Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program (Canada)

Deadline: 4-Dec-24

Applications are now open for Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program to support the mandate of the Department of Canadian Heritage by building on Canada’s strength as a diverse and inclusive society.

Objectives

• The Program’s objectives are to support communities to:
  • advance anti-racism; foster ethnocultural diversity and inclusion; promote intercultural and interfaith understanding;
  • provide equitable opportunities for equity-deserving populations and community organizations to participate fully in all aspects of Canadian society;
  • promote dialogue on multiculturalism, anti-racism, racial equity, diversity and inclusion to advance institutional and systemic change so that Canada becomes a more inclusive society, free from racism and hate-motivated actions; and
  • support research and evidence to build understanding of the disparities and challenges faced by equity-deserving populations.
• The Anti-Racism Call funds initiatives to address systemic racism and discrimination in Canada with the following objective:
  • To enhance access to and inclusivity within Canada’s arts, culture, and heritage organizations and institutions, and creative industries by addressing systemic racism and discrimination in workplaces faced by Indigenous Peoples, Black communities, racialized and religious minority communities, while considering intersectionality.
• Initiatives funded under this objective will have the following expected results for arts, culture, and heritage organizations and institutions, and creative industries:
  • Implementation of new or improved culturally inclusive employment policies and workplace practices; and/or
  • Increased representation and inclusion in decision-making processes and governance; and/or
  • Increased access to wrap-around supports and opportunities for equity-deserving communities to take leadership.
• The Anti-Racism Call is seeking project proposals that demonstrate sustainable impacts and that integrate one or more of the following priorities:
  • Include youth participation in the project’s design and delivery; and/or
  • Include equity-deserving communities in the project’s design and implementation; and/or
  • Implement and share best systemic-change practices; and/or
  • Build multi-sectoral partnerships or networks.

Priority Areas

• In addition to the evaluation criteria listed above, the Anti-Racism Call is seeking project proposals that demonstrate sustainable impacts and that integrate one or more of the following priorities:
  • Include youth participation in the project’s design and delivery; and/or
  • Include equity-deserving communities in the project’s design and implementation; and/or
  • Implement and share best systemic-change practices; and/or
  • Build multi-sectoral partnerships or networks.

Funding Information

• The Anti-Racism Call’s maximum amount payable per recipient is $1,000,000 per project. However, given the number of eligible projects received during each program’s call for proposals, the program expects to allocate funding up to approximately $300,000 per project.

Eligible Expenses

• Only project-related expenses, which can be of cash and in-kind value, are eligible. These may include:
  • Salaries, benefits;
  • Consultant fees;
  • Rental of office space and equipment not normally used in an organization’s daily operations;
  • Publicity;
  • Domestic travel and accommodation which must not exceed the rates permitted for travel on government business;
  • Hospitality (only for meals and refreshments for the project’s participants);
  • Liability insurance;
  • Costs associated with organizing a conference or similar forum (ex. logistics and coordination costs not already listed);
  • Evaluation and audit costs;
  • Facility rental and set up costs;
  • Fees and honoraria for performers and artists at events; and
  • Administration/overhead costs (up to a maximum of 15% of total project funding before administration costs).
• Donated goods and services may be considered in-kind contributions if they:
  • are essential to your project’s success;
  • are eligible and would otherwise have to be purchased or paid for by you;
  • can be measured at fair market value (i.e. in relation to similar goods and services); and
  • are balanced by an equal revenue in your budget (i.e. total in-kind expenses equal total in-kind revenues).

Ineligible Expenses

• The following expenses are not eligible for funding:
  • any type of Director’s fees for members of Boards or other governing bodies;
  • capital costs or expenditures (e.g., renovation expenses, computer equipment, except when essential to the successful delivery of activities);
  • Annual general meetings or regular executive board meetings of an organization or association, including related travel;
  • costs associated with the ongoing production of newsletters, newspapers, magazines, journals, or radio and television broadcasts;
  • religious and/or politically partisan activities;

Eligible Projects

• Examples of eligible activities include, but are not limited to:
  • mentorships and internships;
  • skills development initiatives;
  • development of new learning materials, tools and training sessions;
  • network and partnership development initiatives;
  • leadership and volunteerism initiatives;
  • knowledge sharing initiatives;
  • meetings and workshops; and
  • development of new programs, policies, and services responsive to diversity, or combatting racism and discrimination.
• Here are a few examples of possible projects. This list is for illustrative purposes only:
  • A partnership initiative in which an organization develops employment policies or practices in consultation with representatives of equity-deserving communities to facilitate the recruitment, retention, engagement, and advancement of equity-deserving staff within the organization. These workplace policies and practices would consist of guidelines and procedures established by an organization to ensure efficient operations and a positive work environment. The area of focus could differ based on need, and a wide range of policies and practices could be explored, such as codes of conducts, health and safety policies, leave/holiday policies, equal opportunity guidelines, or harassment and bullying policies to name a few.
  • A collaborative initiative in which an arts organization/institution connects with equity-deserving communities to improve their access to and representation in decision-making processes. For example, the institution could provide a training session about their governance processes, facilitate a round-table exchange for equity-deserving communities to share their ideas for removing barriers and improving access to opportunities, and develop and implement a plan to increase representation and inclusion in the long-term.
  • The development of a network by an equity-deserving community organization within which various sectors in the community are represented and invited to participate (private, public, voluntary and not-for-profit in areas such as employment, transportation, childcare, health etc.) The network could meet regularly to collectively identify and address the layers of barriers facing the equity-deserving communities in need. Creating a network like this that removes barriers would show that improving access to and inclusivity within workplaces for equity-deserving communities requires coordination and collaboration. Each action could be led by a member of an equity-deserving community, so the solutions remain informed and equity-deserving community members gain experience leading such initiatives.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible for funding, your organization/group must be:
  • Canadian not-for-profit organizations, associations, and unincorporated groups;
  • Non-federal Canadian public institutions such as boards of education, schools, colleges and universities, chambers of commerce, law enforcement and police agencies, hospitals and other health care institutions;
  • Provincial, territorial, regional and municipal governments and their agencies;
  • Indigenous not-for-profit organizations (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis);
  • Indigenous governments, band councils and tribal councils.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Applicants that are not eligible for support include, but are not limited to, applicants that:
  • discriminate, contrary to applicable laws, on the basis of prohibited grounds, including race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family status, genetic characteristics, disability and conviction for an offence for which a pardon has been granted or in respect of which a record suspension has been ordered;
  • discriminate on the basis of language;
  • advocate intolerance, discrimination and/or prejudice;
  • provide support to organizations or individuals that share or promote offensive content or discourse;
  • undermine Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy

For more information, visit Government of Canada.