Being Initiative Request for Proposals: Funding Bold Ideas for Youth Mental Health in 12 Countries
Deadline to Apply: June 24, 2025 (2:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. GMT
The Being Initiative, in collaboration with Grand Challenges Canada, is inviting organizations to submit proposals for funding bold ideas that will address youth mental health and well-being in 12 priority countries: Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Vietnam.
This funding opportunity seeks to support innovative mental health interventions for youth aged 10 to 24, especially in urban and peri-urban settings where access to mental health resources can be limited.
The focus is on prevention and promotion strategies aimed at addressing the early drivers of mental health issues, targeting the most underserved young people in these countries. The funding is aimed at advancing local solutions that can make a meaningful impact on young people’s mental well-being.
Funding Opportunities:
The Being Initiative is offering two types of funding:
- Proof-of-Concept (POC) Funding:
- Up to $250,000 CAD
- This funding is intended for early-stage projects that aim to implement, test, and refine innovative solutions to address personal, social, or environmental factors affecting mental health and well-being. Projects must be able to demonstrate the potential for high-impact solutions for youth mental health in one of the 12 priority countries.
- Transition-to-Scale (TTS) Funding:
- Between $300,000 CAD and $1,500,000 CAD
- This funding will support tested approaches to mental health promotion and prevention that have demonstrated positive results. These approaches should have the potential to achieve high impact and be scalable. This funding is designed to help accelerate the growth of successful programs, enabling them to reach more youth across the country and potentially other regions.
Eligibility Criteria:
To apply for funding through this RFP, organizations must meet the following criteria:
- Geographical Focus: Only organizations implementing projects in one or more of the 12 priority countries (Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Vietnam) are eligible.
- Organizational Structure: Applications are open to legally incorporated organizations (or the equivalent) based in any country, but preference will be given to:
- Youth-led organizations (where 50% or more of staff in leadership roles are aged 35 and under) based in one of the 12 priority countries.
- Organizations based in the priority countries.
- International organizations from low- and middle-income countries that partner with a local organization based in one of the 12 countries.
- Other eligible organizations based outside the priority countries.
- Target Population: Projects should focus on youth aged 10-24, with an emphasis on those in underserved, urban, or peri-urban settings.
- Focus Areas: Applications should address prevention and promotion of mental health and well-being, particularly early drivers of mental health issues.
How to Apply:
The application process involves two stages:
- Stage One – Screening Questionnaire: Applicants must complete an online screening questionnaire and submit a project summary outlining the key aspects of their proposed project.
- Stage Two – Full Project Application: Only organizations that pass the screening phase will be invited to submit a full project application.
Applications will be accepted only through the online application form on Grand Challenges Canada’s Fluxx Portal. Applicants are required to register on the Fluxx platform at least 7 days before the intake deadline to complete the application process.
Key Deadlines:
- Registration Deadline: Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET (3:59 a.m. GMT).
- Application Submission Deadline: Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. ET (6:00 p.m. GMT).
Applicants are encouraged to review the full Request for Proposals (RFP) document and country priorities before starting the application process. The RFP document includes detailed information about eligibility, country-specific priorities, and the types of projects being funded.
Information Session and Additional Resources:
- Webinar on Evidence-Based Approaches: Join an upcoming webinar on April 22, 2025, to learn about evidence-based approaches to youth mental health and how to strengthen your proposal. The webinar will focus on reviewing evidence related to the prevention and promotion of mental health within schools and will feature insights from successful innovators in the field.
- Webinar Time: Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 8:00 AM ET (12:00 PM GMT).
- Register Now
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): For more guidance on the application process, please review the FAQs document, last updated on April 7, 2025.
- Innovation Lookbook: Learn more about the types of innovations that are currently being funded through the initiative by checking out the Innovation Lookbook. This resource will help you understand the kinds of approaches that have received funding and how your proposal can complement these existing projects.
For More Information:
For any questions regarding the Request for Proposals or the application process, please reach out to [email protected].
This funding opportunity offers a chance for organizations to significantly impact youth mental health and well-being across the 12 priority countries. Apply today and help shape the future of mental health for underserved youth!
