Deadline: 15-Oct-2024
The City of Toronto is providing multi-year grants to Black-mandated not-for-profit groups and organizations to support the delivery of community and social service programming for Black Torontonians.
The Black-Mandated Funding Framework aims to address funding gaps and historical underinvestment in community organizations and groups that serve Toronto’s Black communities. The model provides an equity-centered approach to addressing anti-Black racism in the City’s community funding processes.
Goals
- The purpose of the annual grant program is to provide pathways to sustainable support to Toronto’s Black-mandated (B3) community and social service organizations by:
- Increasing the availability of dedicated resources
- Investing in organizational infrastructure and development
- Ensuring that organizations can sustain programming and respond to community needs
Principles
- The Black-mandated Funding Framework is grounded in the following principles:
- Enabling an Ecosystem of Support for Black Community Groups: Develop informal and formal networks by leveraging the City’s capacity to convene funders, non-profits, and foster cross-sectoral relationships to better meet Black communities’ needs and interests.
- Ensuring City Accountability and Accessibility: Improve City funding practices through transparent decision-making, evidence-based processes, consistent data collection, and equity measures to foster equitable access, participation and reduce barriers for Toronto’s Black communities.
- Advancing Equity and Self-Determination: Advance equity and pathways to justice in City funding by centering African-centred approaches and investing in, and supporting the experiences, expressed needs, and interests of Toronto’s diverse Black communities.
Funding Information
- Grassroots/emerging groups/organizations:
- May apply for up to $35,000 in funding for one or two years.
- Successful applicants will receive an additional $5,000 for self-directed capacity-building support and will be matched with one of two BMFF Intermediaries.
Eligibility Criteria
- An Eligible Community Organization or Group Is:
- An incorporated or unincorporated not-for-profit organization and/or charitable organization
- Based in the City of Toronto (with an M postal code)
- Accountable to the community through an elected Board of Directors who are representative of the community served, with a majority living in Toronto
- Grassroots groups, through a leadership team of at least three members who direct and lead decision-making and live in Toronto
- Able to provide audited financial statements for the most recent fiscal year (for established organizations and groups)
- In good standing with the City of Toronto (i.e., up-to-date on all requirements of any City of Toronto funding the organization has received, including reporting)
Key Criteria
- A Black-mandated organization meets four key criteria:
- Mandate / Mission
- Has a mandate that explicitly states they serve Black communities and are grounded in Black/African-centred approaches across services and programs.
- Governance
- Is led by a majority of staff and board members who self-identify as Black or of African descent.
- Population Served
- Primarily serves Toronto’s diverse Black communities.
- Community Accountability & Trust
- Responds to community needs, and develops and maintains relationships with the communities served or other Black-mandated organizations and groups.
- Mandate / Mission
For more information, visit City of Toronto.
