Introducing the National Anti-Racism Fund

CRRF’s National Anti-Racism Fund: Working together to build a more anti-racist Canada

The Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) seeks to support organizations to combat racism, promote events and education, and build a more anti-racist society.

The $3 million National Anti-Racism Fund (the Fund) will be disbursed over two years, which is a valuable contribution to the continuation of CRRF’s mission: developing, sharing, and applying knowledge and expertise to contribute to the elimination of racism and all forms of racial discrimination in Canadian society.

Who or what is eligible for the Fund?

Applications must align with one or more of the following themes and objectives:

Systemic racial barriers: Reducing barriers to inclusion by addressing systemic racism in education, healthcare, the justice system, public services, employment, and public life.
Research and education: Promoting and increasing availability and accessibility of data, evidence, and community insights on race relations in Canada.
Public awareness: Informing public policies by highlighting systemic and institutional barriers.
Cultural and intercultural community building: Creating cross-cultural opportunities through discussions and dialogue on race, religion, building awareness, and collaborations.

In addition, projects or events should be designed to achieve one or more of the following results:

Increase public awareness of public policy issues related to race relations, anti-racism, or anti-hate nationally, regionally, or in local communities;
Increase public awareness of Canada’s cultural diversity;
Increase awareness of factors such as race, culture, ethnicity, or religion that may be hindering full participation of the entire Canadian population in society and the economy;
Increase knowledge and capacity within communities to address racism and discrimination.

Guidelines

There are three types of funding within this grant. Each funding stream has different criteria and different amounts of available funding. All proposals for projects, events, or initiatives must include a detailed schedule, with a completion date no later than December 31, 2023.

1. Project-based applications

The CRRF encourages all organizations working on anti-racism or anti-hate projects to apply to “Project-based” funding. Projects must align with one or more of the Fund’s key themes and achieve one or more of the expected results.

Eligibility

This stream of funding is available to Canadian registered charities. (as recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency)
Incorporated non-profit organizations may only apply with a registered charity acting as their trustee.

1.2. Available funding and flow of funds

Funding available for any project within the “Project-based” Fund can range from a minimum of $25,000 to a maximum of $125,000. Applicants can expect a portion of funding once the funding is awarded, with an additional amount (up to 20%) deposited once final reporting is completed and submitted. The CRRF will work with successful applicants to establish the flow of funds according to specified deliverables.

2. Event sponsorship applications

CRRF encourages organizations to apply to the National Anti-Racism Fund if they are coordinating events that align with one or more key themes and achieve one or more of the expected results.

2.1. Eligibility

This stream of funding is available to:

Canadian registered charities (as recognized by the Canadian Revenue Agency)
Incorporated community-based non-profit organizations

2.2. Available Funding and Flow of funds

a) Event sponsorship applications

Available funding for any proposed event is up to a maximum of $25,000. CRRF will work with successful applicants to establish the flow of funds according to deliverables. The majority (up to 100%) will be provided upon contract signing. A final report (including the release of any remaining funding, if applicable) is expected within two months (60 days) of completion of the event(s).

3. Youth initiatives sponsorship applications

CRRF encourages applicants organizing youth anti-racism initiatives to apply to this funding stream. The initiatives must align with one or more key themes and objectives and achieve the expected results of the National Anti-Racism Fund.

3.1. Eligibility

This stream of funding is available to:

Canadian registered charities (as recognized by the Canadian Revenue Agency)
Incorporated community based non-profit organizations
Grassroots and recognized student groups

3.2. Available Funding and Flow of funds

The amount of funding for any proposed youth anti-racism initiatives will be up to a maximum of $2,500. Funding will be provided upon contract signing, and a final report is expected after the completion of the initiative.

The Fund’s limitations

Applicants will only be eligible for funding under the “Project-based” application stream to a maximum of one project;
Applicants will only be eligible for funding under the Event and Youth anti-racism stream to a maximum of two applications;
Applicants can apply for the same Project, Event, or Youth initiatives twice within the Fund period;
Applications for initiatives currently receiving funding through either the Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives (CSMARI) Program or the Anti-Racism Action Program (ARAP) – administered by the Department of Canadian Heritage – will only be considered if the application is to extend or expand the existing initiative.

What the Fund will not support:

For-profit organizations;
Federal institutions;
Hospitals and long-term care facilities;
Individuals;
Organizations whose purpose is solely related to political activity, as defined by the Canada Revenue Agency;
Professional associations.

Although these funds may be used for certain overhead costs, the Fund may not be used for:

Basic shelter beds or transitional housing beds;
Costs (e.g., loans, grants, or scholarships) that are related to direct financial assistance in the form of payments to individuals or families;
Partisan political activity that is in direct or indirect promotion of a political candidate or party;
Rent fees;
Services covered by provincial health authorities;
Services provided by medical professionals or regulated health professionals other than social workers or social service workers;
Support of operating deficits;
Purchase or investment in real property (real estate, land, buildings).

