TORONTO, May 14, 2024 /CNW/ - The Foundation for Black
Communities (FFBC) has announced the recipients of its inaugural
Black Ideas Grant (B.I.G): Bridge and Build 2023/24 program. This
ground-breaking investment of over $9.1
million will empower 107 Black-led, Black-focused, and
Black-serving grassroots, non-profit, and charitable organizations
across Canada. The grants will
support critical, community-based, solution-oriented
initiatives.
The B.I.G. program addresses a significant need for sustained
funding within Black community organizations. "This program is a
cornerstone of our commitment to empower Black communities with the
resources they need to confront historical and ongoing inequities.
B.I.G. exemplifies community collaboration and embodies FFBC's
unique Participatory Grantmaking Process, where Black community
members play the lead role in determining the solutions and
projects to support their communities."
– Marlene Jennings,
Foundation for Black Communities Co-Chair
FFBC's B.I.G. program provides flexible one-year grants, aiming
for immediate impact while fostering the development of
transformative programs for the future. The grants will bolster the
capacity and program delivery of recipient organizations, focusing
on combating anti-Black racism, improving social outcomes, and
enhancing economic outcomes for Black Canadians.
"Diversity and inclusion make Canada stronger. Through the Black-led
Philanthropic Endowment Fund, we have created a sustainable source
of funding for Black-led not-for-profit organizations, ensuring
that they have the means to address their priorities. Today's
recipients will help carry out this initiative, which aims to fight
anti-Black racism, improve the social and economic outcomes of
Black communities across the country, and support the commitments
we have made since endorsing the United Nations International
Decade for People of African Descent."
– Kamal Khera, Minister of
Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities
FFBC was established in response to the call for a new paradigm
in philanthropy for Black communities. As the steward of the
historic $200 million Black-led
Philanthropic Endowment Fund, funded by the Government of
Canada, FFBC is a first-of-its
kind institution dedicated to ensuring that Black-led,
Black-serving, and Black-focused (B3) organizations have the vital
resources needed to create lasting change.
The Foundation congratulates this year's recipients of the Black
Ideas Grant and looks forward to the profound impact they will
continue to make across Canada.
Please find a list of the B.I.G. recipients and their projects
here.
To learn more about the Foundation for Black Communities or to
join us in our mission, visit www.forblackcommunities.org.
About the Foundation for Black Communities
The Foundation for Black Communities (FFBC) was established to
ensure every Black person can thrive and Black communities have
agency in defining their own future. Founded in 2020, FFBC is
Canada's first-ever philanthropic
foundation dedicated to ensuring Black-led, Black-serving, and
Black-focused organizations have the sustained resources needed to
make a meaningful impact.
SOURCE Foundation for Black Communities