Frequently Asked Questions!

Am I a youth?

If you define yourself as a youth, then you are a youth!  Generally, we say 30 and under.

Who can apply?

Given our current capacity, applications are limited to folks who live within the Ottawa-Champlain region in Ontario.

What determines the amount of my grant, and how are grants received?

Legal name and gender marker change in Ontario currently costs $137. The grant is for $150 to account for notary and postage.

Grants will be made available to those selected through e-transfer or cash.

The Me Fund is funded through donations.

If I am picked, when can I receive my money?

Within the first week of the month following your application, SAEFTY will reach out to the recipient through their preferred mode of communication. Make sure to follow us on our socials so we are able to message you.

Note that if you do not reply to our contact within 2 months of winning the grant (eg. if you won January’s grant and have not replied by the end of March), the grant is forfeited and a new winner will be redrawn the next month.

Is it always 3 people per month?

Each month we have a pool for BIPOC, trans femmes, and the general trans community. If you are a Black Trans woman, for example, you will have three chances for your name to be randomly selected.

If there are no applicants from a targeted pool, then another recipient from the general pool will be selected.

If the grant has not been claimed within 2 months of contact, a 4th winner will be drawn from the following month’s pool.

Do I have to apply every month?

Yes! After each month we delete the applicant’s information for confidentiality.

Applications open again on the 1st day of the month.

Do I have to use the money for a name change?

Not necessarily! We know life happens and if something comes up where this $150 would be of better use for you, then no worries! Just keep in mind you are only allowed to receive the grant once. We do not follow up with how the funds are used.

Can I receive more than one grant?

No, recipients are only able to receive The MeFund grant once.

Is The MeFund for gender-marker change too?

Yes, it does! Currently, the Ontario government is waiving the fee for a gender-marker change until October 2022. After this date, the amount of the grant will continue to include the cost of a name change.

How do I change my name?

We have linked all the necessary paperwork for the Ontario name change here.