Overhead and administrative costs directly associated with the project, event, or youth initiative can be requested to a maximum of 15% of the total budget.

Application deadline

The application portal will open at 9:00 AM EST on Tuesday, January 4, 2022, and close at 9:00 PM EST on Friday, January 28, 2022, for project-based applications. It will remain open for Event sponsorships and Youth initiative sponsorships until December 2022.

Application process

Applications will only be accepted through the online application portal. However, for reference, the full applications are available in PDF format for download. Organizations that are interested in applying to the National Anti-Racism Fund are encouraged to download the PDF file to review the application questions and prepare all required information and attachments before submitting their application through the online portal.

Click here to access the questions in PDF for the Events and Youth Initiatives Sponsorship Application

Click here to access the questions in PDF for the Project-based Application

Complete the online Application Form;
Complete the Budget Form;
Attach all the required supporting documents; and
Submit your application through our online application form via our website.

Application processing time

Online project applications accepted: January 4, 2022 – January 28, 2022;
The application portal will remain open until December 2022 for the “Event Sponsorship” and “Youth initiatives sponsorship” stream for ongoing intake;
The first wave of grant recipient announcements: March 2022 (approved applicants will be notified of their approval by email).

How do we choose successful applications?

We fund projects and events that have clear goals and measurable results. Your application will be evaluated based on the criteria below:

Evaluation criteria

The following criteria will be used to evaluate all eligible applications:

The application demonstrates how the project, event, or youth anti-racism initiative contributes to one or more of the program themes and achieves one or more of the expected results;
The applicant has the experience, human and financial resources, governance structure, and capacity to successfully carry out the project based on past experience;
The applicant has demonstrated and addressed the need within the local, regional, and/or national context;
The applicant has planned for the resources needed to successfully deliver the project on time and on budget;
The project, event, or initiative activities are clearly described and are linked to the goals of the project, event, or initiative;
The project, event, or initiative is designed to effectively reach its target audience, beneficiaries, and participants;
The proposed budget is detailed, reasonable, balanced and takes into consideration the efficient and effective use of funds and must indicate if the project can continue even if CRRF was only able to allocate partial funding;
For the project-based applications stream, the project proposal clearly outlines the evaluation process that used to analyze metrics at the end of the project, which is to be incorporated into the final report due at the end of the project on how the funds were utilized and what are the next steps once the evaluation is completed.

All funded projects and events must be completed by December 31, 2023, and any final reports submitted by February 28, 2024.

Fund awardees’ public acknowledgment and branding of the Fund

All successful applicants must publicly acknowledge the financial support received from CRRF through its Fund, including the CRRF logo, in all communications materials and promotional activities. Public acknowledgment text should say the following:

“The [TITLE OF YOUR EVENT, PROJECT, YOUTH INITIATIVE] was made possible through the financial support of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation’s National Anti-Racism Fund.”

Informational Webinar

Interested organizations are invited to join an informational webinar on January 6 at 1 PM EST and January 19 at 4 PM EST. To learn more about the eligibility criteria and to sign up to attend information webinars, please visit The National Anti-Racism Fund Informational Webinar for registration details.

Contact us

For further information, please contact us using the following email address: grants@crrf-fcrr.ca

Be sure to write “National Anti-Racism Fund Application” in the subject line of your email.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR THE NATIONAL ANTI-RACISM FUND

National Anti-Racism Fund:

What you need to know

1. What is the National Anti-Racism Fund?

The Canadian Race Relations Foundation’s National Anti-Racism Fund is a $3 million investment over two years to support charities and non-profit organizations to combat racism, promote events and education, and support community groups to build a more anti-racist society. This contribution supports CRRF’s mission: development, sharing, and applying knowledge and expertise to eliminate racism and all forms of racial discrimination in Canadian society.

Under the National Anti-Racism Fund, there are three funding streams, each with different criteria and available funding. All proposed projects, events, or initiatives must include a detailed schedule, with the latest date for completion being no later than December 31, 2023.

Project-based applications: CRRF encourages organizations working on anti-racism or anti-hate projects to apply to this stream of funding. The amount of funding for any project can range from $25,000 to a maximum of $125,000.
Event sponsorship applications: this stream is for organizations capable of organizing events addressing anti-racism. The amount of funding for any proposed event can be up to a maximum of $25,000.
Youth initiatives sponsorship applications: CRRF encourages organizations, grassroots groups, and recognized student groups coordinating youth initiatives addressing anti-racism to apply. The amount of funding for any proposed youth initiatives will be up to a maximum of $2,500.

2. What are the themes and objectives of the National Anti-Racism Fund?

All proposals must align with the following four themes and objectives and achieve one or more of the expected results below:

Systemic Barriers: reducing barriers to inclusion by addressing systemic racism in education, healthcare, the justice system, public services, employment, public life, etc.;
Research and education: promoting and increasing availability and accessibility of data, evidence, and community insights;
Public awareness: highlighting systemic and institutional barriers through informing public policies that address these barriers;
Cultural and intercultural community building: creating cross-cultural, race, religion, dialogue, discussions, awareness building, and collaborations.

