Potential Organizational Mentors

All grassroots groups applying for a Youth Opportunities Fund grant through the Youth Innovations and Family Innovations Streams must partner with an Organizational Mentor (OM) and sign a collaborative agreement together. 

​​​​​​​On this page is a list of organizations that are pre-approved to be Organizational Mentors for the 2023-2024 round of Youth Opportunities Fund grants. 

Connect with an organization

As you identify potential Organizational Mentors and prepare to approach them, review the conversation guide that contains questions your group can ask the organization.   

Organizations will have their own selection process when choosing to partner with a grassroots group and may require a meeting to determine if your group and project align with their mission and mandate.

Submit a grant application with a collaborative agreement

Grassroots groups applying to the Youth Innovations and Family Innovations Streams with shortlisted Expressions of Interest from the most recent deadline are invited to complete the grant application that includes a signed collaborative agreement with an Organizational Mentor.

Download the OM – Grassroots Group Collaborative Agreement template.     

  • Take time to review the agreement  
  • Make sure that your group agrees with the terms and conditions  
  • Consider how the agreement will help build your relationship with the Organizational Mentor throughout the project

This list may be updated over time. If you have any questions or require support in using this list or finding an Organizational Mentor, connect with the YOF team at yof@otf.ca.

OMs approved as of April 26, 2024.

Organization and
OTF Catchment served
Areas of Focus Lead Contact Information

Agincourt Community Services Association

Toronto

Grassroots group capacity: 2

  • Education and training,
  • Employment and training
  • Youth justice
  • Systems navigation,
  • Housing and social supports
  • Improving access to resources for economic stability
  • Culture and arts
Laura Harper 
Program Director
416-292-6912, ext. 301
hlaura@agincourtcommunityservices.com

Ausome Canada

Champlain

Grassroots group capacity: 1

  • Employment and training

Liisa Vexler
Executive Director
613-898-1184
liisavexler@ausomeottawa.com

Kayla's Children Centre

Simcoe York

Grassroots group capacity: 2

  • Education and training,
  • Employment and training,
  • Housing and social supports
  • Increasing access to mentors
Sheindl Belenky 
Director of Finance 
905-738-5542 
sheindl@kaylaschildrencentre.org

Lady Ballers Camp

Halton Peel, Toronto

Grassroots group capacity: 1

 

  • Creating safe spaces for Black
  • Education and training
  • Employment and training
  • Youth justice
  • Systems navigation
  • Housing and social supports
  • Improving access to resources for economic stability
  • Culture and arts
  • Increasing access to mentors
Ashley Amofah 
Director of Operations 
647-221-7885 
ladyballerscamp@gmail.com

The Participation House Project (Durham Region)

Durham, Haliburton, Kawartha & Pine Ridge

Grassroots group capacity: 2

 

  • Education and training
  • Systems navigation
  • Housing and social supports,
  • Improving access to resources for economic stability
Tracy McGarry 
Director of Quality Assurance & Community Development 
905-431-4930 
tmcgarry@phdurham.com

University Settlement

Toronto

Grassroots group capacity: 2

  • Education and training
  • Employment and training
  • Systems navigation
  • Culture and arts
  • Increasing access to mentors
Kate Mossop 
Director, Community Programming 
416-598-3444 ext. 230 
kate.mossop@universitysettlement.ca

  

  

  

Person walking down the road on a directional arrow.

Discover More YOF resources

For each stream, get to know the tools that can help you plan your application. They include sample expression of interest applications, project plans and budgets.

Read more