Increased Funding for Community Grants, Applications Now Open

The Province is providing additional funding to support projects that aim to address systemic hate, inequity and racism.

This year, a total of $400,000 will be available through the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism’s (OEA) Community Network Grant program, up from $289,000.

“We received a great response to our first call for applications in the spring,” said Barbara Adams, Minister responsible for the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism. “The additional funding will allow us to support more community projects that have a primary objective related to equity and anti-racism.”

Grant applications open today, September 9.

To be eligible, registered non-profit and charitable organizations and their projects must have a primary mandate and objectives related to equity and anti-racism such as:

• reducing or removing barriers in education, healthcare, the justice system, public services, employment or public life
• promoting public awareness about the importance of fairness and justice and actively opposing hate, inequity and racism
• promoting cultural and intercultural community building and economic development for underrepresented and underserved groups
• responding to and reducing gender-based violence
• offering training and capacity-building programs that support those interested in advancing equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives
• promoting and increasing the availability and accessibility of data, evidence and community insights on equity and race-related issues.

Grants of up to $40,000 per project are available, an increase from $25,000. The deadline for applications is October 31.

Quotes:

“We are pleased to see efforts to address systemic hate, inequity, and racism. This additional funding will empower our communities, including African Nova Scotians and people of African descent, to take action and create meaningful change.”
— Twila Grosse, Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs

“This is another positive step towards creating a more equitable and inclusive province. By supporting initiatives that tackle these complex issues, we are not only empowering women and other communities that have been marginalized, but also helping create a future where everyone can thrive, free from discrimination and the threat of violence.”
— Jill Balser, Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women

“This grant has allowed us to create a new legal information publication for 2SLGBTQIA+ Nova Scotians that covers human rights law, the human rights complaint process, how to self-advocate and navigate difficult conversations, and how to care for oneself and one's community. We consulted extensively, which confirmed to us how much a resource of this kind is needed and how impactful and empowering it will be for queer Nova Scotians to have this information available in a resource that is both empathetic and comprehensive.”
— Heather de Berdt Romilly, Executive Director, Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia

Quick Facts:

• in February, the Province launched the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism’s Community Network Grant program
• in April, 12 organizations received grants totalling $289,000
• projects must align with the goals and objectives of Nova Scotia’s Equity and Anti-Racism Strategy, the first of its kind in Canada
• underrepresented and underserved groups include Mi’kmaq and other persons of Indigenous descent, African Nova Scotians, persons of African descent, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+, newcomers (immigrants or refugees), minority faith-based groups and seniors

Additional Resources:

More information about the OEA Community Network and applying for a grant is available at: https://www.oeaengagement.ca/oea-community-network

Equity and Anti-Racism Strategy: https://novascotia.ca/just/publications/docs/equity-and-anti-racism-strategy.pdf

Dismantling Racism and Hate Act: https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/dismantling%20racism%20and%20hate.pdf

Office of Equity and Anti-Racism: https://beta.novascotia.ca/government/equity-and-anti-racism-initiatives