Youth Take Charge
From: Canadian Heritage
The Youth Take Charge Program provides funding for projects that aim to strengthen youth attachment to Canada through engagement. Under this program, youth is defined as individuals aged 7 to 30.
The Program ultimately aims to provide participants with experiences that contribute to strengthening their sense of attachment to Canada through engagement, based on 4 key objectives:
- participants are better aware of the importance of being an active and engaged citizen
- participants are more engaged in communities
- participants have a better sense of shared Canadian identity
- youth-serving organizations are relevant to youth
The Program supports youth-led projects that include activities in 1 or more of 4 thematic areas:
- arts and culture
- civic engagement and youth service
- economic activities
- history and heritage
Who can apply
The following organizations are eligible for funding:
- Canadian registered not-for-profit organizations
- Canadian registered charitable groups
- Indigenous representative organizations: Indigenous governments and equivalent organizations that represent the interests of the First Nation, Inuit or Métis communities
To be eligible for funding, the organization must also meet all of the following requirements:
- have at least 3 years of active experience delivering youth programs over the last 5 years on a significant national or provincial/territorial scale, which entails:
- geographic reach: The organization’s regular activities extend beyond its immediate regional community
- youth reach: The organization actively engages with a significant number of youth each year (direct engagement of at least 200 youth, on a case-by-case basis)
- have adequate security and safety policies and procedures in place for the delivery of a youth project similar to the one proposed in the application
The following organizations are not eligible for funding:
- for-profit entities
- governments (federal, provincial/territorial or municipal administrations)
- crown corporations or other federal institutions
- public or parapublic groups or organizations (for example, schools, colleges, universities, school boards, public libraries)
Eligible projects
Eligible projects for funding must include activities designed to achieve measurable objectives and positive outcomes. Activities are eligible only if they take place within one of the following timeframes:
- during the period of April 1 to March 31 of the year following the application date
- by March 31 of a subsequent year if funding is requested for more than 12 months
To be eligible for funding from the Youth Take Charge Program, the project must meet all of the following requirements:
- actively engage a significant number of youth aged 7 to 30 (established to a minimum of 200 youth annually, to be assessed on a case-by-case basis, and with consideration given to projects serving under-represented populations)
- be youth-led (meaning youth play a significant role in the design, delivery and evaluation of the project)
- demonstrate support from community partners and other external sources, either through cash contributions or in-kind resources
- support the achievement of the Program’s objectives and expected results by actively contributing to youth sense of attachment to Canada through engagement activities that:
- provide opportunities for participants to be engaged in their community
- involve participants in collaborative activities
- help participants develop a sense of shared Canadian identity
- propose activities in 1 or more of the Program's thematic areas:
- arts and culture
- civic engagement and youth service
- economic activities
- history and heritage
- integrate digital tools, platforms and communications technologies to support engagement and collaboration among participants
The following projects are not eligible for funding:
- projects consisting of activities that primarily take place outside of Canada
- activities that are primarily religious in nature or advocate for specific political parties
- projects that forecast a deficit
- projects that have costs primarily related to the creation and/or maintenance of a website unrelated to the Program’s objectives
- projects that are receiving support through the Exchanges Canada Program
Application deadline
The application intake period will take place from October 20, 2025, 8 am, to November 17, 2025, 4 pm (ET).
How to apply
Read the Application guidelines in their entirety before completing the application.
Contact the Program at lesjeunessengagent-youthtakecharge@pch.gc.ca to request the forms and other documents required to submit in the application.
All eligibility requirements must be met and a complete application package must be submitted to be considered for funding.
Contact us
For further information, please contact the Program:
- Address
- Youth Take Charge Program
Department of Canadian Heritage
15 Eddy St
Gatineau QC J8X 4B3 - lesjeunessengagent-youthtakecharge@pch.gc.ca
- Telephone
- 819-997-0055
1-866-811-0055 (toll-free) - TTY
- 1-888-997-3123 (toll-free)
Agents are available to answer your questions, Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 6:30 pm (ET).