The Foundation for Black Communities (FFBC) exists to ensure that every Black person in Canada thrives, and that all Black communities have agency in defining their own future by investing in Black-led, Black-serving, and Black-focused (B3) organizations.
FFBC is one of five organizations partnering with the Government of Canada to deliver funding for the Investment Readiness Program (IRP) – a $50 million fund designed to support social purpose organizations (SPOs).
Through IRP, FFBC aims to boost B3* Social Purpose Organizations’* participation in social innovation* and social finance*. With the support of Community Foundations of Canada (CFC), FFBC will direct $1.5 million of IRP funding towards the entrepreneurship and innovation thriving in Black communities, thereby supporting Black people to develop greater well-being and economic prosperity throughout Canada.
Please note: SPOs working in the province of Québec should explore the IRP program offered through the Chantier de l’économie sociale
The current cycle for this grant is now closed. Please stay tuned for more information.
Objectives
FFBC’s IRP funding has three main objectives:
- Increase the quantity and quality of Black-led SPOs’ social innovation initiatives
- Support B3 SPO preparedness to access social finance
- Provide opportunities for organizational growth and development
Grant Eligibility
Social purpose organizations operating in Canada are eligible to apply for IRP funds. To be eligible for FFBC’s IRP grant, social purpose organizations must:
- Demonstrate they have a plan to carry out the proposed project for which they are applying
- Have a social purpose that considers, and aligns with, the priorities of Black communities in Canada
- Have, or plan to have, a mechanism that generates revenue from the sales of goods and/or services. Revenue from donations does not count in this context.
- Plan to seek social finance investment via the Government of Canada’s broader Social Finance Fund, or other financing opportunities, such as loans.
FFBC’s IRP grant is divided into two streams – the Explore stream and the Stabilize & Build stream. FFBC will only be accepting one application per IRP round, regardless of the stream. This means that if you apply under the Explore stream, you cannot apply under the Stabilize & Build stream. However, Black SPOs can choose to submit the same project to both FFBC and partner organization CFC to improve the chances of receiving IRP funding.
Explore Stream (up to $25,000)
The Explore stream is focused on supporting SPOs at the planning, research, and piloting phase of investment readiness. This stream is open to:
- Black-led, Black-focused and Black-serving not-for-profit and charitable organizations
- Black-owned and operated social enterprises/businesses with a social purpose that considers and aligns with the priorities and experiences of Black communities
- Ad-hoc/informal B3 groups, B3 collectives, and individual Black leaders with a social purpose that considers and aligns with the priorities and experiences of Black communities.
Informal/unincorporated groups or individuals that are recommended for funding will require an Incorporated Partner before payment is released. An Incorporated Partner is a not-for-profit or charitable organization that supports unincorporated Black groups and individuals with the receipt of FFBC grant funds and other support as agreed to by the two parties.
Explore Stream Priorities
Eligible Black-led SPOs, collectives, community leaders, and entrepreneurs under the Explore stream will be granted funds to:
- develop or launch a social enterprise operation/business initiative that does/plans to generate revenue and profit from the sale of goods/services;
- explore and/or launch a community-driven social innovation project (e.g. other social innovation projects, community bond raising project, outcomes contract project, etc).
Example Grants:
- A B3 organization receives funding to undertake a feasibility study for a new landscaping business focused on providing jobs for Black youth with disabilities.
- A group of Black parents receive funding to explore the creation of a co-operative day-care for their kids.
- A charitable organization receives funds to pilot a Community Bonds and Micro-Lending program focused on providing start-up capital to Black entrepreneurs.
- An Black individual receives funding to create a business plan for a culturally appropriate meal prep service for Black seniors.
Stabilize & Build stream (up to $75,000)
The Stabilize & Build stream is focused on supporting SPOs with expansion and growth of established social purpose projects. This stream is open to:
- Black-led, Black-focused and Black-serving not-for-profit and charitable organizations
- Black collaboratives
- Black-owned and operated social enterprises/businesses with a social purpose that considers and aligns with the priorities and experiences of Black communities
Stabilize & Build Stream Priorities
Eligible SPOs under the Stabilize & Build stream will be granted funds to:
- grow or scale a social enterprise operation/business initiative that does/plans to generate revenue and profit from the sale of goods/services
- develop and/or expand a community-driven social innovation project (e.g. other social innovation projects, community bond raising project, outcomes contract project, etc).
- develop, launch or grow a social enterprise that plans to generate revenue and profit from the sale of goods/services
Example Grants:
- A B3 organization receives funding to create business plan to expand their landscaping business focused on providing jobs for Black youth with disabilities
- A Black not-for-profit organization receive funding to explore social finance as a means of support for their cooperative daycare
- A charitable organization receives funds to measure the impact of their Community Bonds and Micro-Lending program focused on providing start-up capital to Black-entrepreneurs
- A Black entrepreneur receives funds to explore the right corporate structure for a community farm that will increase revenue through increased food production.
