Black women and girls are an integral part of Canadian society and have made significant contributions in various fields, including culture, STEM, sports, and business. The Government of Canada continues to invest in programmes that help Black women and girls overcome inequities and give them the resources to succeed.
There have been many initiatives taken by the government that will expand on ongoing efforts to increase the participation of Black women entrepreneurs and girls in all parts of society. Canada is better positioned to overcome systemic impediments to gender equality due to programs like these, bringing us all one step closer to a better and more inclusive Canada for all.
Women’s Program by Status of Women Canada
The Women’s Program’s goal is to achieve the full involvement of women in Canada’s economic, social, and democratic life. Funding is offered to eligible organizations to fund projects that target the following three priority areas at the local, regional, and national levels:
- Violence against women and girls must be eradicated.
- Improving the economic security and prosperity of women and girls
- Increasing the number of women and girls in positions of leadership and decision-making
Time-limited projects of 36 months or less that address barriers to women’s involvement and equality in Canadian society are eligible for funding. The Women’s Program’s financing requirements decide which groups and activities are eligible. Continuous activities, such as an organization’s operations and administration, are not funded. Furthermore, not all qualified candidates may be funded because finances are limited. The Women’s Program publishes targeted calls for ideas on certain themes with predetermined elements and application dates. Continuously, Status of Women Canada accepts a small number of applications for the Women’s Program.
Eligible applicants:
- Excludes labour unions, post-secondary educational institutions, and religious institutions, Canadian not-for-profit organizations;
- Aboriginal governments (including band councils, tribal councils, and self-government entities) and their agencies in rural and remote areas where there is a lack of capacity among not-for-profit and for-profit organizations; and Canadian for-profit organizations if the nature and intent of the funded activity are non-commercial and not intended to generate profit.
- In the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, territorial governments (local, regional, and territorial) and their agencies.
Date of the deadline: Ongoing acceptance of a few applications is possible. The application dates for Calls for Proposals are set in advance.
Contact:
- Contact Name: Status of Women Canada – West Region
- Phone Number: 80-495-3839
- E-mail Address: [email protected]
Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative (SBCCI) Call for Proposals by Africa Centre
The Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative (SBCCI) is a federal government initiative to increase the capacity of Black-led grassroots and non-profit organizations serving Black communities in Canada.
Eligible applicants
- In Canada and Canadian communities, a legal entity.
- You’ve established yourself as a charitable or non-profit organization.
- You are a Black-led organization with authority to serve Black communities in Canada. The following are some of the characteristics that these Black-led organizations should meet:
- People who self-identify as Black (minimum 23%) occupy most leadership roles (Directors, Founders).
- People who self-identify as Black (minimum 23) make up the majority of the governance structure.
- This initiative is only open to Black-led groups with a mission to help Black people.
- Your capacity-building initiative will cost between $10,000 and $45,000.
- You want to fund any of the activities and charges that are qualified.
Submission Deadline: Ongoing
Contact:
- Contact Name: Africa Centre
- Phone Number: 780.455.5423
- E-mail Address: [email protected]
Black Entrepreneurship Fund
The Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP) is a collaborative effort involving the Canadian government, Black-led businesses, and financial institutions. It will help Black Canadian company owners and entrepreneurs build their firms and prosper today and in the future with a $221 million investment over four years.
Applicants who are eligible:
The following are the program’s components:
- National Ecosystem Fund — will support not-for-profit Black-led business organizations across the country in their capacity to give Black entrepreneurs support, mentorship, financial planning, and business training.
- The Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund is a collaboration between the government, African-American-led businesses, and a number of financial institutions. It will provide Black company owners and entrepreneurs across the country loans of up to $250,000.
- The Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub will research African-American entrepreneurship in Canada, and it will aid in the identification of roadblocks to achievement as well as growth opportunities. The Hub will be headed by the non-profit community and business organizations led by Black people collaborating with educational institutions.
Submission Deadline: Ongoing
Contact:
- Contact Name: Black Entrepreneurship Program
- E-mail Address: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/150.nsf/eng/home
Environmental Employability Pathways by Eco Canada
The Environmental Employability Pathways programme aims to assist all youngsters (ages 15 to 30) in successfully navigating the labour market and transitioning into long-term employment.
In collaboration with the Canadian government’s Adolescents Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) Program, ECO Canada will collaborate with institutions and employers across the country to fund employment for youth facing challenges, including:
- Women in their twenties
- indigenous youth indigenous youth indigenous youth indigenous youth lnd
- Those who are disabled as a child or adolescent
- Communities and populations of official language minorities (OLMCs)
Submission Deadline: Ongoing
Contact:
- Contact Name: Eco Canada
- Phone Number: 403-233-0748 or 1-800-890-1924 (Toll-Free)
Workplace Opportunities: Removing Barriers to Equity
Workplace Opportunities is a programme that helps firms who are subject to the Employment Equity Act (the Act) boost designated group representation in low-representation areas through partnerships and industry-specific techniques.
This programme will provide funding to qualifying beneficiaries to develop customized solutions to help the four categories identified in the Employment Equity Act (women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minorities).
Eligible applicants:
Employment Equity Act (EEA) groups
- Women from the Aboriginal community
- Individuals with disabilities
- Individuals from visible minorities
Submission Deadline: Open and close.
Contact:
- Contact Name: Labour Funding Program- Government of Canada
- Phone Number: 819-953-8494 (facsimile)
AgriDiversity Program
The AgriDiversity Program intends to assist under-represented groups in Canadian agriculture, such as youth, women, Indigenous Peoples, and people with disabilities, in fully participating in the sector by assisting them in overcoming the primary difficulties and barriers they experience.
