BOF Arts & Culture, and Criminal Justice Grant
Black Opportunity Fund (BOF) aims to help dismantle the impacts of systemic anti-Black racism by allocating resources to community organizations which undertake initiatives that impact the quality of life in Canada’s Black communities.
In 2023, we are launching a grant program through funding from the TD Ready Commitment.
The focus areas for this Grants program will be Black-led, Black-serving and Black focused not-for-profits and charities (B3s) leading impactful initiatives in the areas of Arts and Culture, and Criminal Justice across Canada.
BOF Arts & Culture, and Criminal Justice Grant Program
Applications accepted: April 3, 2023 (12:00 am) EDT
Application closes: May 12, 2023 (11:59 pm) EDT
Decisions announced: First week of July 2023
Award amounts:
Tier 1: Multi-year catalyst grants for impact – 2 x $100,000
Tier 2: Single year grants – $25,000 each
Tier 3: Single year grants – $15,000 each
Connection to grant objectives/criteria
Below are some examples of priority focus issues in the areas of arts and culture, and criminal justice:
Arts & Culture:
- Systems change: collaboration initiatives that leads to system-wide changes for sustainability
- Capacity Building: initiatives that build governance, operations capacity, to increase impact
- Mental Health and Well-being
Criminal Justice:
- Reintegration programs: programs or services that help individuals re-enter into society
- Prevention & supports: programs or services that reduce risk of incarceration
- Mental Health and Well-being
Eligibility criteria
- Must be a *Black-led, Black-focused and **Black-serving organization;
- Must be a registered Canadian not-for-profit organization or charity;
- Must have an existing project in the areas of arts & culture or criminal justice, which meets the grant program criteria, or a proposed project for which funding has already been secured;
- Must have an online web presence (i.e. website, social media, etc);
- Must be able to show up-to-date financial records (i.e., audited financial statements or unaudited financial statements within the past two years, coupled with a tax return & bank statements are acceptable);
- Organizations requesting $50,000 are required to submit audited financial statements for the past 3 fiscal years that have been audited by a licensed public accountant;
- Must be able to provide a project budget for the initiative for which funding is being sought;
- Cannot have any outstanding tax debt – or should have an up-to-date payment plan (demonstrating at least two (2) months of on time payment of outstanding tax debt);
- Organization cannot have declared bankruptcy
*Black-led:
At least two thirds of the leadership (e.g. board of directors, executive, management team) must self-identify as Black
**Black-serving:
Significant portion of program activities prioritize serving Black communities of Canada
Black Opportunity Fund recognizes and is committed to reduce the power imbalances inherent to funder/fundee relationships and to use an anti-oppression and intersectional lens. We use trust-based participatory decision-making processes so the communities who are most impacted by our work have a say in how we carry out our mandate.
Please direct program related questions to: BOFGrants@blackopportunityfund.org
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