Community Organizations
Community organizations play a critical role in reaching a wide range of youth, especially youth who may not have access to supports at home or in school. We support organizations and initiatives that build well-being and mental health awareness and literacy, help young people build skills to manage their mental health and seek help when needed, and provide a supportive environment for young people to thrive.
We fund initiatives that:
Enable organizations to meet heightened community needs
Over the last few years, many organizations have seen a significant rise in demand for services, a trend that has been exacerbated by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff and volunteers have been overwhelmed at a time when young people have needed supports, and more intensive supports, at higher rates. We invest to help organizations meet rising needs sustainably and effectively.
Expand access to mental health programming
When a program or an initiative is demonstrated to improve youth well-being and mental health, we want it to reach many more young people. We support organizations in expanding their reach by bringing successful programs and initiatives to new communities and geographies, adapting them as needed to meet the needs of youth in new places.
Support young people in their unique contexts
We believe mental health supports must be responsive to the unique needs and the geographical and cultural contexts of young people. This is especially true for youth who have faced systemic challenges or historical barriers to access. We support organizations that employ diverse methods, ranging from outdoor education, mindfulness training, mentorship, and traditional knowledge, to support young people in a way that best suits their contexts.
What We Support:
- Programs and initiatives that boost well-being and mental health: We support programs that reach young people with mental health literacy, build skills to manage adversity and setbacks, and connect them with trusted mentors and peers. This includes connecting with nature, outdoor adventure, and opportunities for young people to have fun, as we believe this is essential to overall well-being.
- Training and recruitment for staff and volunteers: We support training and access to resources that help increase expertise among frontline staff and volunteers, enabling them to better respond and adapt to the changing and emerging needs of youth. We also help organizations recruit staff and volunteers, build capacity to reduce waitlists for their services and programs, build new resources, and serve more youth.
- Initiatives focused on suicide prevention: While our focus is on mental health awareness and prevention, we recognize that suicide is the second leading cause of death among those ages 15-34. We contribute to crisis response initiatives, ranging from crisis helplines to enhanced training for frontline workers and volunteers.
Grantee Spotlights
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Take A Hike Foundation
Take a Hike partners with public school districts to engage vulnerable youth in a full-time mental health and emotional well-being program embedded in an alternate education classroom. Their mission is to empower vulnerable youth with the skills and resilience they need to graduate high school, build healthy relationships, navigate the challenges of young adulthood, and…
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada (BBBSC) is a nationwide charitable organization with local members that provide essential, community-based social services. Primarily serving children and youth ages 7 to 16 years old, Big Brothers Big Sisters matches youth (mentees) based on mutual experiences and shared interests with trained volunteer adult mentors in 1 to 1…
