Frequently Asked Questions

A B3 organization is Black-led, Black serving and Black-focused.

The Foundation for Black Communities (FFBC) takes community-informed, iterative, and learning-focused approach to the definition of Black-led, Black-focused and Black-serving.  The definitions on our website are meant to provide broad frames for understanding these concepts rather than immutable definitions.

As part of the organization registration and application processes, each applicant will describe how the organization and/or initiative are Black-led, Black-focused and Black-serving. As part of the assessment process, grant adjudicators will consider these descriptions and assess the reasonableness of alignment with the requirements of Black-led, Black-focused and Black-serving.  

For our working definitions, please visit our Definitions page.

FFBC was established as a response to a philanthropic sector that has under-invested in Black communities across Canada. Our funding is available to organizations that are Black-led, Black-serving and Black-focused (B3). Non-Black people may apply for FFBC funding if they are working with Black people, and those Black people are central to the decision making and execution of the project.

The purpose of FFBC funding is to support Black-led organizations intentionally working with Black communities in Canada. We will review each organization and application to assess the degree to which a program and/or organization aligns with that purpose. All applicants are required to explain how their organization is Black-led and how their work intentionally impacts Black communities in Canada.

For specific eligibility requirements and criteria per grant and granting stream, please visit the specific grant program page.

For the purposes of FFBC funding, youth are people aged 6 to 29.

Yes. If your group is not a Qualified Donee as defined by the Canada Revenue Agency, you may still be eligible to apply with an Incorporated Partner. For specific eligibility requirements per grant and granting stream, please visit the specific grant program page.

Unincorporated groups (individuals and collectives) will therefore require an incorporated non-profit or charitable organization as an Incorporated Partner for any application. It is not necessary to have an Incorporated Partner to register, but you will need one for funding to be approved.

If you need help finding an Incorporated Partner, please get in touch with FFBC staff via the website.

An Incorporated Partner will serve as the legal entity that will be in receipt of FFBC dollars and file the required tax forms to account for the dollars. The Incorporated Partner might provide additional support as agreed upon by the FFBC applicant and Incorporated Partner. You do not need to have an Incorporated Partner confirmed to start the registration process, but you will require one for funding to be approved at a later stage.

We recognize that finding a B3 Incorporated Partner may be a barrier to funding. Therefore, your Incorporated Partner does not have to be a B3 organization.

No. An Incorporated Partner is a not-for-profit or charitable organization.

The Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund was created by the federal government to provide a sustainable source of funding for Black-led, Black-focused and Black-serving non-profit organizations and registered charities.  

Through it, the Government of Canada created a historic endowment of $200 million to economically empower non-profits and charities as they drive transformational change in Black communities.  

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) will provide the funding for the endowment, investing up to $200 million in up-front, multi-year contributions.  

The fund is self-sustaining for at least 10 years, and FFBC will have access to $10 million of the fund for early operating and granting activities.  

Black-led non-profit organizations and registered charities are critical to ending anti-Black racism and inequities across the country.  

However, research shows Black-led, Black-serving community organizations are systemically underfunded in Canada’s philanthropic sector.  

Led by Black Canadians for Black Canadians, the endowment will create a sustainable source of funding to improve social and economic outcomes in Black communities and reduce anti-Black racism.  

The FFBC is eager to collaborate with Black-serving organizations to advance projects through the Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund and improve social and economic outcomes for Black Canadians.   

Our work begins now. The FFBC’s primary focus is delivering for Black Canadians and we recognize the deep commitment to community that requires. 

The FFBC is eager to collaborate with Black-serving organizations to advance projects through the Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund and improve social and economic outcomes for Black Canadians across the country.