Category: What’s Up

Black Opportunity Fund is announcing a new funding opportunity to support Black-owned and Black-led restaurants with a company that shares our mission.

Black Opportunity Fund needs your help! We’re seeking Volunteer Selection Committee members to review and adjudicate applications for the program. Committee members will review submitted applications and make funding recommendations based on specific criteria and an established assessment process.

To express interest in volunteering as an adjudicator, please complete the Program Adjudication Nomination Form. You will be required to upload your resume and we would like it to indicate:

• Why you’re interested in volunteering for this position
• Experience working in the restaurant and/or foodservice industry
• Language(s) spoken
• The region of Canada in which you currently reside
• Previous experience reviewing or adjudicating grant applications

Program Adjudication Nomination Form Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NQJ59FB

Black Opportunity Fund encourages applications from every region across Canada. If you have any questions about becoming a volunteer adjudicator for this program, please send us an email at BOFVolunteers@blackopportunityfund.org. We look forward to hearing from all of you! #BOF #WeBackBlack

As we approach the summer months, reams of data show that we can anticipate an increase in interactions between law enforcement and Black and Racialized communities. We can also anticipate an increase in retail profiling of Black Canadians, and in random stops predicated on racial profiling. We are hopeful that within the backdrop of this phenomenon, we will shortly see the release of Canada’s groundbreaking Black Justice Strategy. This is a generational opportunity by Government to develop a consistent framework to guide policy and practices to help dismantle systemic anti-Black racism in Canada’s Justice System.

Extensive national community consultations took place led by grassroots Canadian community organizations to inform the work of the Steering Committee. Black Opportunity Fund is proud to be a funder of the work of several of these organization. The Steering Committee, led by Professor Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, was tasked with developing the framework for the Black Justice Strategy.

Black Opportunity Fund’s National Justice Working Group consulted with and provided its recommendations to the Department of Justice and the Steering Committee. BOF’s National Justice Working Group, a coalition of grassroots organizations, scholars, Elders, cultural keepers, policy specialists, youth, and members of Black communities across Canada, working in various ways in myriad disciplines, to address systemic and structural inequities in the justice system.

We have seen previous consultations, on addressing the significant disparities in involvement with and outcomes for Black and Indigenous Canadians, which have fallen short, resulting in superficial recommendations focused primarily on symptoms, including recommendations for more policing, and police training. While there is certainly a need for more and better training of law enforcement, the strategy needs to be more about upstream solutions focused on  reparatory and restorative justice for Black Communities. So we are very hopeful to see meaningful actions and strategies in the recommendations, as a result of the extensive listening exercises, and the leadership of the Steering Committee.

Read the recommendations from the Black Opportunity Fund National Justice Working Group, to the Federal Government’s Black Justice Strategy, Click here to read BOF recommendations on Black Justice Strategy

Presented in partnership with the Black Life Impact Foundation, the event will feature the episode, “Claiming Space.” Directed by Frances-Anne Solomon, it is a lyrical journey through the growth of Black communities, such as Africville, the government policies that destroyed these once thriving settlements, and the residents’ resistance to systemic displacement.

The event is free, but registration is required. To attend the event, please register here.

Please click here to learn more and read the article CBC’s Black Life: Untold Stories free screening at Halifax Central Library

Black Life: Untold Stories is now streaming on CBC’s free streaming app, CBC Gem.

Black Opportunity Fund (BOF) is pleased to be launching a grant and capacity building program for Canadian Black-led, Black-serving, and Black focused not-for-profits, and charities (B3s), in partnership with the Black Canadian Fundraisers Collective (BCFC) which will open for applications on March 25, 2024.

This program is made possible through generous funding support from the TD Ready Commitment and the RBC Foundation.

To provide support to potential applicants and answer questions about the program, BOF and BCFC are hosting an information webinar on March 20, 2024 from 6:30 – 7:30 PM EST.

