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Innovators working to improve youth mental health and wellbeing have a new opportunity to secure international funding through a call for proposals issued by Grand Challenges Canada under its Being Initiative.
The call is seeking scalable solutions that address the root causes of mental health challenges among young people aged 10 to 24, particularly those living in underserved communities.
The initiative focuses on prevention and early intervention, supporting approaches that strengthen the environments where young people live, learn, and grow.
Under the latest Request for Proposals, the programme will fund innovations that have already demonstrated effectiveness and are ready to expand their reach.
The funding falls under the initiative’s Transition to Scale category, which supports proven approaches moving toward broader implementation.
Successful applicants can receive between CAD $300,000 and CAD $1.5 million to expand their initiatives.
Projects funded through this round are expected to strengthen evidence, build partnerships, and attract additional investment to sustain and scale their impact.
Focus on youth mental health
The Being Initiative is a global effort aimed at improving mental health outcomes for young people by tackling the early drivers of distress and building supportive environments for wellbeing.
The programme is currently targeting 12 priority countries: Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Vietnam. Projects must be implemented in at least one of these countries to be considered for funding.
Although organisations from any country can apply, preference will be given to youth-led organisations and institutions based in the priority countries.
The programme defines youth-led organisations as those where a significant portion of leadership positions are held by people aged 35 and under.
Who can apply
The opportunity is open to legally incorporated organisations, including non-profits, research institutions, social enterprises, and other entities working in the mental health space.
Applicants are expected to demonstrate that their innovation has already shown promising results and is ready to expand to reach more young people.
The initiative encourages proposals that combine innovation with strong evidence, community engagement, and partnerships capable of sustaining long-term impact.
Examples of innovations eligible for funding include new service delivery models, technology-enabled mental health solutions, community-based programmes, policy approaches, or business models that support youth wellbeing.
Application process
Applications will follow a two-stage process. In the first stage, applicants must submit a screening questionnaire and a brief project summary.
Only proposals that pass this initial screening will be invited to submit a full application for detailed review.
All proposals must be submitted through Grand Challenges Canada’s Fluxx online portal, which manages the organisation’s grant applications and review process.
The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2026, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time (ET).
Building the next generation of mental health solutions
Through the Being Initiative, Grand Challenges Canada aims to strengthen the global pipeline of youth mental health innovations while supporting solutions that are locally driven and culturally relevant.
By backing projects that can move from promising ideas to scalable programmes, the initiative hopes to accelerate progress toward environments where young people are able to thrive and maintain positive mental wellbeing.
Innovators and organisations interested in applying are encouraged to review the full Request for Proposals and eligibility requirements on the Grand Challenges Canada website before submitting their proposals.
