You’ll receive leadership practice, mentorship, funding, learn new skills and the chance to test your ideas in real life. As a successful applicant, you will:

• Connect with other youth leaders and Canadian Red Cross mentors
• Join free workshops on health, wellness, emergencies, and climate change (optional)
• Build skills like leadership and budgeting
• Share what your project did to help people
• Do something good in your community!

Youth Leadership in Action

In this video, youth leader Willow Allen talks about the importance of youth leadership. The Resilience Fund supports youth voices and ideas to create positive change. Let her message inspire you to take action and lead change in your community!

To receive up to $5,000 in funding, your project must meet some criteria:

• Led by youth: The project should be planned and run by young people.
• Action-focused: It should include real activities, not just ideas.
• Safe and respectful: It should make sure everyone feels comfortable.
• Inclusive and helpful: It should welcome everyone and give back to the community.

Your project can be anything that helps your community! Here are some examples.

• Start a free community sports night
• Create a mural on truth and reconciliation
• Host a 2SLGBTQ+ arts and awareness workshop
• Plant a community garden
• Organize a newcomer welcome club
• Make emergency preparedness kits for families

You can apply by yourself or with a team of youth (such as friends, classmates, teammates). You must also be:

• Between the ages of 16 and 30
• A Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or have refugee status in Canada

Step 1: Register for an online information session. You must attend this session before you can apply. (You have until March 27th, 2026 to attend the information session). 

Step 2: Fill out the application form (after the orientation, we will give you the link).

Step 3: Submit your application before March 31st, 2026.

📅 You have until March 27th, 2026 to attend the information session.

Do you know youth ages 16–30 who want to make a difference? We invite you to help spread the word about the Resilience Fund. This program gives young people the chance to turn their ideas into real community projects with funding, mentorship, and support.

You can play an important role by sharing this opportunity with schools, youth programs, community groups, or sports teams. To make it easy, we’ve prepared a one-page overview you can download, print, or forward, as well as a social media graphic you can post on your channels.

In the next section, you’ll also find suggested messages you can copy and paste when sharing these attachments.

One-page overview

Social media graphic

Ready-to-use message for email

Youth ages 16–30, this is for you!

Do you have an idea to create change in your community? The Resilience Fund offers up to $5,000, mentorship, and support to help you make it happen.

Apply by March 31st, 2026 for Cohort Two. Stay tuned for the call for applications for Cohort Three.     

See the attached one-pager for details. Don’t miss this chance, apply now and turn your idea into action!

Ready-to-use message for social media

✨ Do you have an idea to create change in your community? ✨

The Resilience Fund offers up to $5,000, mentorship & support to help you make it happen.

👉 Apply by March 31st, 2026 to turn your idea into action! 

Stay tuned for Cohort Three!

We all come from different backgrounds and have unique experiences. At the Canadian Red Cross, we celebrate your uniqueness!

• If English isn’t your first language, or if this is your first time applying for funding – that’s okay! We’ll support you.
• We’ll give you the tools and guidance to create a project that makes a real difference in your community.
• If you receive more than $2,000 in funding, you will be paired with a Red Cross mentor to guide you and help make your idea become reality.