Inside our Communities

BLACK OPPORTUNITY FUND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NAMED TO THE 2023 TOP 100 CANADIAN PROFESSIONALS

3 August 2023

Black Opportunity Fund is proud to announce that Executive Director, Craig Wellington has been selected as one of Canada’s Top 100 Canadian Professionals for 2023.

Craig Wellington is a strong believer in the Swahili principle of Ubuntu— ‘I am because we are’ — that when all communities are allowed to achieve their potential, everyone is uplifted. That’s why, as executive director of the Black Opportunity Fund (BOF), he’s working to establish equitable, sustainable funding for the social and economic empowerment of Black communities across Canada. He uses his considerable expertise in not-for-profit and community leadership to develop and execute innovative strategies to secure and deploy capital for community good, while always maintaining an anti-oppression lens with a focus on community engagement and partnerships. Prioritizing initiatives around youth and education, women and gender, criminal justice, entrepreneurship, health, and arts and culture, BOF seeks to elevate the outcomes for generations of Black Canadians.

Read the full feature article from Top 100 Canadian Professionals Magazine.

3RD ANNIVERSARY VIRTUAL TOWNHALL

28 June 2023

In celebration of Black Opportunity Fund’s 3rd anniversary, join the BOF team for a virtual townhall on June 29th!

Open to all community members and supporters, the BOF team will deliver updates on the progress made over the last 3 years, as well as discuss upcoming goals and initiatives. Attendees will be able to ask questions and provide feedback on initiatives and priorities directly.

Date: Thursday June 29th, 2023
Time: 6:30 PM EST

As an organization, BOF Is committed to transparency and meaningful community engagement. This work cannot be fully realized without community, and many perspectives are necessary to ensure BOF fulfills its mandate to serve and empower Canada’s diverse Black communities.

To attend, please register at https://share.hsforms.com/1ambbh6yORneLd0L9oZ8Ncg4xq13

See you there!

BOF & Black Life: Untold Stories – Public Engagement and Educational Impact Campaign

21 March 2023

Black Opportunity Fund is a National Community Impact Partner to the Black Life Impact Foundation, taking part in the Black Life: Untold Stories – Public Engagement and Educational Impact Campaign a ground-breaking initiative to deepen public knowledge about Canada’s Black history.

Launching March 21st, 2023 – the International Day for the Elimination of Racism, the campaign is centered around the Black Life: Untold Stories, an 8-part documentary series that will take audiences on a journey through more than 400 years of history, highlighting the vital role that Black people in Canada have played in shaping our country. Presenting an unvarnished examination of the idea of Canada as a sanctuary, while also focusing on contemporary issues affecting the Black community. The series will premiere in the coming 2023-24 broadcast year on CBC and CBC Gem.

The campaign will deepen and expand the series’ reach beyond the tv broadcasts, with an educational learning hub and digital museum, live viewing events, and cultural products. Funds will support cross-country engagement events.

For more information, please visit: www.blacklifeseries.com

If you would like to help support this great initiative, donate at:

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/72659

BOF Arts & Culture and Criminal Justice Grant Info Webinar

16 March 2023

Black Opportunity Fund is pleased to be launching another grant program for Canadian Black-led, Black-serving and Black focused not-for-profits and charities (B3s) through funding support from the TD Ready Commitment. BOF is providing grants in support of 2 program streams – Arts and Culture, and Criminal Justice.

To provide support to potential applicants and answer questions about the program, BOF hosted an information webinar on Thursday, March 30th, from 6:30 – 7:30 PM EST.

During the 1-hour webinar, members of the BOF Programs team reviewed the program, including eligibility and adjudication criteria, and hold an open Q&A for prospective applicants to address questions.

View the recording of the information session from Thursday, March 30th – https://youtu.be/iW2Hxd2jh4A

Grant applications open : Monday April 3, 2023

Link to application, link goes live April 3, 2023

https://bof.smapply.io/

Halifax Declaration Survey

15 March 2023

Call for adjudicators – Arts and Culture, Criminal Justice Grant

9 February 2023

The Black Opportunity Fund is seeking volunteer Adjudicators to review and adjudicate applications for its upcoming granting program, which is provided through funding from the TD Ready Commitment. The upcoming BOF grant program launching in March of 2023, will have the following two program streams:

1) Arts and Culture
2) Criminal Justice

You should consider a nomination if:

– You are a Black individual, living in Canada, with an understanding of anti-Black racism and systemic racism and its effects on Black communities in Canada
– You can apply funding criteria and make fair, unbiased recommendations
– You have a deep sense of understanding barriers facing Black not-for-profits and charities in Canada
– You have previous experiencing reviewing or adjudicating grant applications, OR previous experience in Black community focused organizations
– You are bilingual (an asset!)

