Investments in Black-led and Black-serving organizations
From: Employment and Social Development Canada
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- Capacity building
- Capital Assistance
- Grants under the Emerging Priorities and Systems Change Pillars
The Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative (SBCCI) has invested close to $200 million to support Black-led and Black-serving community-based organizations.
The projects have been funded through Employment and Social Development Canada since Budget 2019.
Projects fall under one of 2 streams:
SBCCI also provides funding through one-time grants under the Emerging priorities and Systems change pillars.
Capacity building
Capacity building funding goes toward projects that help organizations grow their ability to serve their communities. The grants awarded under this stream can be used to engage in learning that helps them improve their business practices and expand their funding sources.
Capacity building grants are awarded through the SBCCI National Funders Network. The Network has funded 1,300 projects at $70 million through three rounds of funding.
You can find more information on organizations funded by visiting the websites of the National Funders, listed below.
- Tropicana Community Services (Toronto)
- Became a National Funder in 2020
- Total funding received: $28.5 million
- Black Business Initiative (Halifax)
- Became a National Funder in 2020
- Total funding received: $32 million
- Groupe 3737 (Montreal)
- Became a National Funder in 2020
- Total funding received: $28.7 million
- Africa Centre (Edmonton)
- Became a National Funder in 2021
- Total funding received: $15.2 million
Capital assistance
Capital assistance funding helps organizations buy work-related equipment and make minor renovations to their work and community spaces. Examples of this can include upgrading computers or software, or renovating community kitchens to serve more people.
$82 million was invested in capital projects through a call for proposals run by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
Information about projects funded by the Capital Assistance program can be found through the Open Government portal.
Grants under the Emerging Priorities and Systems Change Pillars
Emerging priorities pillar
The Emerging priorities pillar responds to the emerging priorities of Black communities and organizations in Canada. Initiatives under this pillar address specific needs identified and directed by Black community stakeholders.
System change pillar
The Systems change pillar focuses on work to recognize the important contributions of Black individuals in Canada, and to acknowledge the significant and unique challenges faced by Black communities.
Projects under these pillars
ESDC has provided or set aside approximately $10.3 million in grants to projects under these pillars, including:
- Akoma Holdings Inc. received $2.2 million to renovate and transform the Nova Scotia Home for Coloured Children into an accessible community hub for the African Nova Scotian community, now called Kinney Place
- the Network for Advancement of Black Communities received $500,000 to support the National Funders in developing their infrastructure and their communities of practice within the network to facilitate knowledge sharing with grassroots organizations
- Caribbean African Canadian Social Services (CAFCAN) received $348,000 to conduct a feasibility study on a National Institute for People of African Descent
- $7.25 million to establish the National Institute for People of African Descent
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