs support families facing isolation, living in poverty, and are newcomers. The centre is open Monday-Thursday from 9:00-2:30 pm, from 9:00 am-1:30 pm on Friday, and two Saturdays monthly from 10:00 am-2:00 pm.

Arts For All (Formerly ‘Culture for Kids in the Arts’), Artasia: Arts in the Park, $10,000

Focused on children in challenged neighbourhoods, Artasia: EarlyON Arts Access will inspire and cultivate creativity through invitation to summer workshops in parks. Multi-arts exploration of sound, movement, words, images, recycled materials, will break down barriers and improve social safety while impacting mental health and wellbeing of our youngest marginalized children.

Focus Forward for Indigenous Youth, Exploring Career Paths and Supporting Food Sovereignty, $10,000

The Exploring Career Paths and Supporting Food Sovereignty program supports Indigenous youth in building knowledge and skills that enhance community food sovereignty while exploring potential future education and career paths related to agriculture.

Girls Incorporated of York Region, After-School and Weekend Support Programs for Indigenous Girls from Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nations Reserve, $10,000

This program supports Indigenous girls ages 6 to 18 from Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nations Reserve. It builds athletic skills; teaches money management, life-skills, and media literacy; nurtures abilities in Science, Math, Engineering, Arts, and Technology (STEAM), and promotes school success. Participants gain leadership and critical thinking skills.

Inner City Outreach, Homework Club, $10,000

Inner City Outreach’s Homework Club aims to combat threats to the low-income, underserved, and racialized population in Jane and Finch by providing a free, safe space after school program for children ages 6-13. Emphasis is placed on tutoring, mentorship, relationship building, and healthy social, emotional, and mental development.

John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights, Intersections of Identity, $10,000

The Intersections of Identity project addresses the housing crisis, particularly as it is faced by unhoused youth, especially Indigenous and 2STQLGBIA+ individuals, by hosting arts-based healing workshops. The project aims to incorporate youth perspectives into decision-making, providing cultural reconnection and expression through art, and creating calls to action for policymakers.

Natural Curiosity, Aki Kinomaagewinan: Engaging Educators and Youth in Indigenous Land-Based Learning, $10,000

Aki Kinomaagewinan: Anishinaabe Place-Based Learning for Educators brings together an intergenerational learning community that will engage in land-based learning around our plant and animals relations, Anishinaabe knowledge of the land, and principles of reciprocity, nestled within the Natural Curiosity framework for inquiry-based, environmental education.

Shuswap Children’s Association, 2SLGBTQ+ Youth Support Program, $10,000

The 2SLGBTQ+ Youth Program provides a safe space for youth with diverse genders and sexualities where they can (1) interact with each other safely, build new connections and receive support from each other and the group facilitator and (2) explore their own gender and/or sexualities without judgment.

The Writers’ Exchange Society, After-School Literacy Programs, $10,000

The Writers' Exchange After-School Program provides year-round literacy support to 250 under-resourced kids and youth across East Vancouver. Through fun, play-based activities, they build reading, writing, and social-emotional skills with guidance from trained volunteers. Culminating in published chapbooks, the program celebrates kids' voices while improving academic engagement and confidence.

Theatre of the Beat, Drama-Based Mental Health & Consent Workshops, $10,000

Theatre of the Beat’s Drama-Based Mental Health & Consent Workshops employ interactive theatre techniques to equip marginalized youth with valuable skills and knowledge pertaining to mental health, trauma-informed care, boundaries, consent, and power dynamics. 25 free workshops will occur at youth access points across Ontario, such as community health centres.

Multi-Year Grantees

Art City in St. James Town, Summer Camp 2024, $7,500

Summer Camp 2024 provides St. James Town youth with 7 weeks of free arts programming from July through August. Programming uses art to promote positive self-exploration and help youth to build confidence. Students learn about themselves and their strengths as they explore nature and STEM focused art projects.

BC Wheelchair Basketball Society, School & Community Participation Program, $7,500

The BCWBS Schools and Community Participation Program educates students, teachers, and communities about the sport of wheelchair basketball and disability awareness through experiential learning utilizing sport wheelchairs and an instructor. The program will expand to target indigenous youth/communities in addition to children with disabilities instilling awareness, confidence and opportunity.

Canvas Arts Action Programs, Speak OUT: Cultivating Safer Schools for Marginalized 2SLGBTQ+ Youth, $7,500

The Speak OUT program is an evidence-informed 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion program striving to make schools safer for marginalized 2SLGBTQ+ students. Using interactive programming, students learn about 2SLGBTQ+ identities, alliship, and ways to challenge homophobic and transphobic bullying. Speak OUT brings together education and arts to create safer, more inclusive communities.

Children's Rehabilitation Foundation Inc., Discovering Potential and Promoting Participation, $7,500

The Discovering Potential and Promoting Participation initiative tailors therapeutic and recreational programs to children/youth with disabilities, improving lives. L.I.F.E. Programs include Sun & Fun Summer Camps, Music Therapy, and Cooking Clubs, fostering life skills, well-being, and social interactions. Operating year-round, L.I.F.E. empowers participants, fostering community engagement and enrichment.