Self-nominations are accepted, please only consider nominating someone else with their consent! As this is a national grant program, BOF encourages applications from all regions of Canada.

BOF is committed to the fulsome inclusion of the Black Canadian experience through diverse representation; it is strongly encouraged that individuals from all backgrounds and identities consider applying.

What to Expect:

Adjudicators will be required to participate in a mandatory virtual orientation. Individuals should expect to volunteer up to 30 hours of their time before April 30th, 2023.

To apply, visit [Link]

The Grant Program will be open for applications in early March.

Black Opportunity Fund Submits Proposal for Black-Led Philanthropic Endowment Fund

8 December 2022

Black Opportunity Fund (BOF) is pleased to have recently submitted its proposal to administer the Government of Canada’s Black-Led Philanthropic Endowment Fund — a sustainable pool of capital to fund Black-led, Black-serving, and Black-focused (B3s) non-profits and charities across the country. Through this fund, the Government will provide one organization with stewardship of over $190M dedicated to improving socio-economic outcomes for Black Canadians.

BOF Partners with DoorDash to Launch #BlackFoodEnergy Grant Program for Black Restaurant Entrepreneurs

29 September 2022

Black Opportunity Fund (BOF) pleased to announce our newest launch of our grant program for Black Restaurant Entrepreneurs. This program is made possible through funding support from DoorDash.

With their ongoing commitment to helping level the playing field for Black Entrepreneurs, DoorDash is partnering with Black Opportunity Fund to provide #BlackFoodEnergy grants of $10,000 to Canadian Black-Owned Restaurants who are focused on innovation within the food industry.

Black Opportunity Fund partners strategically with community organizations, businesses, philanthropic organizations, and government to provide Black-led community organizations, and government to provide Black-led community organizations and Black-led businesses with the capital and other resources they need to build capacity and to fulfill their their mandates.

#BlackFoodEnergy is an extension of the DoorDash Entrepreneurship & Access Program, which offers additional support for restaurants on the DoorDash platform owned by women and people of colour.

#BlackFoodEnergy specifically celebrates, amplifies, and supports Black Chefs and Black-Owned restaurants and the amazing things they are serving up in neighbourhoods across Canada.

For more information about the program, please visit:.

https://blackopportunityfund.ca/funding-programs/blackfoodenergy-restaurant-grant/

BOF Year 2 Highlights

19 September 2022

Black Opportunity Fund (BOF) is pleased to have achieved the milestone of 2 years. We have made significant progress in fulfilling our mandate in a relatively short time, and positively impacted the communities we serve. BOF has provided philanthropic grants to Black led and Black serving non-profits and charities across the country, and provided capacity-building support and funding to Canadian Black businesses. We are proud to highlight some of our key partnerships and programs as well as the Black led organizations that have benefited from our support.

Eradicating the impacts of systemic anti-Black racism will take many years, but we are dedicated to continuing to do our part to help shorten the journey.

The Dr. Vibe Show™: The Morning Vibe™ – August 19, 2022

22 August 2022

On June 29, 2022, Walmart Canada announced today a partnership with Black Opportunity Fund and SickKids Foundation’s Black Experience @ SickKids Strategy, supporting health equity for the Black community, their families and in particular to improve health outcomes for Black Canadian children affected by and living with Sickle Cell Disease across Canada.

A powerfully insightful conversation on the Dr  Vibe Show with Dr. Isaac Odame , Head of Haemotology at Sick Kids, BOF Executive Director, Craig Wellington and Ingrid Wilson, CHRL, CMS  , Director of Diversity Inclusion & Culture at Walmart Canada, discuss the impact this partnership will have on Canada’s Black communities.

BOF June 29, 2022 Townhall

11 July 2022

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend our virtual townhall last Wednesday! We were so pleased with the turnout and the feedback from our community members and thrilled to have shared some updates on our Sickle Cell Disease partnership with SickKids and Walmart Canada, some of our recipients of our Education and Health Grant program with TD and the work we do with BMO, National Bank and the Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce to support Black Entrepreneurs.

If you missed our townhall, you can watch the recording in full here: https://youtu.be/MCRP8_DDPIw

As always, our commitment is to serve and empower Canada’s diverse Black communities and we look forward to our progress ahead.

