Youth Living with a Physical Disability

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Kindred Foundation Youth Mental Health Grant 2025

Supporting Youth Living with a Physical Disability

For a PDF of the information below: Youth Mental Health Grant 2025 - Supporting Youth Living with a Physical Disability

Background 

Kindred Foundation has added a focus community to the Youth Mental Health Grant. In addition to supporting Black and/or 2SLGBTQ+ youth, this separate component of the grant will support youth living with a physical disability. 

In the fall of 2022, Kindred Foundation began having important conversations about expanding our youth mental and physical health pillar to include youth living with a physical disability. In 2023, we formed an advisory committee, met with organizations and experts across Canada, and did a lot of listening.  We conducted a landscape analysis and launched a survey to understand what kind of mental and physical health supports are currently available for youth living with physical disabilities, the challenges they experience, and areas of unmet need.  

This component of Kindred Foundation’s Youth Mental Health Grant is focused on providing financial assistance to Canadian organizations providing direct support to youth in Canada living with a physical disability through physical activity-based initiatives that also promote mental health. We aim to help improve the physical and mental health of adolescents and young adults living with a physical disability by ensuring physical activity-based initiatives are accessible, sensitive to the needs of participants and have the funds needed to carry out their mission.

Meet our Youth Advisory Committee 

Kindred Foundation is honoured to be guided by a Youth Advisory Committee of youth living with a physical disability who are experts and decision-makers in this funding initiative. The Youth Advisory Committee are members of the review committee and are equal decision-makers in determining the grant awardees. 

Grant Information 

• A maximum of $30,000 CAD per grant will be awarded, with approximately 3 grants provided in total. 

• The grant duration is for one year. For awarded grants, if all funds cannot be used in one year, there is the possibility of a 6- or 12-month extension on the gift agreement. 

Eligibility 

1. A Canadian organization providing direct support to youth in Canada living with a physical disability through physical activity-based initiatives that also promote mental health. *Please see the definitions listed below.

a) This may be the entire focus of the organization or a specific program/project within a larger organization that has a wider mission. 

i)  If the applying organization is not led by those with a physical disability then there must be a clear illustration of partnership with individuals living with a physical disability to ensure that services provided are informed and sensitive to the needs of youth in this community.

b) Preference is given to organizations led by individuals living with a physical disability. 

2. Must be an organization with a Canadian charitable registration number or affiliated with one who can receive a donation for your organization (qualified donee). 

3. Maximum organizational budget of $4 million to focus on smaller-sized organizations.

4. The supported initiative may be a project, program, etc. – the term “initiative” is used.

*Please note: 

• The definition of "youth" can be defined broadly. Youth, as defined by the Government of Canada, is considered to be from ages 15-34 years old. However, it is up to the organization as to what they classify as "youth."

• A physical disability is a condition that significantly affects a person's ability to move, coordinate actions, or perform physical tasks due to impairments in the musculoskeletal, neurological, or sensory systems. It may be congenital (present from birth) or acquired due to injury, illness, or aging.

• Physical activity-based initiatives use movement, exercise, or sports to promote physical and mental health.

Non-Eligible Supports 

• Administrative costs exceeding 15% of the requested funding amount (not including staff costs)

• Research

• Capital funding or donor-advised fund campaigns 

• Travel expenses (exceptions considered) 

• Event or fundraising expenses 

• Conferences, trade shows, or other related expenses 

• Political or lobby organizations 

• Projects where benefits occur outside of Canada 

Important Dates 

February 24, 2025:  Application window opens

April 7, 2025 at 5pm EST:  Application window closes  

Beginning of June 2025: Communication to applicants

Please email grant applications to: info@kindredfoundation.ca 

Required Proposal Content and Questions to Answer 

1. Organization Information: 

a. Name of organization 

b. Address 

c. Telephone 

d. Website and social media channels 

e. Canadian charitable number (if applicable) 

2. Trustee Organization (if applicable): 

a. Name of organization 

b. Address 

c. Telephone 

d. Website and social media channels 

e. Canadian charitable number 

3. Main Contact Person 

a. Name of contact person 

b. Pronouns (optional) 

c. Role/responsibility (relationships with organization) 

d. Telephone Number 

e. Email

4. Additional Contact Person(s) (if applicable) 

a. Name(s) 

b. Pronouns (optional) 

c. Role/responsibility (relationships with organization) 

d. Telephone Number(s) 

e. Email(s)

5. Description of the Initiative 

a. Initiative name 

b. Description 

c. Start and end date of the initiative 

d. Geographic area(s) served (e.g., national, provincial – please specify) 

e. Timelines and initiative plan 

f. Roles and responsibilities of the individuals involved

6. Initiative Goals and Objectives 

a. How do the goals and objectives of the initiative help to support success? What are the short and long-term objectives? 

b. How does this initiative address the physical health, and associated mental health needs of youth living with a physical disability? 

c. How will the initiative be accessible and inclusive (e.g., physical accessibility, cultural sensitivity, language inclusivity)?

d. How does this initiative illustrate characteristics of innovation and sustainability to address community need? 

7. Partners 

a. If applicable, who are the stakeholders and/or project partners? 

b. How are youth involved in the design, implementation and/or evaluation of the initiative?

8. Evaluation 

a. What evaluation measures will be used to understand the successes and challenges? 

b. What evaluation measures will be used to understand the initiative’s associated outcomes on the mental health of participants?

c. What is the project team’s vision of success? 

9. Requested Budget 

a. Organizational budget 

b. Breakdown of the initiative’s budget, including the total amount requested 

c. Please provide a copy of your organization’s most recent annual report 

Application Details 

Please make your proposal no more than 3 pages in length (sections 5-7 above included in this page count). If applicable, references, figures and other supporting documents can be provided in addition to the main proposal in an appendix. If desired, we are also happy to accept proposals in different formats (e.g., video).  

You will receive a confirmation email when your application is submitted. We may reach out to you with questions and clarifications if needed. Once the final funding decisions are made, all applicants will be contacted.

The Youth Mental Health Grants are decided in a competitive review process. All applications are reviewed by a committee made up of members from Kindred Foundation and our Youth Advisory Committee. Ad hoc reviewers may be invited depending on the proposals submitted for review. Any conflicts of interest related to the grant review committee members and the applications will be carefully discussed prior to the start of the review meetings. Grant review committee members will be required to recuse themselves from voting if the committee deems that a conflict of interest is in place.

Successful applicants will also be asked to: 

1. Begin work within 6 months of receiving the funds.

2. Submit an interim and/or end-of-year report on how the funds were spent and how they made a difference. 

3. Allow information about the initiative to be shared on Kindred Foundation’s website. 

4. Provide images or other materials that can be shared by Kindred Foundation (e.g., for social media, annual report, etc.). 

5. Return unused or remaining funds.

Please email grant applications to: info@kindredfoundation.ca   

For any questions or more information, please contact: 

Leah Monette

Program Manager, Kindred Foundation

leah@kindredfoundation.ca