Uplift Fund

At Toronto Pearson, we deliver on our commitment to being a good neighbour by supporting programs that break down barriers to employment and cultivate opportunities for our neighbouring communities. We achieve this by investing and partnering in programming to support local area residents and employers to build new skills, connections, and opportunities for meaningful careers in the community surrounding us.

Our community investments are focused and strategic to allow for maximum impact for the organizations and projects we support. Through our Uplift Fund, we look to support projects that will provide job seeker support, enhance employer engagement practices, and provide holistic employment programming. 

By supporting such projects, we aim to:

  • Help create meaningful job and career growth opportunities
  • Facilitate effective employment supports and services to our local residents
  • Enhance the capacity and sustainability of our community partners
  • Support training and programming to tackle the systemic barriers that contribute to inequalities in the regional economy

Learn more about previously funded organizations and projects here.

2023 Call for Proposals is now closed

For questions about the Uplift Fund please contact propeller.project@gtaa.com.

Previous funding calls

Since 2018, we have been investing in important programming to help tackle the complex issue of underemployment. We chose underemployment as our primary focus because it holds tremendous untapped potential for improving employment related outcomes for both individuals and employers in the communities surrounding us.

Our diversified Uplift Fund portfolio has supported various community organizations ever since, which include: ACCES Employment, Achev, Brands for Canada, CivicAction, Eva’s Initiative, Hospitality Workers Training Centre, Job Skills, Lab B, MabelleArts, NPower Canada, Peel Halton Workforce Development Group, Rexdale Women’s Centre, Scientists in Schools, Skills for Change, Toronto Region Board of Trade, and Windmill Microlending.

Our 2022 impact

We have partnered with Cathexis consulting to monitor the progress of the Propeller Project and its impact on community outcomes over time. These reports highlight the progress and learnings from our investment projects, and it incorporates outcomes from earlier investments focused on un/underemployment.

The case for underemployment: Read on why we chose underemployment as our priority investment focus