Granting

Below you will find a more detailed explanation of what we fund and what we don’t fund. Please take the time to read the information below in its entirety. If you have any questions, please contact the Foundation using the Contact Us form. 

What We Fund

Projects supported may help youth ages 12 to 25

• build critical life skills, positive attitudes and self esteem;
• overcome emotional and behavioural problems;
• avoid destructive behaviours.

The project / program that is being submitted for review must address one of two high-level outcomes for youth: improving mental health and / or increasing community belonging. For more information about these outcomes other important information about our grants please invest the time to read all the sections of our website.

Mental Health

Improving mental health
Walking with youth and providing continuity of support
This may include initiatives that:

• support youth through transitions, from finishing a program, to finishing high school, etc.
• provide continuity in support for youth.
• provide continuity between different kinds of services based on a youth’s age.

Supporting prevention focused programs and supports
This may include initiatives that:

• help youth form social connections, build life skills or manage emotions better to help youth to cope better with stressors and avoid serious mental health problems.
• are prevention focused to help support youth and could curb downstream costs of treatment in some cases.

Belonging
Increasing community belonging for youth
Incorporating youth voice and youth leadership
This may include initiatives that:

• create community hubs, which can provide a safe space for youth 3 of 10
• provide youth with safe spaces, where they can feel comfortable to drop in and be with other youth, and to do things that they enjoy.

Creating safe spaces and community hubs for youth
This may include initiatives that:

• support the development and modelling of effective youth engagement practices.
• help agencies to build youth engagement infrastructure and training.
• support convening of youth to increase youth voice.

The Foundation prefers to support projects that show evidence of lasting, positive change
and that provide more than just support. These projects will help educate youth and build
their skills to help deal with root causes, while having a lasting impact.
The Foundation is receptive to innovative new projects. We also consider established
programs, especially those that do not have a wide support base. The Foundation prefers to
fund operating programs rather that capital grants. However, there may be rare occasions
when capital grants will be considered.
We value cooperation and collaboration. Therefore, the Foundation will look favourably on
projects that demonstrate these values.
The Foundation also believes that the ability to share insights and learnings is valuable not only for the funded organization or the Foundation, but also for the community as a whole.
The Foundation welcomes proposals that include ideas about how information will be shared with others. The Foundation is especially interested in working on projects that have the potential to generate useful insights for other youth serving organizations in the region.
The Astley Family Foundation is registered as a charitable foundation with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and therefore can only grant funds to non-profit organizations that are registered charities and have a valid charitable number.

What We Don’t Fund

Proposals from organizations that are not registered charitable organizations recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency Proposals from organizations that are not recognized as Qualified Donees under the Income Tax Act of Canada
Capital campaigns and capital expenditures
Emergency funds or deficit financing
Grants to individuals
Organizations that depend on a fiscal sponsor, except in very unusual circumstances
Arts or sports programs unless their primary purpose is to build critical life skills within targeted groups
Programs which exclude youth on the basis of ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation 4 of 10
Grants to non-Canadian charities
Disaster relief