Role of the Michaëlle Jean Foundation in the funding ecosystem
The Michaëlle Jean Foundation is a national Canadian foundation that uses the arts, culture and social innovation as catalysts for youth empowerment, racial justice and social inclusion. Working with civil-society groups, youth-led organizations, governments and corporate partners, the Foundation supports and funds youth-focused initiatives that address systemic exclusion, especially for Black and marginalized young people across Canada.
Its portfolio combines convening activities, such as the National Black Canadians Summit, with direct financial support for youth-led projects. Through initiatives like the Power of Youth / Jeunesse au pouvoir program, the Foundation provides non-renewable bursaries and project grants, enabling young leaders of African descent to design and implement community-based solutions grounded in the Halifax Declaration’s pillars of recognition, justice and development.
Main funding programs and supports
- Power of Youth (Jeunesse au pouvoir) – a competitive bursary program that finances youth-led projects across sectors such as education, mental health, entrepreneurship, the arts and civic engagement. The program operates with formal calls for applications, peer assessment by a youth council, disbursement of grant funds and structured mid-term and final reporting.
- 4th Wall – the Foundation’s flagship arts program, which offers selected young artists aged roughly 17–30 mentorship, institutional partnerships with major museums and galleries, and financial assistance to create artworks that address social issues affecting them and their communities.
- Creative Youth Entrepreneurship Program – a six-week pilot program providing training and capacity-building for young creatives who wish to develop entrepreneurial skills and viable ventures, often connected to their artistic or social impact practice.
- Past bursaries and community art grants – earlier programs such as Young Cultural Entrepreneurs and Community Art Projects offered funding, training and mentoring to young Canadian creators using the arts as tools for social change, supported by financial partners from the banking sector.
General approach and impact
The Foundation’s funding model blends financial grants, bursaries, travel support and in-kind resources like mentorship, training and networking opportunities. For example, recent cohorts of Power of Youth have channeled more than $150,000 in community project grants and over $25,000 in travel support so that young recipients can participate in the National Black Canadians Summit.
Across its programs, the Foundation emphasizes active citizenship, innovation and creativity, dialogue and inclusion, and social responsibility. Eligible participants are generally young people in Canada, particularly those facing racialization, exclusion or economic disadvantage, who use arts and creativity to tackle issues such as racism, discrimination, mental health, community cohesion and youth leadership.
Governance, history and reporting
The Michaëlle Jean Foundation was created following the tenure of Canada’s 27th Governor General, Michaëlle Jean, reflecting her and Jean-Daniel Lafond’s long-standing commitment to investing in youth, the arts and civic participation. The organization publishes detailed annual reports that present its activities, financial support, partnerships and outcomes year by year, providing transparency on its grant-making and program delivery.
Through a diverse team, a board of directors and numerous institutional and community partnerships, the Foundation continues to expand opportunities for young people to lead transformative projects, advocate for justice and build more inclusive communities across Canada.