Comox Valley Family Services Association, The Duenna Project, $7,000

The Duenna program empowers female, two-spirited and non-binary youth (~13-18) through skills-building workshops focused on safety, cultural connection and resilience. By fostering self-confidence and providing a supportive peer and adult community, the goal is to mitigate trauma (sexual violence and/or intergenerational trauma) for youth from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.

Elora Centre for the Arts, Teen Addiction Recovery Program, $7,500

In partnership with the Portage Ontario Residential Drug Addiction Rehabilitation Centre for youth in Elora (“Portage”), the Elora Centre for the Arts (ECFTA) will offer a weekly program for teen residents through the 2024-25, 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years, linking the creative process to life skills for recovery.

Fort McKay Metis Nation Association, Nikotwâsik Mocassin Kinanâskomitin, $7,500

Nikotwâsik Mocassin Kinanâskomitin,the 'Moccasin Unity Journey,' organized by the FMMN, fosters reconciliation, healing, and community support. Through traditional moccasin making workshops, cultural discussions, and empowerment initiatives, we aim to uplift community members, ensuring they feel connected to their heritage and supported in social, emotional, and physical well-being.

Graffiti Art Programming, Art as Action 2024 (AaA24), $7,000

Art As Action 2024 will bring youth together with Indigenous Elders and artists to choose a TRC Call to Action to amplify with a public art project/performance/exhibition. Projects can include murals, songs, videos, social media campaigns or dance, and will educate audiences of the importance of reconciliation for Canada’s future.

Kawartha-Haliburton Children's Foundation, Child Development Fund, $7,500

The Child Development Fund was established to help children involved with the Kawartha-Haliburton Children's Aid Society overcome barriers to extracurricular participation. With the goal of enriching development, increasing social contact, building self-esteem and confidence, we fund a variety of extracurriculars - sports and arts activities, lessons, courses, cultural events and more.

Lakeshore Arts Committee, Q Summit, $7,500

Q Summit is a poetry and spoken word mentorship program providing creative development space for 2SLGBTQ+ youth ages 19 to 29. The program supports the growth of participants in poetry skills and personal development. Workshops are taught by two artist-educators in a safer space for self-expression, professional development, and friendship-building. The program culminates in a published anthology of poetry written by the participants, as well as a live poetry showcase for friends, family, and the public.

Lay-Up Youth Basketball, School-Year Program, $7,500

In our school-year program, Lay-Up provides 22-week cost-free, high-quality program to approximately 600 youth in under-resourced neighbourhoods. The program includes basketball skill development and activities rooted in the creative arts/education. To reduce barriers to access, we are placed-based and provide participants apparel and equipment.

Lush Valley Food Action Society, Indigenous Youth Food Systems Project, $7,500

The Indigenous Youth Food Systems Project tackles food insecurity experienced by vulnerable youth, specifically Indigenous youth. We take a multifaceted approach that includes food access through providing school lunches, food literacy through young cooks programs, and cultural as well as environmental connection by connecting with the land in our gardens.

OrKidstra – Sistema Ottawa, Empowering Children and Youth Through Music, $7,500

OrKidstra helps youth from equity-deserving Ottawa communities to reach for success through music. Children and youth build vital life skills – including respect, compassion, teamwork, self-confidence, and responsibility – through our free weekly after-school programs by singing and playing music together.

SKETCH, Studio Programming, $5,000

Studio Programming engages marginalized young people through free arts workshops in a variety of disciplines so they can build transferable skills and discover their own forms of self-expression and community. All workshops are paired with wellness provisions so participants can meet their immediate needs and move towards a sustainable livelihood.

Some Assembly Arts Society, Engaging with Intention, $7,500

Some Assembly's Engaging with Intention initiative brings together diverse at-risk youth and professional artists to create a trilogy of theatre productions, evolving one from the other over three years, to address growing apathy among youth and promote ideas for positive social change. Free performances with community dialogues and post-show workshops.

YouthSpeak Charity, Youth Facilitators, $7,500

Youth Facilitators represent diverse lived experiences, socio-economic, and cultural backgrounds, including the BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent communities. They are trained in leadership skills to develop and deliver our youth-led interactive presentations that include their personal stories with mental health, bullying, racism, homophobia, substance use, gender inclusivity, and online issues.

Multi-Year Grantees

These organizations received their 2nd year of multi-year funding in 2024:

  • 1JustCity

  • Bill Reid Foundation

  • Chuntoh Education Society

  • Community Arts & Heritage Education Project

  • Hope Haven Riding Centre

  • Iksooksipaitapii Wellness Foundation   

  • PEI Farm Centre

  • Procyon Wildlife

  • Project Humanity (through Sketch)

  • Rainbow Songs

  • Returning to Spirit

  • Riverwood Conservancy

  • Still Moon Arts Society

  • Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra Association   

These organizations received their 3rd (and final) year of multi-year funding in 2024:

  • Excellence in Literacy Foundation

  • Scarborough Women’s Centre

  • The Table Community Food Centre

For details about the specific programs we’ve funded in previous years, click here.

Looking to apply?

First, ensure you meet our granting criteria and align with our focus areas.