Anti-racism Grants Program

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Program Overview

In fall 2019, City Council established the Anti-racism Advisory Committee and approved funding of $300,000 for an Anti-racism Grants Program, which the committee would advise on.

The grant program has three outcomes:

Edmontonians are more aware of racism and its impact and have a greater understanding of how to take action to address it.
Edmontonians will be knowledgeable of the community organizations that are working to dismantle individual, systemic and structural racism.
Edmontonians will work together to build a diverse, inclusive and equitable city guided by anti-racism.

Applicants are encouraged to apply for the grant most appropriate for their initiative based on the intended outcomes of the project.

Grant Streams

The deadline for applications has now passed. Grant applications are no longer being accepted at this time.

1. Youth Activation Grant

Grant amount: Up to $1000 each | $25,000 of total funds available

To be used by youth (13-24 years of age) to activate & animate anti-racism initiatives, grassroots organizing & community action.

Youth Activation Grants will be awarded on an ongoing basis.

Requirements

Youth activation grant applications must demonstrate the following:

Youth aged 13 to 24 were involved with the development of the proposal and youth aged 13 to 24 will implement the project. Projects developed and led by BIPOC youth will be given preference.
Projects delivered by youth must be supported by a fiscal agent/supporting organization whose primary mandate includes supporting youth activities. Projects must demonstrate how youth will be empowered to lead and implement the project. Fiscal agents/supporting organizations are responsible for financial accountability and reporting requirements.

2. Project Ready Matching Grant

Grant Amount: Up to $25,000 each | $75,000 of total funds available

To be used by community non-profit and local grassroots organizations for anti-racism initiatives that have received approved funding and require some matching contribution.

3. Local Anti-racism Capacity Building/Innovation Grant

Grant Amount: Up to $15,000/each | $150,000 of total funds available

Focused on local grassroots organizations working on anti-racism activities and actions that address barriers to participation, promote healing and/or reconciliation, illuminate and combat systemic and structural racism, and support sustaining developmental change.

4. Local Community Participatory Action Research Grant

Grant Amount: up to $25,000/each | $50,000 of total funds available

To be used by communities impacted by racism to support community-led research activities that address local issues and concerns specific to them.

Requirements

Local Community Participatory Action Research Grant applications must demonstrate:

Involvement of BIPOC Community partners in the co-discovery, co-design and implementation of research and action solutions.
How barriers to participation will be addressed to support the involvement of research participants.

Application Forms

Carefully review and complete the appropriate application form and budget template

Youth Activation Grant Application Form
Application Form for the Project Ready Matching Grant, the Local Anti-racism Capacity Building /Innovation Grant and Local Community Participatory Action Research Grant
Budget Template

*Please Note: We recommend that you first download a Practice form below, review the questions, prepare your answers and then copy and paste your prepared answers into the actual application form:

Youth Activation Grant Practice form:
- Word version
- PDF version
Practice form for Project Ready Matching Grant, the Local Anti-racism Capacity Building /Innovation Grant and Local Community Participatory Action Research Grant:
- Word version
- PDF version

Final Report Forms

Successful grant applicants are required to complete a Final Report form to fulfil the terms and conditions of the grant received from the City of Edmonton.

Important Information

Eligibility Requirements for Organizations

Your organization must be a registered not-for-profit in good standing with the Province of Alberta or the federal government of Canada.

Ineligible Organizations

Municipal departments or other governmental organizations
For-profit organizations/enterprises
Any other organizations not registered under one of the acts mentioned in section 3.1 of the program guidelines
Organizations that have overdue or incomplete accounting/reporting relating to any grant previously awarded by the City of Edmonton
Individuals

Required Documents For Applying

Proof of annual filing with Corporate Registries
Most Recent Bank Statement
Most recent signed year end financial statement approved at an Annual General Meeting
Annual General Meeting minutes
Certificate of incorporation, if applying to the City of Edmonton for the first time
Bylaws of your organization, if applying to the City of Edmonton for the first time

Ineligible Expenses

Time and labour provided towards preparation of funding application
Endowments, charitable donations, bursaries, developing business cases or proposals for funding, donor recognition, gifts (with the exception of gifts for Indigenous protocols), gift cards, prizes, awards, alcohol, expenditures for or time and labour provided towards ground breaking, openings and participant travel, participant accommodations, and participant per diems. If participant travel and accommodations are a significant barrier to involvement in the project, an exception may be granted by contacting the Grant Program Administrators.
Capital and facility upgrades, renovations and construction.
Debt reduction, financing charges and/or interest payments on loans, retroactive expenses incurred prior to application submission dates.
Administrative costs and fees that exceed more than 65% of the total project costs (e.g. legal fees, accounting/booking fees, bank/financing related charges, ongoing operational expenses such as rent/lease payments and facility maintenance, etc.)
Direct government lobbying or partisan political activities (i.e. activities related to advocacy must demonstrate non-partisan approaches)

Guide

Anti-racism Grants Program: Program Guidelines

Frequently Asked Questions

I am an individual and am not affiliated with a registered organization. Can I apply for a grant?