About the BOF/BCFC B3 Capacity Development Program

The BOF/BCFC B3 Capacity Building Program is an 8-month program funded by Black Opportunity Fund (BOF) and delivered by Black Canadian Fundraisers Collective (BCFC), designed to provide Black-focused, Black-led, Black-serving nonprofits and charities, with funding and capacity development support that positions them to collaborate, lead and deliver community-determined solutions that effectively address identified community priorities and needs.

This pilot initiative is made possible through funding commitments from the TD Ready Commitment and the RBC Foundation. Black Opportunity Fund (BOF) is pleased to be partnering with BCFC and delivery partners Imagine Canada, Management Advisory Services (MAS) and the International Coaching Federation, Vancouver Chapter.

This BOF/BCFC grant and Capacity Building Program is national in scope, involving the selection of twenty-five B3 organizations from across Canada, delivering initiatives in one or more of BOF priority areas, however, program funding has been secured from philanthropic organizations – United Way Halifax, and The Toronto Foundation, to prioritize the participation of fifteen B3 organizations selected specifically from three communities (Halifax Regional Municipality and East Hants; the Greater Toronto Area; and Windsor-Essex County) in the pilot.

All organizations selected will receive $20,000 in funding to allocate according to their charitable purposes, operational and program needs. In addition to this funding, organizations selected to participate in the pilot will receive coaching support from certified professional Black coaches and access to mandatory training in key areas of nonprofit management. All applicants will have access to specifically curated online resources covering relevant topics critical in building and maintaining healthy, adaptable, and community-responsive organizations.

We require a commitment from applying organizations, that individual leaders selected from the organization to participate in the program, will be allowed the required time to invest and participate in all aspects of the program fully and will include at least one key leader/ decision-maker.

The B3 Organizations must commit to approximately 4.5 hours weekly and a total of 35 hours monthly to complete the mandatory elements of the capacity-building program. The overall program consists of 75 hours of content.

WEBINAR DETAILS

To provide support to potential applicants and answer questions about the program, BOF and BCFC are hosting an information webinar on March 20, 2024 from 6:30 – 7:30 PM EST.

During the 1-hour webinar, members of the BOF and BCFC Program teams will review the program, including eligibility and adjudication criteria, and hold an open Q&A for prospective applicants to address questions.

Applications open on March 25, 2024, and will close on April 24, 2024 at 11:59 PM EST.

About BOF & BCFC

Black Opportunity Fund (BOF) is a community-led registered Canadian Charitable organization that supports a prosperous, healthy, and thriving Black Canada by challenging anti-Black racism in two ways by:

1. Responding to long-standing underinvestment in Black communities
2. Working nationally to strengthen collective actions by Black organizations and leaders, helping them to create new and more impactful ways to support and advocate for our community.

BOF prioritizes initiatives around education, youth, health, women and gender, criminal justice, entrepreneurship, arts and culture, housing and shelter, and food insecurity, that impact the quality of life in Black communities across Canada.

The Black Canadian Fundraisers’ Collective (BCFC) is a group of Black identifying people, rooted in the historic African tradition of Ubuntu, “I am because you are. We exist to inspire and elevate our fundraising sector as the leading advocate and thought collective for Black Canadian philanthropy.

Anchored by its purpose and guided by its belonging and freedom values, BCFC’s Black Philanthropy Fund (BPF), in partnership with Carleton University, offers the Award for Black Emerging Fundraising Professionals enrolled in the Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership (MPNL). The award promotes Black leadership within the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors by making education more accessible through this meaningful and impactful financial support.

Secure your seat register by clicking here

Please note this is a secure call, only those who have registered and received the link will be permitted onto the call.

The Black Opportunity Fund (BOF) and Black Canadian Fundraisers Collective (BCFC) are seeking volunteer Adjudicators to review and adjudicate applications for their upcoming granting and capacity building program for Black-led, Black-serving, Black-focused nonprofits, and charities (B3s). 