Applicants who are eligible: Not-for-profit groups that operate across Canada are eligible to apply for the AgriDiversity Program. They may include the following:
- associations
- Indigenous peoples’ groups
- Communities of Official Language Minority
Note:
- Applicants must be legal entities capable of entering into legally binding agreements in order to be considered.
- Eligible applicants must also meet the Applicant guide’s principles and criteria, which include:
- An applicant’s overall AAFC financing will generally not exceed $200,000 per year or a total of $1,000,000 over five years.
Date of the deadline: Until September 30, 2022, or until the program’s money is fully committed, whichever comes first.
Contact:
- Contact Name: Government of Canada
- Phone Number: 1-877-246-4682 (toll-free)
- E-mail Address: [email protected]
Community Initiatives Program (CIP) – Major Cultural and Sports Events Grant
The Major Cultural and Sports Events (MCSE) funding stream of the Community Initiatives Program (CIP) is designed to simplify processes and maximize limited money for organizations applying through numerous sources within Alberta Culture, Multiculturalism, and Status of Women. Some of these resources are Alberta Sport Connection, Tourism, and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.
Before submitting an application to MCSE, you must contact programme personnel.
Applicants who are eligible:
This programme is open to the following organizations and non-profit community groups:
- groups that are registered under one of these Acts (and are in good standing):
- Companies Act, Part 9 of the Business Corporations Act, Agricultural Societies Act, Part 21 of the Business Corporations Act (Nonprofit Companies)
- Alberta’s Societies Act
- The Alberta Legislature has enacted a special act.
- Special Act of the Parliament of Canada on Federal Legislation
- Canada Not-for-profit corporations are governed by the Not-for-profit Corporations Act and must be registered in Alberta under the Business Corporations Act Income Tax Act (of Canada and functioning in Alberta (Charities)).
- Universities, colleges, and institutes, as specified by Alberta’s Post-secondary Learning Act, as well as First Nations and Métis Settlements foundations formed and controlled under the province’s Regional Health Authorities Act.
Submission Deadline: Annual application deadlines: April 1; October 1
Contact:
- Contact Name: Major Cultural and Sports Events
- Phone Number: 780-422-9598
- E-mail Address: [email protected]
Repsol
We make the most of our positive impact on local communities by supporting and funding projects in the following areas:
Environmental and safety concerns
Water and land conservation and stewardship programmes contribute to the safety of the communities where we operate and the long-term health and biodiversity of local and regional ecosystems.
Innovation & Education
Initiatives promote and support STEM education to produce a competent workforce through funding youth literacy programmes and vocational training programmes ranging from engineering, science, and technology to business, trade, and the arts.
Community Empowerment
Projects that provide local communities with economic opportunities, cultural activities, and social challenges such as equality, poverty, healthy living, and the needs of women and children.
Applicants who are eligible:
- NGO (national and international)
- Charities with a legal status
- Social enterprises that have been registered
- Under the government structure, well-established grassroots non-commercial community organizations
- Schools in rural areas are public.
- Shelters and social service organizations
Submission Deadline: Ongoing
Contact:
- Contact Name: Repsol
- Phone Number: 403 237 1234
- E-mail Address: [email protected]
Women in Trade – Export Development Canada (EDC)
Women in Trade – Export Development Canada (EDC) assists women entrepreneurs in reaching their full potential globally.
Applicants who are eligible: To know more about eligibility, please click the link listed below.
Submission Deadline: Ongoing
Contact:
- Contact Name: Export Development Canada (EDC)
- Phone Number: 1-800-229-0575
Global Fund for Women
The Global Fund for Women invests in women’s organizations that work to enhance women’s and girls’ human rights. We support women-led organizations outside of the United States by giving operating and project expenses grants ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 per year. Grants for first-time applicants typically range from $5,000 to $13,000 per year. We emphasize local knowledge and feel that women are the best people to evaluate their needs and suggest long-term solutions. The grantmaking of the Global Fund for Women will be focused on three key areas to maximize our influence in defending and expanding hard-won advances in women’s rights:
- Violence-Free Zone
- Equality in the Economic and Political Spheres
- Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Health
Applicants who are eligible:
- It is headquartered in a country other than the United States.
- Its main goals are to promote women’s equality and human rights, as represented in its actions. Please note that organizations whose main mission is to generate revenue or give charitable assistance to individuals are not eligible to apply.
- It’s a group of women who collaborate. Individual requests are not accepted, and we do not sponsor projects submitted by or for the benefit of individuals (including scholarships)
- Women are in charge of governing, directing, and leading it. Throughout the various decision-making levels of the group, women must fill all or most of the leadership responsibilities (including but not limited to the most senior decision-making levels). Exception: Women-focused projects inside mixed-gender organizations may get funding from the Global Fund for Women if they work with particularly marginalized groups, such as women in disability groups or LGBTQI organizations.
Submission Deadline: Varies
Contact:
- Contact Name: Global Fund for Women
- E-mail Address: [email protected]
Conclusion
In 2016, approximately 1.2 million Canadians – or 3.5 percent of the population – identified as Black, with nearly 620,000 women or girls. In 2021, the health-care and social-aid industries employed most Black women, and nearly one-third of employed women worked in these fields, a higher proportion than the rest of the workforce.
In 2020, 89 percent of 48 of Canada’s major companies said they have no Black women in the pipeline for executive officer positions.
The Canadian government has made concrete steps to assist Black communities. Funding programmes that empower Black and racialized women, like Black Entrepreneurship Program, etc., fighting to achieve equality through Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy are just a few examples.
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