Eligible Expenses
- Staffing costs: Salaries, mandatory employment-related costs and employee benefits for staff positions funded specifically to carry out the project.
- Non-Staffing costs: Purchased services, workshops, meetings, convening, supplies and materials, evaluation, travel, and equipment.
- Overhead and Administrative costs: Overhead and administrative costs directly associated with the funded project.
Ineligible Expenses
- General fundraising (i.e. capital campaigns)
- Endowments
- Expenses unrelated to the project
- Partisan political activities
- Projects established for a religious purpose or religious activities
- Projects outside of Canada
Eligible expenses
- Staffing costs: Salaries, mandatory employment-related costs and employee benefits for staff positions funded specifically to carry out the project.
- Non-Staffing costs: Purchased services, workshops, meetings, convening, supplies and materials, evaluation, travel, and equipment.
- Overhead and Administrative costs: Overhead and administrative costs directly associated with the funded project.
Ineligible Expenses
- General fundraising (i.e. capital campaigns)
- Endowments
- Expenses unrelated to the project
- Partisan political activities
- Projects established for a religious purpose or religious activities
- Projects outside of Canada
Grant Amount & Deadlines
Grant Amounts: Maximum $25,000 (Explore); maximum $75,000 (Stabilize & Build)
Grant Duration: Minimum 3 months - Maximum 12 months
Important Dates
Portal Open for Profile Creation & Applications: September 29, 2022
Application Deadline: December 1, 2022
Decisions Announced: February 2023
SPOs that receive an IRP grant are expected to complete the funded project between 3 months to a year after having received the funds. A final report will be due to FFBC one month after the project has ended.
Questions?
Contact us at grants@forblackcommunities.org
FAQs
Incorporated groups are eligible to apply for either the Explore or Stabilize and Build stream.
The Explore stream is open to:
- Black-led, Black-focused, and Black-serving not-for-profit and charitable organizations
- Black-owned and operated social enterprises/businesses with a social purpose that considers and aligns with the priorities and experiences of Black communities.
- Ad-hoc/informal B3 groups, B3 collectives, and individual Black leaders with a social purpose that considers and aligns with the priorities and experiences of Black communities.
The Stabilize and Build stream is open to:
- Black-led, Black-focused, and Black-serving not-for-profit and charitable organizations
- Black collaboratives
- Black-owned and operated social enterprises/businesses with a social purpose that considers and aligns with the priorities and experiences of Black communities.
You can download the PDF version of the Guidelines and Application forms from the IRP page.
There are no specific documents required to prove social purpose. All eligible organizations or social enterprises/businesses must demonstrate in the application how their social purpose considers and aligns with the priorities and experiences of Black communities.
The government has not authorized other foundations to provide IRP funding in Québec. The IRP grant in Québec is administered by the Chantier de l’économie sociale. The IRP online applications will be available on November 7th. Please visit the Chantier de l’économie sociale website for further details on their IRP funding.
There is no legal designation for social enterprises. SPOs applying for the IRP fund must demonstrate that at least 50% of their profit goes toward their social purpose.
Yes, if they are two different projects. You cannot be funded by two IRP funders for the same project.
There is no eligibility requirement linked to the age of an organization applying for IRP grant.
SPOs can only submit one application to one of the streams. Both streams are under the same round of IRP so the system will not allow for multiple submissions from one SPO.
The maximum amount for Explore stream is $25,000. The maximum amount for the Stabilize and build stream is $75,000 and there is no minimum amount for both streams.
The timeline for completion of the projects is 3- 12 months.
The application portal is bilingual. Please visit the FFBC French IRP website to access the portal and more information on the IRP grant.
Organizations can submit one application per granting round. If multiples are submitted, the first submitted application will be the one considered for funding.
$1.3 million was awarded across 25 Social Purpose Organizations: 10 projects from the Explore stream and 15 from the Stabilize and Build stream. The full list of grantees on our IRP press release.
We are pleased to offer a one-on-one conversation for all unsuccessful applicants to the Government of Canada’s Investment Readiness Program. To schedule a time with our staff please visit the FFBC Community Investment Team Calendar. During this conversation, a member of our CI team will be happy to provide you more information about the grant process.
PLEASE NOTE:
- Funding decisions are community-led and cannot be appealed.
- More information on the investment readiness program is available here {about the Investment Readiness Program | Investment Readiness Program (irp-ppi.ca)}
FFBC was created for, and driven by, Black communities in Canada; it exists to ensure their flourishing and self-determination.
