Anti-Racism Action Program Funding

Authored by Deina Warren, Associate Director, Legal Affairs

Does your charity address barriers to employment, justice or social participation among religious minorities, Indigenous Peoples or racialized communities?

Your organization may be eligible for one-time funding through the federal Anti-Racism Action Program. The program offers funding for projects that align with one or more of three key themes: employment, justice and social participation. Projects that target online hate and promote digital literacy will be given priority and all initiatives are expected to:

• Increase the capacity of organizations to focus on systemic barriers to employment, justice and social participation
• Increase the delivery of resources, programs, campaigns and services addressing those barriers
• Increase participation by religious minorities, Indigenous Peoples and racialized communities in those projects and/or
• Increase the availability and accessibility of data, evidence and community insights regarding disparities experienced by these three groups

The program’s objectives are broad-ranging and include, among other things, promoting intercultural and interfaith understanding and promoting discussions on multiculturalism, diversity, racism and religious discrimination.

In addition to meeting all eligibility requirements, applicants must complete the application form (sent upon request), a balanced budget form, most recent financial statements (audited, if available), letters of support from project partners (if applicable), and additional documents depending on the nature of the project.

This program is one part of a $45 million investment into a larger anti-racism strategy outlined in Building a Foundation for Change: Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy 2019–2022.  As we explained in our September Bulletin Quick Picks column, this plan draws on an earlier report from the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, Taking Action Against Systemic Racism and Religious Discrimination including Islamophobia which itself was initiated through Motion M-103. The motion called on the government to condemn Islamophobia and develop a whole-of-government approach to reducing or eliminating systemic racism and religious discrimination including Islamophobia. It ultimately resulted in an order for the Committee on Canadian Heritage to undertake such a study.

The program is described as highly competitive. Applications are due December 17, 2019. For detailed information on the application requirements and process, see the Application Guidelines.