Projects, events, and youth initiatives should be designed to achieve one or more of the following expected results:

Increase public awareness of public policy issues related to race relations, anti-racism, or anti-hate in Canada, regionally, or local communities;
Increase awareness of Canada’s cultural diversity;
Increase awareness of factors such as race, culture, ethnicity, or religion that may be hindering full participation of the entire Canadian population in society and the economy;
Increase knowledge within communities to address racism and discrimination.

3. Who is eligible to apply?

Organizations are eligible depending on the type of funding they choose to apply for:

Project-based applications: Funding is available to Canadian registered charities (as recognized by the Canadian Revenue Agency) and incorporated non-profit organizations may only apply with a registered charity acting as their trustee.
Event applications: In this case, funding is available to Canadian registered charities (as recognized by the Canadian Revenue Agency) and Incorporated community-based non-profit organizations.
Youth applications: This funding stream is available to Canadian registered charities (as recognized by the Canadian Revenue Agency), incorporated community-based non-profit organizations, and Grassroots and recognized student groups.

4. Who is ineligible to apply?

The CRRF will not fund the following entities under the National Anti-Racism Fund:

For-profit organizations
Federal institutions
Hospitals and long-term care facilities
Individuals
Organizations whose purpose is solely related to political activity, as defined by the Canada Revenue Agency
Professional associations

5. Are small informal groups eligible to receive the Fund?

Grassroots community groups and student groups can apply to the Youth initiatives stream. These groups are not required to have a charitable status; however, they will need formal recognition and credibility within the community they serve.

6. What expenses would the Fund cover?

The funds may be used for staff salary, operations, or program costs. Overhead and administrative costs directly associated with the project, event, or youth initiative can be requested to a maximum of 15% of the total budget.

7. What are the ineligible expenses?

The funds may not be used for:

Addition of basic shelter beds or transitional housing beds;
Costs (e.g., loans, grants, or scholarships) that are related to direct financial assistance in the form of payments to individuals or families;
Partisan political activity is defined as the direct or indirect promotion of a political candidate or party;
Rent supplements;
Services covered by provincial health authorities;
Services provided by medical professionals or regulated health professionals other than social workers or social service workers;
Support of operating deficits;
Purchase of real property (real estate, land, buildings).

8. Can we apply for more than one project, event, youth initiative?

Applicants will only be eligible to be awarded funding under the Project-based application stream to a maximum of one project;
Applicants will only be eligible to be awarded funding under the Event and Youth stream to a maximum of two applications;
Applicants can apply for the same Project, Event, or Youth initiatives twice in this Fund period;
Applications for initiatives projects currently receiving funding through either the Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives (CSMARI) Program or the Anti-Racism Action Program (ARAP) – administered by the Department of Canadian Heritage – will only be considered if the application is to extend or expand the existing initiative.

9. How do we evaluate applications?

The following criteria will be used to evaluate all eligible applications:

The application demonstrates how the project, event, or youth initiative contributes to one or more of the program themes and achieves one or more of the expected results;
The applicant has the required experience, resources, and capacity to successfully carry out the project based on past experience, financial situation, human resource capacity, and governance structure;
The applicant has demonstrated and addressed the need within the local, regional, and/or national context;
The applicant has planned for the resources needed to successfully deliver the project on time and on budget;
The project, event, or initiative activities are clearly described and are linked to the goals of the project, event, or initiative;
The project, event, or initiative is designed to effectively reach its target audience, beneficiaries, and participants;
The proposed budget is detailed, reasonable, balanced and takes into consideration the efficient and prudent use of funds and must indicate if the project can continue if CRRF was to allocate partial funding;
For the project-based applications, the project proposal should clearly outline the evaluation process, which should be incorporated into the final report at the end of the project. It should also outline how the funds were utilized and the next steps once the evaluation is completed.

10. What is the grant application process, and who evaluates those applications?

For project-based applications, online applications are accepted through the CRRF apply portal from January 4, 2022, to January 28, 2022. Ongoing intake until December 2022 for the Events and youth initiatives stream.

Click here to access the questions in PDF for the Events and Youth Initiatives Sponsorship Application

Click here to access the questions in PDF for the Project-based Application

Decisions will be made by a team of reviewers composed of CRRF board members and supported by CRRF staff. Fund awardees will be announced before March 31, 2022.

11. When will I learn if my application has been successful?

Successful applicants will be notified in early March 2022, and the first payment will be made in late March.

Also, all funded projects and events must be held or completed by December 31, 2023. All final reports must be submitted by February 28, 2024.

12. What happens if my application is not successful?

Suppose your application is not successful this round. In that case, there will be another intake for project-based applications later in the year.

13. When is the deadline to apply?

14. How do I contact CRRF about the National Anti-Racism Fund?

For further information, please contact the CRRF team by email: grants@crrf-fcrr.ca

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