FFBC is one of five organizations partnering with the Government of Canada to deliver funding for the Investment Readiness Program (IRP) – a $50 million fund designed to support social purpose organizations (SPOs).
Through IRP, FFBC aims to boost B3* Social Purpose Organizations’* participation in social innovation* and social finance*. With the support of Community Foundations of Canada (CFC), FFBC will direct $1.5 million of IRP funding towards the entrepreneurship and innovation thriving in Black communities, thereby supporting Black people to develop greater well-being and economic prosperity throughout Canada.
Please note: SPOs working in the province of Québec should explore the IRP program offered through the Chantier de l’économie sociale
The current cycle for this grant is now closed. Please stay tuned for more information.
Objectives
FFBC’s IRP funding has three main objectives:
- Increase the quantity and quality of Black-led SPOs’ social innovation initiatives
- Support B3 SPO preparedness to access social finance
- Provide opportunities for organizational growth and development
Grant Eligibility
Social purpose organizations operating in Canada are eligible to apply for IRP funds. To be eligible for FFBC’s IRP grant, social purpose organizations must:
- Demonstrate they have a plan to carry out the proposed project for which they are applying
- Have a social purpose that considers, and aligns with, the priorities of Black communities in Canada
- Have, or plan to have, a mechanism that generates revenue from the sales of goods and/or services. Revenue from donations does not count in this context.
- Plan to seek social finance investment via the Government of Canada’s broader Social Finance Fund, or other financing opportunities, such as loans.
FFBC’s IRP grant is divided into two streams – the Explore stream and the Stabilize & Build stream. FFBC will only be accepting one application per IRP round, regardless of the stream. This means that if you apply under the Explore stream, you cannot apply under the Stabilize & Build stream. However, Black SPOs can choose to submit the same project to both FFBC and partner organization CFC to improve the chances of receiving IRP funding.
Explore Stream (up to $25,000)
The Explore stream is focused on supporting SPOs at the planning, research, and piloting phase of investment readiness. This stream is open to:
- Black-led, Black-focused and Black-serving not-for-profit and charitable organizations
- Black-owned and operated social enterprises/businesses with a social purpose that considers and aligns with the priorities and experiences of Black communities
- Ad-hoc/informal B3 groups, B3 collectives, and individual Black leaders with a social purpose that considers and aligns with the priorities and experiences of Black communities.
Informal/unincorporated groups or individuals that are recommended for funding will require an Incorporated Partner before payment is released. An Incorporated Partner is a not-for-profit or charitable organization that supports unincorporated Black groups and individuals with the receipt of FFBC grant funds and other support as agreed to by the two parties.
Explore Stream Priorities
Eligible Black-led SPOs, collectives, community leaders, and entrepreneurs under the Explore stream will be granted funds to:
- develop or launch a social enterprise operation/business initiative that does/plans to generate revenue and profit from the sale of goods/services;
- explore and/or launch a community-driven social innovation project (e.g. other social innovation projects, community bond raising project, outcomes contract project, etc).
Example Grants:
- A B3 organization receives funding to undertake a feasibility study for a new landscaping business focused on providing jobs for Black youth with disabilities.
- A group of Black parents receive funding to explore the creation of a co-operative day-care for their kids.
- A charitable organization receives funds to pilot a Community Bonds and Micro-Lending program focused on providing start-up capital to Black entrepreneurs.
- An Black individual receives funding to create a business plan for a culturally appropriate meal prep service for Black seniors.
Stabilize & Build stream (up to $75,000)
The Stabilize & Build stream is focused on supporting SPOs with expansion and growth of established social purpose projects. This stream is open to:
- Black-led, Black-focused and Black-serving not-for-profit and charitable organizations
- Black collaboratives
- Black-owned and operated social enterprises/businesses with a social purpose that considers and aligns with the priorities and experiences of Black communities
Stabilize & Build Stream Priorities
Eligible SPOs under the Stabilize & Build stream will be granted funds to:
- grow or scale a social enterprise operation/business initiative that does/plans to generate revenue and profit from the sale of goods/services
- develop and/or expand a community-driven social innovation project (e.g. other social innovation projects, community bond raising project, outcomes contract project, etc).
- develop, launch or grow a social enterprise that plans to generate revenue and profit from the sale of goods/services
Example Grants:
- A B3 organization receives funding to create business plan to expand their landscaping business focused on providing jobs for Black youth with disabilities
- A Black not-for-profit organization receive funding to explore social finance as a means of support for their cooperative daycare
- A charitable organization receives funds to measure the impact of their Community Bonds and Micro-Lending program focused on providing start-up capital to Black-entrepreneurs
- A Black entrepreneur receives funds to explore the right corporate structure for a community farm that will increase revenue through increased food production.
