Youth and Philanthropy Initiative

YPI logo: white letters 'YPI' on a green background

Canada

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How does it work?
Learn about the YPI process in this animated video.
Watch the video
YPI is an idea

That grant-making can be inclusive and transformative for communities and young people.

Learn more
YPI is a program

Where youth, schools, charities, and funders work together to support social services through grants and public awareness.

Our Approach
YPI is a platform

For motivating, deepening, and scaling meaningful interactions between people and the social purpose sector.

For charities
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What is YPI?

YPI is an inclusive, multi-award-winning approach to grant-making that grows compassionate communities by connecting high school students to social issues, local charities, and philanthropy at a pivotal stage in their adolescence.

What We Do

Our Impact

ACROSS CANADA SINCE 2002

White icon of a dollar bill
More Than
$ 9700000
grant dollars

have been provided by YPI’s funders to be granted by youth through our inclusive, participatory process

White icon of four school children
Over
200000
students

have developed skills, competencies and positive attitudes towards civic engagement

White icon of two intersecting speech bubbles
Over
1000000
people

have learned about social issues from students advocating in their communities

White icon of a heart floating over an open hand
Over
500000
community members

have been helped by frontline social service charities who have won grants through YPI

Explore Our Impact

VISION

Canada’s young people are included, empowered, and engaged in creating more compassionate and connected communities where they live, and a more philanthropic future for all. 

MISSION

YPI Canada is growing connected, compassionate communities through our inclusive, multi-award-winning approach to youth-led participatory grant-making. By 2024, our goal is to grant $1M annually to charities decided by 40,000 engaged and empowered youth, and to connect 350,000 Canadians each year around caring for social causes in their communities. 

Our strategic priorities for 2019-2024

PHILANTHROPY

We aspire to be a strategic, high-impact partner for the philanthropic community.

Increase funding, diversify revenue sources, and build a sustainable YPI granting model.

EDUCATION

We will steward award-winning program quality for high schools and youth, and invest in continuous improvement.

Deepen YPI's impact on youth and schools. Expand enrolment to new communities.

CHARITIES

We strive to be a champion of local charities chosen by youth, and a collaborative, valued partner in support of their communities.

Increase YPI's value for participating charities. Leverage YPI for lasting community impact.

Download our full strategic plan

Get Involved!

Apply / Nominate a School

Want to participate in YPI or nominate a school to participate in YPI?
Apply or Nominate a School

Support Our Work

Find out how you can join YPI Canada to grow compassionate communities.
Become a Funder
Donate

See the Charities Youth Advocate for

Take a look at the charities that YPI’s youth participants have helped win grants.
View YPI Charities

Awards

Logo of the Institute for Canadian Citizenship

2010

Canadian Best Practice in Civic Education

The Institute for Canadian Citizenship

Ontario Coat of Arms

2011

Premier’s Award for Philanthropy in Education

Government of Ontario

Ontario Coat of Arms

2014

Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship (OMC)

Government of Ontario

Ontario Coat of Arms

2014

June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award

Government of Ontario

Logo of St. Mary’s University Halifax

2015

Honorary Doctorate in Civil Law

Julie Toskan

Saint Mary's University

Crest of the Governor General of Canada

2016

Meritorious Service Medal (Civilian)

Julie Toskan

Governor General of Canada

In the News

Three students hold up an oversized cheque for $5000 awarded to Jem Workshop

Hebrew Academy students win JEM Workshop $5,000 grant

The Suburban • April 12, 2019
“YPI gives students an education and experience that they would never find in a textbook,” said Hebrew Academy’s lead YPI teacher, Celia Natanblut, who has been incorporating the initiative as part of her Grade 10 Ethics and Religious Culture (ERC) curriculum for the past six years. Hebrew Academy is the only Jewish school in Montreal that participates in YPI

Read More »

Langley students dance for suicide prevention takes top prize

Aldergrove Star • Mar 5, 2019
Their winning presentation, which focused on mental health and suicide prevention, featured a video to honour the memory of Melaina Paisley, a close friend who committed suicide last year.

Read More »

Brooklin students help Oshawa Cancer Support Centre with $5,000 donation

Global News • July 26, 2018
“I didn’t know about Hearth Place or anything to do with it and literally it’s 10 minutes from our school,” said Reagan Lawrence, Brooklin High School student. A youth and philanthropy initiative program at school is what led Lawrence, Mcnutt and two others to the cancer support centre.

Read More »

TD representatives holding an oversized cheque for YPI

TD Bank Group donates $500K to Youth and Philanthropy Initiative

Toronto.com • June 20, 2018
TD’s new global corporate citizenship platform, The Ready Commitment, will target $1 billion in total by 2030 toward community giving in financial security, a more-vibrant planet, connected communities and better health.
Read More »
Three secondary school students from the YPI program stand in front of a row of lockers.

CBC: Sudbury Secondary School students giving back to community with philanthropy projects

CBC NEWS • MAY 2, 2018
Student Dieter Lische-Parks and his group have been researching the social issue of hunger. They chose the food delivery program, Meals on Wheels in Subdury as their charity. “Some of us have actually connected to this issue personally, and we just really wanted to make a change,” he said.
Read More »

Up-to-Date Information during COVID-19

In keeping with public health recommendations, we continue to make some adaptations to the YPI program for the 2020/2021 academic year. Please click the button below to read our 2020/2021 Program Guidelines. 

2020/2021 Program Guidelines

Read an open letter from our founder Julie Toskan, MSM, OMC, on why supporting youth civic engagement and local charities is more important than ever.

Open Letter from our Founder, Julie Toskan