Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Fondation Émergence

Fondation Émergence is a pioneering Quebec non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the rights and inclusion of people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Since 2000, it has become a reference for large-scale awareness campaigns, training programs, and advocacy efforts such as the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, celebrated in dozens of countries. While the foundation’s primary activities focus on education and capacity-building, it also provides direct financial support through awards and scholarship programs.

Among its structured mechanisms of support, the Laurent-McCutcheon Excellence Scholarship offers $5,000 annually to master’s students whose research addresses LGBTQ2+ realities. This scholarship helps generate new knowledge that can inform public policy, professional practices, and community interventions. In addition, the historic Prize for the Fight Against Homophobia, now known as the Laurent‑McCutcheon Prize, honours individuals and organizations that have made exceptional contributions in combating homophobia and transphobia, often providing them with recognition, visibility, and resources to amplify their impact.

Fondation Émergence operates a wide range of programs aimed at different sectors: workplaces, seniors’ services, caregiver support, combating conversion therapies, and outreach to the general public. Its portfolio includes tailored training, conferences, personalized coaching, and the co‑development of tools such as guides, inclusion policies, posters, and videos. Many of these initiatives are delivered free of charge across Quebec thanks to public and private funders, thereby channeling external funding into local organizations, institutions, and professional environments.

The foundation also manages the Ally Network, a structured membership program for companies, institutions, and professionals. Members pay annual fees and, in return, receive preferential access to services, licenses for the online learning platform, custom support hours, and public visibility within the network. Through this program, Fondation Émergence leverages corporate resources to support its broader educational and advocacy initiatives for LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Funding and recognition provided by Fondation Émergence are aligned with its mission: fighting homophobia and transphobia and promoting the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people. Scholarship recipients are selected based on academic excellence and the relevance of their research to LGBTQ+ issues. Prize and awardees are chosen for their concrete, exemplary contributions to advancing equality, changing attitudes, and creating safer environments.

In addition to direct monetary support, the foundation offers in‑kind contributions such as training, expertise, access to educational tools, and public visibility. These non‑financial supports are often critical for community organizations, public institutions, and workplaces seeking to make lasting changes in policy and practice.

Founded by activist Laurent McCutcheon, Fondation Émergence has played a major role in key milestones such as the adoption of Quebec’s policy against homophobia and the passage of legislation protecting people from conversion therapy. Its long list of national and international awards (Cannes Lions, Clio Awards, Prix Droits et Libertés, and others) attests to the quality and reach of its campaigns. Over time, the foundation has built strong partnerships with governments, financial institutions, and community organizations, which co‑finance its programs and help scale up its interventions.

Through its programs, financial awards, and recognition mechanisms, Fondation Émergence contributes to a broader funding ecosystem that supports research, public awareness, and institutional change aimed at improving the lives of LGBTQ+ people in Quebec, Canada, and abroad.