October 1, 2024 Gatineau, Quebec Employment and Social Development Canada
The federal government is committed to supporting Black Canadians to reach their full potential by building a better, fairer and more inclusive country for everyone. Six years ago, Canada officially recognized the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent. By doing so, the government committed to making transformative investments to empower Black communities in Canada.
Today, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, Kamal Khera, congratulated the Foundation for Black Communities (FFBC) on launching its second call for proposals under the Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund. Through a $200-million endowment from the Government of Canada, the Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund was established to create a sustainable source of funding for Black-led, Black-focused and Black-serving non-profit organizations and registered charities in Canada.
Building on the success of their first call for proposals, FFBC has launched the Black Ideas Grant, allocating a total of $9.5 million in funding-which includes $5.23 million in federal funding. This second round is expected to fund an estimated 130 projects. Eligible organizations will receive funding for projects that support the fight against anti-Black racism or that work toward improving social and economic outcomes for Black communities in Canada. The call for proposals will remain open until November 8, 2024, and FFBC expects to announce the selected proposals in spring 2025.
By investing in Black-led and Black-serving organizations across the country, the federal government is addressing the long-standing barriers to social and economic inclusion that Black communities face. FFBC is a national Black-led and Black-serving organization that aims to ensure that Black communities have the sustained resources and infrastructure they need to make a meaningful impact. It was selected to administer the Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund in February 2023.
Since endorsing the International Decade for People of African Descent, the Government of Canada has committed up to $872 million to Black-focused initiatives-from racial justice to entrepreneurship to economic dignity.
