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

Shortlisted grassroots groups from the most recent Expression of Interest deadline of the Youth Innovations and Family Innovations Streams are invited to complete the grant application which 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.

Organization and OTF Catchment served	Areas of Focus	Lead Contact Information
African Canadian Association of Ottawa Champlain (Ottawa)	Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections 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	Guillaume Mulimbwa Program Manager 613 600-6533 guillaume@acaottawa.com
Britannia Woods Community House Champlain (Ottawa)	Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections  Youth justice  Systems navigation  Housing and social supports  Increasing access to mentors  Increasing food security	Mohamed Sofa Executive Director 613 820-0853 msofa@britanniawoods.com
Carea Community Health Centre Durham, Haliburton, Kawartha and Pine Ridge	Creating safe spaces for Indigenous youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections Education and training Systems navigation Housing and social supports	Kim Lepine Director, Health Promotion & Community Development Services 289 385-0995 klepine@careachc.ca
CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals Durham, Haliburton, Kawartha & Pine Ridge, Halton Peel, Toronto	Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections  Education and training  Employment and training  Youth justice  Systems navigation  Housing and social supports  Improving access to resources for economic stability  Increasing access to mentors	Trynee Hancock Sector Leadership Manager  This organization is not accepting any new requests for OM partnerships.
Centre canadien pour l'unité de famille (CCF) Across Ontario	Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections, 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	Franklin Weledji Directeur général 647 679-5391 direction@centrecanadiendelafamille.ca
Centre français Hamilton Hamilton	Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections Employment and training Culture and arts	Julie Jardel Directice générale 905 547 5702 ext 6 julie@cfhamilton.ca
Community Clothing Assistance Northwestern	Creating safe spaces for Indigenous youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections. Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections. Education and training Employment and training Improving access to resources for economic stability Increasing access to mentors	Carrie Peterson Program Coordinator 807 474-3583 carrie@clothingassistance.com
Conseil Economique et Social d'Ottawa Carleton (French only) Champlain (Ottawa)	Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections  Education and training  Employment and training  Youth justice  Systems navigation  Improving access to resources for economic stability  Increasing access to mentors	Saint-Phard Désir Executive Director 613 858-8277 sdesir@cesoc.ca
Delta Family Resource Centre Toronto	Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections 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	Kemi Jacobs Executive Director 416 747-1172 ext. 54 kjacobs@dfrc.ca
Empowerment Squared Hamilton	Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections Education and training	Norma Nazi, CPA Controller n.nazi@empowermentsquared.org 418-429 9700
Family Services of Peel Halton Peel	Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections	Sandra Rupnarain 905 270-2250 srupnarain@fspeel.org
For Youth Initiative Toronto	Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections  Education and training  Employment and training  Youth justice  Systems navigation  Increasing access to mentors	Benedicto San Juan Operations Director This organization is not accepting any new requests for OM partnerships.
Jane Alliance Neighbourhood Services Toronto	Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections. Youth justice Increasing access to mentors	Mohamud Mohamud Executive Director 416 249-6742 mmohamud@janealliance.com
Jumblies Theatre Across Ontario	Culture and arts	Sam Egan General Manager 647 918-4824 sam@jumbliestheatre.org
Life Lessonz Halton Peel	Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections. Education and training Systems navigation Increasing access to mentors	Patricia Digby Executive Director 647 884-9358 patriciadigby@yahoo.ca
Parents of Black Children PoBC Across Ontario	Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections Education and training Systems navigation	Kearie Daniel Executive Director This organization is not accepting any new requests for OM partnerships.
PARN-Your Community AIDS Resource Network Durham, Haliburton, Kawartha & Pine Ridge	Creating safe spaces for Indigenous youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections. Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections. Education and training Youth justice	Dane Record Executive Director 705 957-3571 executivedirector@parn.ca
PEACH Toronto	Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections. Education and training Employment and training Youth justice Systems navigation Housing and social supports Improving access to resources for economic stability. Culture and arts	Tiffany Ford Interim Executive Director 416 740-9593 executive.director@peachtoronto.com
RNJ Youth Services Quinte, Kingston, Rideau	Education and training  Youth justice  Systems navigation  Housing and social supports  Improving access to resources for economic stability	Rachel Burns Executive Director 613 485-2520 rachel@rnjyouth.com
Taking IT Global Youth Association Across Ontario	Creating safe spaces for Indigenous youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections  Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections  Education and training	Tania Rashid Grant Administrator \| Senior Project Administrator 416 977-9363 ext. 319 tania@takingitglobal.org
The Neighbourhood Group Toronto	Creating safe spaces for Indigenous youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections  Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections  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	Natalie Johnson Director, Trustee Hub and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion This organization is not accepting any new requests for OM partnerships.
Sault Community Information & Career Centre Inc Algoma, Cochrane, Manitoulin & Sudbury	Creating safe spaces for Indigenous youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections, Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections, Education and training, Employment and training	Adam Pinder Executive Director 705 759-0909 ext. 4247 adam.pinder@saultcareercentre.ca
Social Planning Council of Ottawa Champlain (Ottawa)	Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections Education and training Employment and training Youth justice Systems navigation Improving access to resources for economic stability Culture and arts, Increasing access to mentors	Reuben M. Nashali Executive Coordinator 613 236-9300 ext. 303 reuben@spcottawa.on.ca
The Remix Project Toronto	Creating safe spaces for Black youth and families to build strong cultural and community connections Education and training Employment and training Youth justice Culture and art Increasing access to mentors.	Abel Lulseged Executive Director 416 583-2120 abel@theremixproject.ca
VibeArts Toronto	Employment and training  Culture and arts  Increasing access to mentors	Jason DeMata Mentorship Manager  This organization is not accepting any new requests for OM partnerships.

Potential Organizational Mentors

Connect with an organization

Submit a grant application with a collaborative agreement

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