Event and Youth Initiative Grants

• Systemic racial barriers: Reducing barriers to inclusion by addressing systemic racism in education, healthcare, the justice system, public services, employment and public life.
• Research and education: Promoting and increasing availability and accessibility of data, evidence and community insights on race relations in Canada.
• Public awareness: Informing public policies by highlighting systemic and institutional barriers.
• Cultural and intercultural community-building: Creating cross-cultural opportunities through discussions and dialogue on race and religion, building awareness and collaborations.

• Increase public awareness of public policy issues related to race relations, anti-racism, or anti-hate nationally, regionally, or in local communities.
• Increase public awareness of Canada’s cultural diversity.
• Increase awareness of factors such as race, culture, ethnicity, or religion that may be hindering full participation of the entire Canadian population in society and the economy.
• Increase knowledge and capacity within communities to address racism and discrimination.

• Canadian registered charities (as recognized by the Canadian Revenue Agency) and Canadian non-profit organizations and associations.
• First Nations, Inuit and Metis organizations
• Canadian non-Federal public institutions such as municipalities, boards of education, schools, colleges and universities.
• Grassroots and recognized student groups

• For-profit organizations
• Federal institutions
• Individuals
• Organizations whose purpose is solely related to political activity, as defined by the Canada Revenue Agency

Expenses for Events and Youth Initiatives can include:

• Personnel and staffing costs
• Program costs such as speaker honoraria, venue related expenses, equipment, marketing and communications, catering, transportation, etc.
• Overhead and administrative costs directly associated with Events or Youth Initiatives can be requested to a maximum of 15% of the total budget. Overhead and administrative costs include: supervision, bookkeeping/accounting, audit expenses, telephone/internet, etc.

Expenses for Events and Youth Initiatives cannot include:

• Costs (e.g., loans, grants, or scholarships) that are related to direct financial assistance in the form of payments to individuals or families
• Partisan political activity that directly or indirectly promotes a political candidate or party
• Ongoing occupancy costs
• Services covered by provincial health authorities
• Services provided by medical professionals or regulated health professionals other than social workers or social service workers
• Support of operating deficit
• Purchase of investment in real property (real estate, land, building, etc.)
• Cost of alcoholic beverages
• Basic shelter beds or transitional housing beds

Event and Youth Initiative applications will be assessed as follows:

• Applications submitted by 11:59 pm (EST) on November 15, 2023, will have decisions made in early January 2024
• Applications submitted by 11:59 pm (EST) on January 15, 2024, will have decisions made in early March 2024

We fund Events and Youth Initiatives that have clear objectives and measurable results. Once screened for eligibility, your application will be evaluated based on the criteria below: 

• The application demonstrates how the Event or Youth Initiative contributes to one or more of the program themes and achieves one or more of the expected results.
• The applicant has the experience, human and financial resources, governance structure and capacity to successfully carry out the event based on past experience.
• The applicant has demonstrated the need within their community and how it will be addressed.
• The applicant has the required resources to successfully deliver the Event or Youth Initiative on time and on budget.
• The Event or Youth Initiative activities are clearly described and are linked to their goals.
• The Event or Youth Initiative is designed to effectively reach its target audience, beneficiaries and participants.
• The proposed budget is detailed, reasonable and balanced and takes into consideration the efficient and effective use of funds and must indicate if the event or youth initiative can continue even if the CRRF was only able to allocate partial funding.
• The applicant agrees to fulfill the CRRF recognition requirements.

All successful applicants must publicly acknowledge the financial support received from the CRRF through NARF, in all communications materials and promotional activities. Public acknowledgment text should state the following:

“The [TITLE OF YOUR EVENT or YOUTH INITIATIVE] was made possible through the financial support of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation’s National Anti-Racism Fund.”

Click here to view the CRRF Branding Guide

Additionally, successful applicants funded by the National Anti-Racism Fund are required to:

• Invite a CRRF representative to provide remarks at public Events or Youth Initiatives or, if more appropriate, deliver an e-message or video about the CRRF and its support for the Event or Youth Initiative.
• Provide the CRRF with a notice of the Event at least four weeks in advance of the event date.
• Notification of Event or Youth Initiative date and Month/Day of Observance (if applicable) at least four weeks in advance.