Movember announces first wave of mental health grant recipients

A photo of four young men walking and smiling with a football in hand.

Funding for mental health initiatives in workplaces and community settings.

Scaling What Works is a grant funding program supporting mental health initiatives for young boys and men across community or workplace settings.

We're stoked to announce the first-round recipients of Movember's Scaling What Works grants.

Programs receiving funding in Canada:

  • The University of Toronto will adapt and scale the evidence-based YBMen program for African, Caribbean, and Black males, aged 16-30, who have experienced the murder of family members and/or friends in five neighbourhoods disproportionately impacted by homicide in Toronto, Canada.
  • Developed by the Centre for Sexuality in Calgary, WiseGuyz is a health promotion program that supports boys aged 13-15, to understand how gender norms impact their health and wellbeing. This project will help to scale WiseGuyz in criminal justice settings.

The Centre for Evidence and Implementation (CEI) will evaluate the programs to ensure they are delivering the best possible outcomes in communities that may be more disproportionately affected by poor mental wellbeing.

Owen Brigstock-Barron, Movember’s Director of Community and Workplace Programs said, “It’s great to see such a diverse range of mental health initiatives represented in Scaling What Works.

"Established initiatives will target boys and men from culturally diverse backgrounds, GBTQ+ communities, Indigenous communities, and those living in socially disadvantaged areas.

"Scaling evidence-based initiatives allows us to have an immediate impact on those most at risk, breaking down barriers and enabling boys and men to get the support they need at the earliest possible stage.

"It’s really exciting to think about the instant impact these programs will have in local communities.”

More recipients of Movember's Scaling What Works grants will be announced soon.

To learn more about the impact your donations are having on men's health, check out the Movember impact hub.

Published Oct 9 2022
Updated Aug 31 2026