Eligible Expenses
- Staffing costs: Salaries, mandatory employment-related costs and employee benefits for staff positions funded specifically to carry out the project.
- Non-Staffing costs: Purchased services, workshops, meetings, convening, supplies and materials, evaluation, travel, and equipment.
- Overhead and Administrative costs: Overhead and administrative costs directly associated with the funded project.
Ineligible Expenses
- General fundraising (i.e. capital campaigns)
- Endowments
- Expenses unrelated to the project
- Partisan political activities
- Projects established for a religious purpose or religious activities
- Projects outside of Canada
Eligible expenses
- Staffing costs: Salaries, mandatory employment-related costs and employee benefits for staff positions funded specifically to carry out the project.
- Non-Staffing costs: Purchased services, workshops, meetings, convening, supplies and materials, evaluation, travel, and equipment.
- Overhead and Administrative costs: Overhead and administrative costs directly associated with the funded project.
Ineligible Expenses
- General fundraising (i.e. capital campaigns)
- Endowments
- Expenses unrelated to the project
- Partisan political activities
- Projects established for a religious purpose or religious activities
- Projects outside of Canada
Grant Amount & Deadlines
Grant Amounts: Maximum $25,000 (Explore); maximum $75,000 (Stabilize & Build)
Grant Duration: Minimum 3 months - Maximum 12 months
Important Dates
Portal Open for Profile Creation & Applications: September 29, 2022
Application Deadline: December 1, 2022
Decisions Announced: February 2023
SPOs that receive an IRP grant are expected to complete the funded project between 3 months to a year after having received the funds. A final report will be due to FFBC one month after the project has ended.
Questions?
Contact us at grants@forblackcommunities.org
2023 Investment Readiness Program Recipients
Granted $25,000
Granted $24,500
Granted $22,100
Granted $75,000
Website
FAQs
Incorporated groups are eligible to apply for either the Explore or Stabilize and Build stream.
The Explore stream is open to:
- Black-led, Black-focused, and Black-serving not-for-profit and charitable organizations
- Black-owned and operated social enterprises/businesses with a social purpose that considers and aligns with the priorities and experiences of Black communities.
- Ad-hoc/informal B3 groups, B3 collectives, and individual Black leaders with a social purpose that considers and aligns with the priorities and experiences of Black communities.
The Stabilize and Build stream is open to:
- Black-led, Black-focused, and Black-serving not-for-profit and charitable organizations
- Black collaboratives
- Black-owned and operated social enterprises/businesses with a social purpose that considers and aligns with the priorities and experiences of Black communities.
You can download the PDF version of the Guidelines and Application forms from the IRP page.
There are no specific documents required to prove social purpose. All eligible organizations or social enterprises/businesses must demonstrate in the application how their social purpose considers and aligns with the priorities and experiences of Black communities.
The government has not authorized other foundations to provide IRP funding in Québec. The IRP grant in Québec is administered by the Chantier de l’économie sociale. The IRP online applications will be available on November 7th. Please visit the Chantier de l’économie sociale website for further details on their IRP funding.
There is no legal designation for social enterprises. SPOs applying for the IRP fund must demonstrate that at least 50% of their profit goes toward their social purpose.
Yes, if they are two different projects. You cannot be funded by two IRP funders for the same project.
There is no eligibility requirement linked to the age of an organization applying for IRP grant.
SPOs can only submit one application to one of the streams. Both streams are under the same round of IRP so the system will not allow for multiple submissions from one SPO.
The maximum amount for Explore stream is $25,000. The maximum amount for the Stabilize and build stream is $75,000 and there is no minimum amount for both streams.
The timeline for completion of the projects is 3- 12 months.
The application portal is bilingual. Please visit the FFBC French IRP website to access the portal and more information on the IRP grant.
Organizations can submit one application per granting round. If multiples are submitted, the first submitted application will be the one considered for funding.
$1.5 million was awarded across 25 Social Purpose Organizations: 15 projects from the Explore stream and 16 from the Stabilize and Build stream. The full list of grantees on our IRP press release.
We are pleased to offer a one-on-one conversation for all unsuccessful applicants to the Government of Canada’s Investment Readiness Program. To schedule a time with our staff please visit the FFBC Community Investment Team Calendar. During this conversation, a member of our CI team will be happy to provide you more information about the grant process.
PLEASE NOTE:
- Funding decisions are community-led and cannot be appealed.
- More information on the investment readiness program is available here {about the Investment Readiness Program | Investment Readiness Program (irp-ppi.ca)}