The Accelerator is intended for organizations that are ready to commit to the development of a specific project over the course of the program and are seeking support in the pre-development phase of their project. Eligible organizations must have confirmed a site OR partners for their project (i.e. already own a site to build on or have confirmed units in a building owned by another organization or developer, confirmed funding for the project from an agency etc.). 

The Accelerator is facilitated by the Infrastructure Institute and funded by the Community Housing and Transformation Centre, United Way Greater Toronto and RBC Foundation. 

APPLICATION DEADLINE. The application deadline is November 20, 2026 at 11:59pm EDT. All applicants will be notified of the status of their application in early December 2026. 

PARTICIPANT SELECTION. Applications will be reviewed and considered based on eligibility, viability of the project, and fit with the other projects selected for the upcoming cohort. 

PROGRAM DETAILS. The program runs for 6 months, from December 10, 2026 to May 20, 2027. The program kick off will take place December 10. The first learning session will take place on January 14, 2027.

PROGRAM OFFERINGS. Participants will have access to:

-  2-hour bi-weekly sessions on Thursdays from 1 to 3 pm ET. 

- Program website with resources & materials to support further learning

- Mentorship from industry experts and advisory supports to support business planning, pro forma development, and design.

ELIGIBILITY. The Accelerator Program is open to all groups that are: 

- Able to commit to the full 6-month program;  

- A registered charity or nonprofit organization;  

- Based in Canada;  

- Able to demonstrate that they have either a confirmed project site, partnership, or project funding.  

- Ideally one board member and one staff member from your organization will participate in the Accelerator program. Organizations that are able to dedicate 2-4 participants to the Accelerator sessions will be prioritized.

- The program will be conducted entirely in English

NOTE: Having access to a site is not a program requirement. Organizations that are working in formal partnerships with other partners or working towards site acquisition will also be considered. 

TIME COMMITMENT. The Accelerator is a free program for all accepted participants. Your commitment and attendance is essential. Participants should expect to dedicate a minimum of 3–4 hours per week over the 6-month program. This includes attending bi-weekly 2-hour virtual sessions with other Accelerator participants, as well as additional time for workshops, seminars, “Ask Me Anything” sessions, and mentorship. Organizations will be expected to work through program workbooks and stay on top of session materials with minimal supervision.

Get in touch! If you have any questions, please contact Raisa Masud, Project Lead: raisa.masud@mail.utoronto.ca.

More details on our programs are available on the Infrastructure Institute's website.