Black Opportunity Fund (BOF) will be launching a grant and capacity building program for Canadian Black-led, Black-serving, and Black-focused not-for-profits and charities, in partnership with the Black Canadian Fundraisers Collective (BCFC) on March 25, 2024. 

This program is made possible through generous funding support from the TD Ready Commitment and the RBC Foundation. 

The upcoming BOF & BCFC grant and capacity building program will be available to B3s serving nonprofit organizations and charities delivering initiatives in any of BOF priority areas of: education, youth, health, women and gender, criminal justice, entrepreneurship, arts and culture, housing and shelter, and food insecurity. 

About the BOF/BCFC B3 Capacity Development Program

The BOF/BCFC B3 Capacity Building Program, is an 8-month program funded by Black Opportunity Fund (BOF) and delivered by Black Canadian Fundraisers Collective (BCFC), designed to provide Black-focused, Black-led, Black-serving not-for-profits, with flexible funding and capacity development support that positions them to collaborate, lead and deliver community-determined solutions that effectively address identified community priorities and needs. 

This pilot initiative is made possible through funding commitments from the TD Ready Commitment and the RBC Foundation. Black Opportunity Fund (BOF) is pleased to be partnering with BCFC and delivery partners Imagine Canada, Management Advisory Services (MAS) and the International Coaching Federation, Vancouver Chapter. 

This BOF/BCFC grant and Capacity Building Program is national in scope, involving the selection of twenty-five B3 organizations from across Canada, delivering initiatives in one or more of BOF priority areas, however, program funding has been secured from philanthropic organizations – United Way Halifax, and The Toronto Foundation, to prioritize the participation of fifteen B3 organizations selected specifically from three communities (Halifax Regional Municipality and East Hants; the Greater Toronto Area; and Windsor- Essex County) in the pilot.

All organizations selected will receive $20,000 in funding to allocate according to their charitable purposes, operational and program needs. In addition to this funding, organizations selected to participate in the pilot will receive coaching support from certified professional Black coaches and access to mandatory training in key areas of non-profit management. All applicants will have access to specifically curated online resources covering relevant topics critical in building and maintaining healthy, adaptable, and community-responsive organizations.

We require a commitment from applying organizations, that individual leaders selected from the organization to participate in the program, will be allowed the required time to invest and participate in all aspects of the program fully and will include at least one key leader/ decision-maker.

The B3 Organizations must commit to approximately 4.5 hours weekly and a total of 35 hours monthly to complete the mandatory elements of the capacity-building program. The overall program consists of 75 hours of content.

ADJUDICATOR APPLICATION DETAILS

Persons interested in being considered as adjudicators can self-nominate or nominate someone else if the person being nominated has given permission in advance. The overall responsibility of the Adjudication Committee is to:

1. Review all grant applications presented for consideration in the grant.
2. Rank all grant applications based on objective criteria and an assessment process established by BOF.
3. Make recommendations for funding and capacity building 

 As this is a national granting program, BOF encourages applications from individuals from all regions of Canada.

Successful candidates will have a clear understanding of, and alignment with, BOF’s mandate, vision, and mission. 

• An understanding of anti-Black racism and systemic racism and their effects on Canada’s Black communities.
• The ability to apply BOF criteria and make recommendations in a fair and unbiased manner.
• An understanding of the barriers facing Black-led, Black community serving nonprofits and charities due to systemic racism.
• Bilingualism will be considered an asset.
• Previous experience reviewing or adjudicating grant applications, or experience working for a Black community-focused nonprofits or charities will be considered an asset.

Black Opportunity Fund is committed to being inclusive of the full spectrum of the Black Canadian experience, so we particularly encourage applications from individuals representing diverse identities such as gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, immigration status, language, and national geographical location.

Adjudication Committee Members will be required to participate in a virtual orientation session in March as well as sign a confidentiality agreement.

The deadline to submit the application is Sunday March 31st, 2024.

Successful applicants should expect to volunteer up to thirty (30) hours before May 31, 2024.