This program is intended, through the Toronto District School Board’s Hope in Action Plan, to inspire and enable students to proceed with innovative endeavours to improve their local communities, by providing financial seed grants for student led projects.

OUR GOAL IS TO:

• Motivate young people
• Inspire ideas for positive change

 

Evaluation of Grant Applications

Written grant applications will be submitted to the Toronto Foundation for Student Success (TFSS) for preliminary assessment.

Screened applications will be forwarded by TFSS to a small committee that will include representatives of the donor, the TDSB and TFSS.

Grant awards will be decided based on the application.

The Application

Apart from the core data (identifying the project, the project leaders, the financial requirements, etc.), the application will focus on the following evaluation criteria:

• Commitment of student project leader(s)
• Identifying the local community which will receive the benefit
• Identifying the nature and scope of the benefit
• Indirect benefits ( e.g. will it serve as a model? )
• Viability / Likelihood of success / Anticipated challenges
• Involvement and support of: other students, faculty, community

Simply click on to Innovators Grant Program Application Form and fill in the form.

Grant Level (One grant level only for the pilot)

• Small grants ( $250 to $500 )
• A simple expedited application/review process

Grant Process

• An application will be prepared by a student(s) and signed by a school principal.
• The project must be directed at creating positive social change - whether direct (to an identifiable community group) or indirect (e.g. environmental).
• The grant is seed money to support the operational costs of an initiative, such as materials and equipment.

Reporting

All successful applicants will be required to report back, on–line, as to how funds were spent and the outcomes achieved. Pictures should be provided when possible.

When the funds have been spent we ask that you fill out a simple on–line report by clicking on to Innovators Grant Program Report Form

Other Issues

This is a pilot project and 10 schools will be eligible for small grants (not limited to one grant per school).

Applications may be submitted at any time throughout the school year, and will be reviewed and decided on a monthly basis.

Examples of Eligible & Ineligible Initiatives

 

Examples of initiatives which will NOT be funded:

• Benefit is not local (i.e. not within the GTA)
• The objective is political or involves activism
• Fundraising projects

 

 

Examples of eligible initiatives:

• Building or repairing a community resource
• An environmental initiative (planting trees, green roof)
• Helping seniors
• Assisting in the integration of immigrant youth or families

 

 

The Hope in Action Innovators Grant Program was created through the vision and generosity of The Brown-Nusbaum Family Foundation.

For further information about the Hope In Action Innovators Grant Program, please email Sandra.Best@tdsb.on.ca