Black health Matters: Tackling Sickle Cell Disease with SickKids

19 June 2022

BOF and SickKids have partnered to make a difference against a painful condition disproportionally experienced by people of African descent that can also place considerable financial burden on families: Sickle Cell Disease. On World Sickle Cell Day, June 19, 2022, BOF and SickKids announced their shared goal to achieve better outcomes for children living with the most common genetic disease affecting the Black communities. First, we’ll achieve this by helping SickKids make medication easier and safer to take at home via a SickKids-developed technology called a capsule shredder, which will be distributed across Canada. Second, we are establishing together the Sickle Cell Disease Patient Amenities Fund at SickKids, to help over hundreds of patient families with costs not covered by government, now and in the future. Better health outcomes for Black kids. It’s happening here.

Please donate.

BOF Grants Program for Health and Education

1 March 2022

We’ve launched our Grant Program for Education and Health with the help of @TDbank ’s generous funding.  This grant program was developed to help fund Black-led, Black-serving and Black-focused not-for-profits and charities, who are leading impactful initiatives in the key areas of health and education. We are accepting applications for this grant until March 31^st.

Great news for Canada’s Black entrepreneur community.

31 January 2022

In collaboration with Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce, BOF launches the Black Entrepreneur Program! This program provides a unique wrap around support, including non-repayable funds for Black Entrepreneurs who have been unable to access traditional funding. A huge thanks to CIBC & CIBC Foundation for kickstarting this program with a generous donation!

The year 2021 in review

7 January 2022

As we enter a new year, we want to thank you for your continued support of our mission to fight anti-Black racism and systemic discrimination in Canada. As we welcome 2022, we can’t help but reflect on some of the great accomplishments of 2021.

Public Health Approach to Violence Prevention

17 November 2021

Book your calendar for a Black Opportunity Fund community event on December 9th. You won’t want to miss this national round table discussion on the Public Health Approach to Violence Prevention.

There will be a large focus on gun and gang violence. Our society has a reactive approach to violent crime. It’s time to walk a different path. The public health approach recognizes that violence is the result of a complex causal system, and its approach is one that would look at prevention as opposed to reaction. You won’t want to miss this virtual gathering. The panel line up is outstanding. Thanks to Colliers Canada for your partnership on this event.

Health professionals from Black communities on the impact of the Pandemic

12 October 2021

Episode 29 — The BOF’s Craig Wellington on serving the intersection of Canada’s Black communities

7 October 2021

VIBEtalks – In Conversation: Craig Wellington, Executive Director – Black Opportunity Fund

7 October 2021

TD Bank Canada makes historic $10 million commitment to the Black Opportunity

16 September 2021

We are happy to share that TD has announced a $10 million commitment to Black Opportunity Fund to help fund and empower Black-led businesses and community organizations in Canada. This significant donation is among the largest contributions in Canada to a Black-focused, Black-led and Black-serving organization. This collaboration will go a long way in supporting our mission to combat the impact of anti-Black racism and systematic discrimination in Canada.

BOF wholeheartedly condemns Islamophobia

30 July 2021

Black Opportunity Fund is horrified by the recent rise in violence against Black Muslim women in Alberta and across Canada and wish to express our wholehearted condemnation of Islamophobia, gender-based violence, and anti-Black racism in all their forms.

New CILAR Grant Program Offers Funding For Canadian Black-Led Businesses

23 July 2021

We are proud to announce a new partnership between Coalition of Innovation Leaders Against Racism (CILAR), Pitch Better and BOF, funded by Facebook, that will offer grants of up to $10,000 to help support and empower Black-led businesses in Canada!

The goal of the CILAR partnership Grant Program is to provide capital resources for as many Black-led businesses as possible, and we are thrilled to be a part of the initiative!

Apply now for the CILAR Grant Program

COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence

Black Canadian Perspectives

15 July 2021

The Black Opportunity Fund is proud to present a comprehensive report on vaccine confidence in the Black Canadian community, which would not have been possible without the African Canadian Civic Engagement Council and Innovation Research Group. Based on our findings, 33% of our community shows vaccine hesitancy, largely due to a lack of trust. Find out where that trust breaks down and how it can be rebuilt.

Sustaining Canada’s Anti-Black racism movement: What’s Next?

30 June 2021

On February 17, the Black Opportunity Fund gathered leaders in the community for an essential panel discussion, titled: Sustaining Canada’s Anti-Black racism movement: What’s Next? Panelists discussed how George Floyd’s murder and the social movement it sparked brought to light many struggles that have been a reality in the Black community for generations. Now, our panelists share, we must make sure this newfound consciousness isn’t wasted, and create a better world for the generations to come. Watch the full video to find out how.

Black Opportunity Fund partners with UBC to empower next generation of Black leaders

29 June 2021

Today we celebrate the 1st anniversary of the Black Opportunity Fund with a new opportunity in education. Through partnership with The University of British Columbia, we’re proud to announce our first scholarship program to help support Black Canadian students begins today.