Grants and Programs

Laidlaw Foundation invests not only through grants but also through capital that strengthens communities and advances our mission.

Each year, Laidlaw Foundation selects one or two young Black, Indigenous, and/or racialized leaders who are actively addressing issues impacting youth in the areas of education, child welfare, criminal justice and/or environmental justice.

The Youth Action Fund (YAF) provides funds to Ontario-based grassroots initiatives led by and for Black, Indigenous, and racialized young people aged 35 and under.

About our Grants and Programs

Laidlaw Foundation supports young people and communities who are reimagining systems of education, justice, child welfare, and environmental care. Our grants and programs invest in projects, relationships, and ideas that advance equity, reconciliation, and lasting change.

We resource work that is youth-led, Indigenous-led, and community-driven. This means placing decision-making power and financial resources directly with those most affected by the systems being changed.

Photo by: Grace Swain

Our approach

Laidlaw Foundation’s granting approach is built on trust and accountability. We fund in ways that respect self-determination, value lived experience, and recognize that meaningful systems change takes time.

Through these values, we aim to build long-term relationships and support collective learning.

  • Reconciliation

    Our commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples is reflected in our operations, granting, and investment portfolios.
  • Engagement and Empowerment

    We commit to engaging and empowering young people in decision-making and governance.
  • Accountability

    We are accountable to our grantees, our Foundation, and the larger communities of which we are a member.
  • Equity

    We embed equity in all of our policies, practices, processes, and interactions.
  • Responsiveness

    We consult, engage, and work with youth on issues that matter to them, from ideas to implementation.

Recently Funded Grantees