Mental health is crucial for overall well-being. This is possible when someone is able to manage stress, use their talents, learn effectively, is able to contribute, and feels a part of the community.
The City of Edmonton’s Anti-racism Grant Program supports the Anti-racism Strategy and the Anti-Black Racism Action Plan, which are intended to address all forms of racism and discrimination.
Our investments help:
- Address racially-motivated hate
- Build community capacity and cultural understanding
- Promote awareness, training and education
- Support research, monitoring and evaluation on diversity, anti-racism and/or discrimination in Edmonton
2026 Application Intake Is Now Closed
Applications are currently under review.
Thank you to everyone who submitted an application.
Grant Timelines
- August 25, 2026 - Grant opens
- September 25, 2026 - Application deadline, 4:30pm*
- September/October 2026 - Application review
- November/December 2026 - Applicants will be notified of funding decisions. Applicants approved for funding will be required to sign a funding agreement or funding letter with the City before funding will be provided.
Note: These timelines are subject to change.
*Late submissions or incomplete applications (missing attachments and/or incomplete responses, incomplete financial information) will not be reviewed.
Program Overview
The goal of this grant is to address racism through Anti-racism projects.
Outcomes
The grant program has 3 outcomes — that Edmontonians are:
- Aware of the impact of racism and have a greater understanding of how to take action to address racism and discrimination
- Knowledgeable about the community organizations that work to dismantle systemic racism (interpersonal, institutional and structural)
- Working together to build a diverse, inclusive and equitable city
Grant Priorities
As part of your application, you will also be asked to define what level of racism you will be addressing:
Between People (Interpersonal)
This is about negative feelings and actions between individuals. It can be things we say or do without even thinking, like microaggressions, or more obvious things like racial bullying, discrimination and hate crimes.
Within Organizations (Institutional)
This happens when schools, workplaces and other organizations have rules and policies that unfairly favour the dominant group. Even if they don't say anything about race, these rules can lead to unfair outcomes.
Throughout Society (Structural and Societal)
This is about the big, long-term ways our society is set up that give some racial groups more advantages than others. It affects many different parts of our lives.
Please see the definitions for more information.
Grant Focus Areas
Applicants must clearly demonstrate how their project meets one or more of the Anti-racism Grant Program outcomes and focus areas.
Mental Health
Employment
Gainful employment is work that provides a steady, regular income and enough money to live on. It requires access to skill-building, training, constructive guidance, and/or workplace adjustments. It also includes accessible tools for individuals with disabilities, clear paths for promotion, and offers fair pay in a safe and encouraging environment.
Education
Education can be formal or informal. Education helps gain essential societal values, build literacy, and foster critical thinking for personal and community development. Education is gained through school or outside of a formal setting, and includes diverse ways that we learn and grow through knowledge and experience.
Food Security
Food security means that everyone has reliable access to enough food that is affordable and healthy. It can also mean having access to foods that are important to different cultures.
Disability
Responding to disability challenges requires physical accessibility, respectful communication and systemic inclusion. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines disability as a broad term that includes:
- Impairments: Issues with how your body functions or is structured.
- Activity Limitations: Difficulties doing things like walking or reading.
- Participation Restrictions: Challenges getting involved in social activities or work.
Reporting
Projects must be completed within 1 year from the date that a funding agreement is executed with the City. Extensions to this deadline may be granted by the City in its sole discretion.
A final report is due within 90 days of the project completion in the grant portal. A notification email will be sent in advance of the reporting due date.
Successful applicants will be responsible for final reporting within 90 days of the project completion, including:
- An outline of project activities, outputs and outcomes of the project
- Financial report showing the approved and actual expenses
Frequently Asked Questions
We are a collective/organization not affiliated with a registered organization. Can I apply for a grant?
All projects must be supported by an eligible fiscal agent/supporting organization. Local collectives can partner with a fiscal agent/supporting organization that will be responsible for all financial accountability and reporting requirements.
Our collective/organization does not include Black, Indigenous or people of colour. Are we still eligible to apply for a grant?
Yes. However, the project must address a Black, Indigenous or people of colour (BIPOC) community's identified need and demonstrate BIPOC community involvement.
Higher priority will be given to projects facilitated by organizations that can demonstrate that they are BIPOC-led and/or have the involvement of partner organizations from other diverse communities in the development, delivery and follow-up of their projects.
Can our collective/organization apply for more than one Anti-racism grant?
Yes. Your collective/organization can participate collaboratively in more than one funded project; however, your collective/organization can only be the lead applicant on one application.
Our collective/organization already applied for a City of Edmonton grant. Do we have to submit all of the same required documents again?
Yes. These documents are a requirement of this grant program and are required in order to assess your application eligibility.
Is our collective/organization eligible to receive this grant if we have outstanding Final Reports for other City of Edmonton grants?
If you have any final reports that are overdue, then your file is no longer in good standing with the City of Edmonton - this is an outstanding report. You must complete all your final reporting requirements associated with your other City of Edmonton grants before any further grants can be awarded or released to your organization.
If you have a current grant with the City of Edmonton that is not closed - that is, in progress - you are welcome to apply to this grant.
When will our collective/organization be notified about the outcome of my application?
The grant closes in September 2026. We hope to have an evaluation and review of all applicants done by November 2026. Applicants will be notified by November/December 2026.
Our collective/organization is not based in Edmonton. Can we still apply for a grant?
The Anti-racism Grant Program supports projects developed by collectives and non-profit organizations based in Edmonton. The organization's mailing address must be in Edmonton.