All projects must be supported by an eligible fiscal agent/supporting organization. Individuals (youth applicants, for example) can partner with a fiscal agent/supporting organization that will be responsible for all financial accountability and reporting requirements.

My group 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 BIPOC community 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. Higher priority will also be given to organizations that have an operating budget under $250,000/year and have not received prior City of Edmonton funding.

Can I apply for more than one grant?

Yes; however, applicants cannot resubmit an application for the same project until written notification of the outcome of their current application is made by the City of Edmonton.

I have already applied for a City of Edmonton grant. Do I 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.

Am I eligible to receive this grant if I have outstanding Final Reports for other City of Edmonton grants?

No. You must complete all final reporting requirements associated with your other City of Edmonton grants before any further grants can be awarded or released to your organization.

When will I be notified about the outcome of my application?

Youth Activation Grant applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application within approximately three weeks. For example, if an applicant submits their Youth Activation Grant application on June 5, they will be notified of the outcome of their application approximately three weeks later on June 26. Applicants to all other funding streams will be notified of the outcome of their application in November.

My organization is not based in Edmonton. Can we still apply for a grant?

The Anti-racism Grants Program supports projects developed by youth, non-profit and grassroots organizations based in Edmonton. The organization’s mailing address must be in Edmonton.

My organization currently receives funding from the City of Edmonton. Can we still apply for a grant?

Yes; however, higher priority will be given to organizations that have not received prior City of Edmonton funding. Lower priority will be given to organizations that receive ongoing funding from the City of Edmonton and organizations with operational/programme budgets supported through other governmental systems and structures.

My initiative’s budget is larger than $25,000. What other grants are available?

Applicants are encouraged to apply for the grant most appropriate for their initiative based on the intended outcomes of the project. The City of Edmonton is now accepting applications for one-time Anti-racism Community Safety Funding Program that range in scope from $150,000 - $250,000. Expressions of Interest are due by August 24, 2022.

I have additional questions. Who should I contact?

If you have additional questions, you can reach out to program staff by emailing arac@edmonton.ca

2021 Anti-racism Grant Recipients

Local Anti-racism Capacity Building/Innovation Grants

2021 Recipients

Edmonton Culture Society - The Art of Anti-Racism in Our Neighbourhood	$10,000
Free Play for Kids Inc - A Pilot Project to Provide Social Support & Crisis Diversion for BIPOC Children & Youth in a Barrier-Free After School Recreation & Leadership Program	$10,000
Garacad Development Society - Standing Tall - Empowerment through the Challenges of Racism	$10,000
Parkdale Cromdale Community League (in partnership with Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society) - Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Art Installation and Awareness Sessions	$10,000
Roots of Resilience Education Foundation - Reclaiming Our Voices	$10,000
Sisters Dialogue Inc. - I Rage - Healing through Art and Prayer	$9,800
The Black Bookshelf Project - The Black Bookshelf Project	$10,000
United Cultures of Canada Association - No Place for Racism in My Canada	$9,920
Velma Carter Centre for African-Canadian Women - VCC Women's Workshop	$10,000
Youth Restorative Action Project (YRAP) Ltd. - Indigenous Justice Initiative	$10,000

Project Ready Matching Grants

2021 Recipients

Council of Canadians of African and Caribbean Heritage - Project Saqqara	$25,000
Latitude 53 Society of Artists - Chinatown anti-oppression workshops and projects	$10,000
PHIDEAS Philippine Edmonton Events and Arts Society - UNLEARN: Communities Come Together to (Un)Learn Biases	$3,896.75
Ribbon Rouge Foundation - ArtSpace: Telling ACB Stories for Change	$24,979.50

Local Community Participatory Action Research Grants

2021 Recipients

Family Advancement Association - System Mapping of African Diaspora Nonprofits To Promote Collaboration	$25,000
Multicultural Family Resource Society - Growing and building our communities together: Healing and working together to address racism	$24,995

For More Information

Social Identity and Social Inclusion

Telephone	780-496-5840
Email	arac@edmonton.ca