Support and Financial Aid Organizations
This section provides information on resources and opportunities available to Black youth, including financial aid, scholarships, mentorship programs, and career development initiatives designed to support their educational and professional aspirations.
1.Foundation for Black Communities (FFBC)
Overview: Canada’s first philanthropic foundation dedicated to investing in Black communities. FFBC provides grants to Black-led, Black-serving, and Black-focused grassroots, nonprofit, and charitable organizations across Canada.
Programs: FFBC offers various programs and grants aimed at supporting initiatives and research that meet the needs and priorities of Black communities.
Website: https://forblackcommunities.org/
2. Black Youth Helpline (BYH)
Overview: BYH offers professional, culturally relevant services to youth, families, and schools, focusing on addressing the root causes of challenges faced by Black youth.
Program: Services include multicultural youth helplines, professional assessments, intervention programs, and initiatives to help youth remain and succeed in school.
Website: https://blackyouth.ca/services/
3. Roots Community Services Inc.
Overview: Provides various programs aimed at supporting Black youth, including leadership development, mentorship, and advocacy.
Programs:
Business Leadership Training (BLT): Encourages youth to develop business skills and leadership qualities.
Student and Family Advocate Initiative: Supports Black students and their families in navigating the education system.
Substance Abuse Program for African Canadian and Caribbean Youth (SAPACCY): Promotes mental wellness and addresses substance use among Black youth.
Website: https://rootscs.org/youth-program
4. Outward Bound Canada
Overview: Offers experiential learning programs designed to build leadership and resilience among youth.
Program: Provides financial assistance options to ensure youth from all walks of life can participate in their courses.
Website: https://www.outwardbound.ca/financial-assistance-for-youth/
5. TD Bank’s Initiatives
Overview: TD Bank collaborates with Black-focused, Black-led, and Black-serving organizations to promote financial education, community growth, professional development, and the arts.
Programs: TD’s initiatives include supporting financial literacy programs and community development projects aimed at empowering Black communities.
Website: https://www.td.com/ca/en/about-td/diversity-and-inclusion/black-communities-in-canada
6. Ìdàgbà Rites of Passage – WoodGreen Community Services
Overview: Offers resources, guidance, and support to youth as they transition through different life stages.
Programs: Provides mentorship, cultural education, and community engagement activities designed to empower youth.
Website: https://www.woodgreen.org/programs/rites-of-passage
7. Community Support for Black Canadian Youth Initiative
Overview: A federal initiative that provides funding for projects addressing the unique challenges faced by Black Canadian youth.
Programs: Supports community organizations in delivering programs that promote the well-being and success of Black youth.
8. The Black Opportunity Fund
Overview: This is a fund dedicated to supporting Black-focused and Black-serving communities. Through a partnership with TD Bank, the Black Opportunity Fund works to promote financial education, community growth, professional development and the arts.
Program: Supports financial literacy, community development, professional growth, and arts and culture
Website: https://www.td.com/ca/en/about-td/diversity-and-inclusion/black-communities-in-canada
9. Mentor Canada
Overview: Mentor Canada is a national non-profit organization that aims to strengthen the quality and impact of youth mentoring across the country. It provides resources, training, and support to both mentoring organizations and mentors.
Program: Mentor Canada offers programs that focus on improving the practices of mentoring through the Quality Mentoring System (QMS), which includes tools, research, and professional learning. They also collaborate with MentorCity to offer an e-mentoring platform that connects mentors and mentees through various communication tools.
Website: https://mentorcanada.ca/
10. Africa Center (Edmonton, AB)
Overview: The Africa Centre, established in 2006, is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating opportunities for the full participation of individuals of African descent in Alberta. It serves as a community hub, offering culturally aware programs and services to support the holistic development and well-being of African descent communities.
Program: The Africa Centre in Edmonton, AB, offers a variety of community-focused programs aimed at supporting individuals of African descent. These programs include youth mentorship, early learning and childcare, seniors’ well-being, economic development initiatives, gender equity promotion, and mental health services. The center also provides scholarships and empowers individuals through leadership development, entrepreneurship support, and culturally sensitive services to foster a strong and engaged African descent community in Alberta.
Website: https://africacentre.ca/
11. Black Canadian Women in Action (Edmonton, AB)
Overview: Black Canadian Women in Action (BCW in Action) is a non-profit organization based in Edmonton, Alberta. It focuses on empowering Black women, girls, and families by building leadership, self-esteem, and confidence through community programs and cultural initiatives.
Program: BCW in Action offers programs such as Black Girls Empowerment (career training and internships), Active Women (empowerment initiatives), and the Centre of Wellbeing (mental health support). The organization also provides workshops and resources for Black entrepreneurs to enhance business capacity.
Website: https://www.bcwinaction.ca/
12. Delmore “Buddy” Daye Learning Institute (Halifax, NS)
Overview: The Delmore “Buddy” Daye Learning Institute (DBDLI) in Halifax, NS, is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for African Nova Scotians through Africentric education and research.
Program: DBDLI offers programs focused on research, community engagement, youth empowerment, and scholarships to support African Canadian students and communities.
Website: https://dbdli.ca/
13. Parents of Black Children (Toronto, ON)
Overview: Parents of Black Children (PoBC) is a Toronto-based non-profit organization that advocates for Black children and families, addressing anti-Black racism and systemic barriers in education to ensure equitable experiences.
Program: PoBC offers programs like free tutoring (EDGE), an Africentric educational platform (OMO), scholarships, mental health resources, legal support, and tools for reporting racism, all aimed at empowering Black families and improving educational outcomes.
Website: https://parentsofblackchildren.org/
14. TAIBU Community Health Centre (Toronto, ON)
Overview: TAIBU Community Health Centre in Toronto provides culturally sensitive primary health care, health promotion, and disease prevention services to Black communities in the Greater Toronto Area.
Program: TAIBU offers primary health care, diabetes education, counselling, foot care, dietetic services, low back pain management, and telemedicine to support the health and well-being of Black communities.
Website: https://www.taibuchc.ca/en/
15. The Reading Partnership (Scarborough, ON)
Overview: The Reading Partnership (TRP) in Scarborough, ON, is a non-profit organization focused on improving literacy for children and families through community-driven programs and resources.
Program: TRP offers programs like Reading Partnership for Parents (early literacy training), RPOD (on-demand digital learning), 360º Stories (exploring diverse perspectives), Kids ReadTO (volunteer-led reading sessions), and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (free books for children).
Website: https://readingpartnership.com/
16. The Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF)
Overview: The CRRF is dedicated for fostering racial harmony and cross-cultural understanding in Canada. It aims to eliminate racism and all forms of discrimination in Canada
Program: The CRRF engages in several activities, including conducting research, collecting data, and developing a national information base to further understand the nature of racism and racial discrimination. It also promotes effective race relations training, increases public awareness of the importance of eliminating racism, and collaborates with various government agencies to support programs and activities aimed at eliminating racial discrimination.
Website: https://crrf-fcrr.ca/
