Apply for Community Healing and Unity Grants (Canada)

Deadline: 19-Apr-24

The Trustee Hub is currently accepting applications for Community Healing and Unity Grants to support initiatives and activities that promote peace and the reduction of gun violence in the City of Toronto.

In June 2023, the federal government proclaimed that the first Friday of June (June 7, 2024) will now be recognized as the National Day against Gun Violence. The goal of the national day is to raise awareness and encourage national discussion about the causes and effects of gun violence. In alignment with this proclamation, the City is launching the Community Healing and Unity Grants. Through community-led commemorative activities and events, these grants will honour the collective memory of those lost to gun violence, showing solidarity with affected families, lost ones and communities.

This funding opportunity aims to provide a space for collective healing, remembrance, peace, unity and the acknowledgement of the impact of gun violence across the City of Toronto. Funding will support communities in building their own capacity to share their stories about the impact of gun violence and community resilience.

Purpose of Community Healing and Unity Grants

• The Community Healing and Unity Grants will support:
  • The promotion of peace and the reduction of gun violence in the City of Toronto
  • Commemorative activities and events that honor the collective memory of those lost to gun violence, showing solidarity with affected families, loved ones, and communities.
  • Build communities capacity to share their story about the impact of gun violence and community resilience
• Projects should aim to provide a space for collective healing, remembrance, peace and unity, acknowledging the impact of gun violence across the City of Toronto. All events and activities should remain broad and dedicated to collective peace, unity and healing.

Funding Information

• The Community Healing and Unity Grants will provide eligible applicants with the opportunity to apply for up to $15, 000. 00 in funding.
• What is the time frame?
  • Groups must complete the majority of their project between June 7th – 14th to honour The National Day Against Gun Violence
  • If your project spans over more than one day, activities must conclude by the end of June

Projects and Activities

• Your application must demonstrate that your project(s), promote peace, the reduction of gun violence and honour the collective memory of those lost to gun violence through appropriate activities. Projects should focus on healing, peace and unity and should remain broad to support the community’s collective healing.
• Funding priority will be given to applications that meet the following criteria:
  • Peace, unity, healing, or coping and resiliency activities, events or projects that:
    • Provide opportunity for communities to come together and support one another to heal and recover from the impact of gun violence
    • Assist in identifying gaps, challenges and opportunities to build on community resilience
    • Create opportunities for communities to focus on physical, emotional, social and/or spiritual wellbeing
    • Activities, events or projects that will contribute to community-wide healing, peace and unity and not focussed on memorial activities dedicated to one particular individual.
  • Community capacity building activities that:
    • Involve community input and participation in planning, implementation and feedback of activities
    • Help community to develop skills that contribute to or inspire community safety & well-being, increase knowledge and share information about community safety
    • Building and celebrating the strengths of community
  • Successful applications will demonstrate:
    • Innovative approaches to community healing, unity and resilience that showcase creativity and effectiveness in addressing the impact of gun violence
    • Culturally responsive and inclusive approaches that are respectful of diverse healing practices
    • Trauma informed/responsive safety planning where applicable.

Eligibility Criteria

• Groups are eligible if:
  • Grassroots group/organization located in Toronto
  • Group consists of 3 or more members
  • Must have experience in running community-led events
  • Must be willing to work with The Neighbourhood Group as their trustee
  • Must be located in of one  SafeTO zones or TO Wards Peace program areas
  • Priority will be given to groups that are inclusive of all neighbourhoods in the zone, cross-community collaborative and demonstrates outreach that reflect all neighbourhoods
  • SafeTO Zones
    • Zone 1: Black Creek, Glenfield-Jane Heights, York University Heights, Oakdale-Beverley Heights, and Humbermede
    • Zone 2: Elms-Old Rexdale, Mount Olive-Silverstone-Jamestown, and Kingsview Village-The Westway
    • Zone 3: Beechborough-Greenbrook, Rustic, Rockcliffe-Smythe, Yorkdale-Glen Park, Englemount-Lawrence, Weston, Brookhaven-Amesbury, and Weston-Pelham
    • Zone 4: Kensington-Chinatown, Regent Park, Parkdale and Moss Park
    • Zone 5: Golfdale-Cedarbrae-Woburn, Oakridge, Malvern East, Eglinton East, L’Amoreaux, Morningside, West Hill, and Dorset Park
    • Zone 6: Flemingdon Park, Thorncliffe Park, and Victoria Village
  • Groups are ineligible if they are:
    • A incorporated non-profit or charity
    • Business or for-profit enterprise
    • Academic institution

For more information, visit Trustee Hub.