FFBCThe Foundation for Black Communities announces intent to bid for the Government of Canada’s historic, Black-led philanthropic endowment.
The organization is calling on Black community, partners and allies to endorse their bid by signing a letter of support.
November 17, 2022, (Toronto, ON) – As the leading Black-led voice in Canada’s philanthropic sector, the Foundation for Black Communities (FFBC) announced today that it will be responding to the Government of Canada’s request for proposals for the new $200 million Black-Led Philanthropic Endowment Fund.
The Government of Canada’s historic pledge to support Black-led charities, non-profits, and grassroots community organizations was first announced in the 2021 Federal Budget, referencing our ground-breaking report “Unfunded: Black Communities Overlooked by Canadian Philanthropy,” which included a vision to establish a Philanthropic Foundation for Black Communities.
“This endowment puts Black communities squarely in the driver’s seat to relentlessly invest in our own agenda and priorities today and for future generations,” says Liban Abokor, Co-Founder and Board Member.
While there are many organizations that focus on addressing systemic barriers and anti-Black racism, what sets the FFBC apart is their community-informed and equity-focused approach to grants and giving. The FFBC continues to examine and evaluate the grant process to ensure that community needs are addressed, and communities thrive.
“Trust-based, participatory grant-making is central to our identity at FFBC. Our role as trustees of Black wealth is not to decide which priorities are funded or who receives funding. Instead, the best decisions are made by those who use the services and those who provide them. Nothing for us, without us. Simple,” shares Omar Omar, Director of Community Investments
To-date the Foundation for Black Communities has partnered and worked closely with foundations such as the MLSE Foundation, Vancouver Foundation, Edmonton Foundation, Calgary Foundation, Community Foundations of Canada, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Laidlaw Foundation, Inspirit Foundation, Sunlife Foundation, and Canadian Tire Foundation to ensure Black communities are prioritized and supported.
Through these partnerships they are:
- Investing over $2.5 million dollars into Black communities through grant programs to date
- Advocating to amend legislation to make it easier to fund Black-led community organizations and increase funding available to Black communities
The Black-led philanthropic endowment will allow the Foundation for Black Communities to continue investing in Black-led, Black-serving, and Black-focused charities, non-profits, and grassroots groups throughout Canada. The FFBC’s vision includes a future where Black communities in Canada have the resources, organizations, and influence necessary to shape their own future.
“FFBC is working every day for a future in which Black communities can readily and responsively invest in our own solution-making. It is no longer a question of if, but of when, and this endowment would bring us one step closer,” Djaka Blais, Co-Founder, Board Chair
About the Foundation for Black Communities
The Foundation for Black Communities invests in change-making, working alongside the Canadian community, philanthropic, political, and business organizations to ensure that Black-led, Black-serving, and Black-focused non-profit, charitable, and grassroots organizations have the sustained resources and infrastructures they need to make a meaningful impact.
Media contact:
Courtney Roberts
Communications Lead
Foundation for Black Communities
416-857-9036