Home - Youth and Philanthropy Initiative

YPI is an idea

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

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

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.

Our Impact

ACROSS CANADA SINCE 2002

More Than

$ 9000000

grant dollars

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

Over

100000

students

have developed skills, competencies and positive attitudes towards civic engagement

Over

1000000

people

have learned about social issues from students advocating in their communities

Over

100000

community members

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

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.

Get Involved!

Apply / Nominate a School

Want to participate in YPI or nominate a school to participate in YPI?

Support Our Work

Find out how you can join YPI Canada to grow compassionate communities.

See the Charities Youth Advocate for

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

Awards

2010

Canadian Best Practice in Civic Education

The Institute for Canadian Citizenship

2011

Premier’s Award for Philanthropy in Education

Government of Ontario

2014

Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship (OMC)

Government of Ontario

2014

June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award

Government of Ontario

2015

Honorary Doctorate in Civil Law

Julie Toskan

Saint Mary's University

2016

Meritorious Service Medal (Civilian)

Julie Toskan

Governor General of Canada

In the News

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

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.

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.

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.

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.