Racial Justice Grants FAQ

The following groups may apply for funding:

• Existing non-profit organizations; and
• Collaborative entities or groups.

For clarity, Indigenous groups, communities, and/or First Nations are also eligible for funding and grant-seekers do not need to identify as law-focused groups and organizations, as long as their proposed work is connected with the legal system or the impact of laws and policies on people’s lives.

While this funding stream encourages existing organizations to apply, grant-seekers do not need to be a registered charity or other qualified donee to apply

Grant-seekers who are not registered or incorporated, including those seeking to establish new organizations, collaboratives, or groups, can expect additional discussion with the Law Foundation so together we can identify the best way to provide funding to you. Grant-seekers who plan for another organization to receive and administer funds on their behalf if funded are also asked to identify this in their application.

Grants are intended to be flexible, and funds can be used for both projects and core operating costs. This funding call also encourages some capacity-building activities in relation to racial justice.

The types of activities that could be funded include expanding programs and projects, collaborating with other organizations on a shared issue, policy and legal advocacy interventions, and changing the dominant narrative by creating deliberate systems that support the transformation of laws and policies for healing and racial justice. The three focus areas of the Generate grants can be found at the link HERE.

Start-up funding may be considered in circumstances where new infrastructure is needed to do the work such as creating a collaborative with representatives from a variety of established organizations.

The following will not be funded:

• Proposals whose main purpose is the production of research studies, educational resources, and reports (proposals can include publication, education, and research as tools to achieve the ultimate goal of the proposal);
• Equity, diversity, and inclusion training for board/staff of organizations or program audits;
• Proposals that do not align with one or more of the Law Foundation’s mandate areas;
• Proposals that do not align well with the racial justice granting framework or the three Generate grants focus areas; and
• Projects that will not significantly involve or benefit people living in BC.

In addition, because of the targeted focus of this funding call, funding will not be provided to proposals that only have connections to communities impacted by racism but that are not closely aligned to a vision of racial justice.

Yes, white-led groups and organizations may submit applications under this call. However, in assessing any application, the Law Foundation will consider the degree to which it aligns with the Law Foundation’s racial justice grantmaking framework, including the guiding principles of Community Accountability and Meaningful Engagement. The Law Foundation would also consider how the proposed strategy centers Indigenous, Black, and racialized people’s leadership, lived experiences, vision, and priorities. The Law Foundation may also consider a group or organization’s track record with regards to racial justice work and the extent to which the group or organization makes investments from its own resources to make racial justice a priority of its mission and work.

The Law Foundation recognizes the complexity and intersectional nature of identities. The Law Foundation also recognizes that concepts of race and a racial justice framework may not necessarily be appropriate or sufficiently expansive when it comes to Indigeneity and Indigenous identities. The Law Foundation does not have a rigid way of defining whether a group or organization is Indigenous-, Black-, or other racialized-community-led and, for the purposes of these grants, will ask grant-seekers to self-identity and indicate the extent to which their group or board/staff leadership identifies as Indigenous, Black, and/or racialized.

Yes, depending on the nature and scope of the work being proposed. Please note that eligible grant-seekers must operate or intend to operate in BC and/or propose work that will significantly benefit people living in BC.

The Law Foundations has five mandates funding areas:

• Legal education;
• Legal research;
• Legal aid;
• Law reform; and
• Law libraries.

For more information on the Law Foundation’s mandated funding areas, please click HERE.

The Law Foundation takes an expansive view of its mandated funded areas. Eligible proposals may target a wide range of issues within the legal context and the context of racial justice, and do not need to be aimed at the Crown’s justice system or the courts. To speak to someone at the Law Foundation about your idea, please email racialjustice[at]lawfoundationbc.org .

This is an open funding call; past and ongoing grantees of the Law Foundation are welcome to apply for funding. Grantee status will not be taken into consideration for final adjudication decisions.

If you received a grant in previous years and are interested in applying for a grant, you can apply for another project idea. However, you cannot apply for your funded project. Grantees will have to complete their existing project and report on their learnings and outcomes to be eligible for another racial justice grant.

Generate Grants are meant for projects that are already established and are ready to expand. While a Generate Grant can include community consultations as part of the project, it cannot be the project itself. Your project idea might be best suited for our next grant call in 2025 which will fund capacity building, early-stage ideas and plans that may lead to new programming and projects.

Generally, we ask that grant-seekers prioritize and only submit one application, however if you have more than one project idea, please get in touch with us at racialjustice[at]lawfoundationbc.org . to discuss.

We offer some flexibility, but generally groups and organizations should expect to start their grant within one year of receiving funding. If your group or organization may not be ready to use grant funds within a one-year period, we encourage you to consider applying for funding in a future round.