Overview

The Anti-Racism Anti-Hate Grant (ARAH) is investing $3.2 million to build stronger, safer and more inclusive communities. It is providing funding to 58 community-led projects that increase public awareness of the impacts of racism and hate and improve access to services and supports for those who experience it. These projects aim to:

  • build capacity to recognize and prevent acts of racism and hate
  • enhance community services and dialogue on racism and hate
  • deepen society’s understanding of the impact of hate

Applications for the grant have closed. We thank all applicants for their interest, time and project ideas. Find the list of the 58 ARD funding recipients and their projects.

Program categories

Consistent with what we heard from community members across the province, the Anti-Racism Anti-Hate Grant Program will contribute to improving outcomes for those facing racism and hate by funding public education and awareness projects. Each project focuses on one of the following three categories:

Building capacity

Projects in this category build organizational/community capacity to recognize and act to prevent occurrences of racism and hate, and support delivery of culturally-responsive services to individuals and families that are adversely impacted. Projects can include (but are not limited to):

  • developing and providing access to training, tools, job aids, courses and workshops
  • organizational change management
  • embedding culturally-responsive community services

Growing community

Projects in this category aim to create opportunities for cross-cultural dialogues and increase access to services, information and support to those who experience racism and hate.

Projects can include (but are not limited to):

  • strategic partnerships that develop active allyship and have collective impact
  • convening events and working groups
  • sharing best practices and intersectional experiences
  • awareness campaigns
  • establishing coalitions of organizations and individuals that support addressing systemic racism

Deepening understanding

Projects in this category strengthen the voices of those impacted by racism and hate incidents to help increase understanding of systemic disparities and challenges faced by these communities.

Projects can include (but are not limited to):

  • qualitative and quantitative data collection efforts or research around incidents of racism and hate
  • culturally safe reporting
  • countering narratives through storytelling
  • raising awareness and addressing gaps in data reporting

Applicants should identify in their application which category their proposed project aligns with. Only one application may be submitted per applicant.

Program principles

In addition, the ARAH Grant supports projects that are informed by the unique and common experiences of racism and hate felt across racialized communities.

Applicants should demonstrate how their proposed projects align with one or more of these principles:

Culturally-responsive

The project is culturally-responsive to communities and promotes revitalization of and connection to community and culture. through a person-centered and whole systems approach.

Strength-based

The project not only focuses on the needs and issues that communities are facing but the inherent strength of the community is used to mitigate some of the issues.

Trauma-informed

In response to what we heard from communities, there is a need to support partnerships and collaborations, and support small community-based, community-led organizations. The ARAH Grant Program has two unique funding tiers.

Funding

The additional ARAH Grant Program funding of $1.6 million over two years will be disbursed starting in 2022-23.

As this is a two-year program, eligible projects must also be for two years. Funding will begin in fiscal year 2021-2022.

In response to what we heard from communities, there is a need to support partnerships/collaborations, and to support small community-based, community-led organizations. The ARAH Grant Program has two unique funding tiers.

Eligible organizations must apply to one, and only one, of the following tiers listed below:

Tier typeFunding amountDescription
Tier 1: Partnership development/enhancement projectsMaximum of $100,000 per project over two years.Eligible organizations will be funded based on applications that identify partnerships and a joint initiative that builds awareness or introduces change at a systemic level. For example, a coalition of community organizations collaborate to develop/implement a framework on addressing hate incidents, etc.
Tier 2: Independent projectsMaximum of $40,000 over two years.Eligible organizations will be funded based on applications that tackle public education and awareness at a local or population-specific level. For example, an initiative responding to rising incidents of online racism and hate, culturally responsive toolkit etc.

Costs eligible for funding

Eligible costs are budget items directly related to the project. Costs must be reasonable and necessary for the project’s successful implementation and completion. Eligible costs may include the following:

  • Project staff and other operating costs including:
    • cell phones
    • computers
    • internet
  • Hiring a consultant for a specific aspect of the project work. The ARAH grant is a public awareness and public education program. While consultants are an eligible cost, recipients must ensure that the work of the consultant is aligned with the grant program focus.
  • Research, planning and development (for example costs related to determining how to develop and implement the project).
  • Production costs for resource development, for example:
    • graphic design
    • printing
    • translation into other languages
    • alternative formats for accessibility
  • Outreach, for example:
    • costs related to promotion
    • holding meetings or outreach events directly related to the project
    • costs related to participants attending events
  • Honoraria
  • 'Net new' project costs (for example costs for projects not existing prior to ARAH Grant Program funding) or incremental activity for existing projects. This would include costs associated with:
    • scaling or expanding an existing project
    • implementing and delivering a totally new project
  • Administrative costs must be capped at 10% of the subtotal (such as, the total excluding the administrative costs). Administrative costs include activities and items necessary to support the delivery and implementation of the project and could include:
    • computer and IT support
    • bank charges
    • photocopy
    • stationaries

Trustee/fiscal sponsor fees are an eligible cost if the applicant requires a trustee/fiscal sponsor. While there is no cap on the trustee/fiscal sponsor fee, this fee is determined between the applicant and trustee/fiscal sponsor. The approximate range for this is between 10% and 20%.

Ineligible costs

The following expenses will not be covered:

  • annual general meetings, budget deficits and/or membership fees
  • fundraising activities, committee and political meetings or religious activities
  • costs covered by other funding sources or other government funding
  • contingency or unexplained miscellaneous costs
  • costs not specifically related to the project
  • activities that take place outside of Ontario
  • portion of Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) costs that are refundable
  • fees for consultant or experts that operate outside of Ontario
  • any other costs deemed ineligible by the ministry
  • international partner activities

Eligibility criteria

NOTE:

Applications for the grant have closed. We thank all applicants for their interest, time and project ideas.

Eligible applicants

Organizations that support new or existing projects to increase public education and awareness on the impact of racism and hate were eligible to apply for funding.

For both tiers, the following organizations were eligible for funding:

  • community-based, not-for-profit organizations
  • First Nations
  • Tribal Councils
  • Provincial Territorial Organizations
  • Indigenous not-for-profit organizations
  • faith-based organization
  • federally-registered Ontario organizations
  • newly incorporated organizations

Community-based outcomes and community-focused approaches

In addition to the ARAH Grant outcomes outlined, eligible projects need to demonstrate:

  • an understanding of the impacts of racism and hate on their community
  • how their project will address this
  • what success looks like

Both quantitative and qualitative (for examples, stories) information can demonstrate outcomes.

A community-focused approach is where communities impacted are actively involved in the project, including in its planning and delivery. This could include:

  • being located in the community
  • participating in community initiatives
  • providing an assessment of initiatives