Closed
CED — Black Entrepreneurship Program
Supports Black-led NPOs delivering business support services
Record updated
- Funding available
- $ 100,000
- Up to 90% of project cost
- Deadline
- Unspecified
- Location
- Quebec, Canada
- Who can apply
- Black-led not-for-profit organizations providing business support services
- See full eligibility
Overview
Provides up to $3,000,000 over four years (up to $750,000/year) to support Black-led, not-for-profit organizations in Quebec. Funding supports activities such as incubation/acceleration, mentorship, networking, training, outreach, and capacity building to strengthen the Black entrepreneurship ecosystem.
At a glance
Funding available
- Minimum funding
- $100,000
- Maximum share of project costs
- 90%
- Increase social or community impact
- Improve governance or administrative structure
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop workforce skills
- Strengthen organizational capacity
- Raise awareness or mobilize a population
Eligible candidates
- Location
- Quebec
- Eligible Industries
- All industries
- Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
- Organisation size
- All organization sizes
- Audience
- Language Minorities
- Black Canadians
- Canadians
- Women
- Legal structures
- Non-profit
Receipt of requests is now closed
Get notified about updates to this grant.
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 1
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Black-led not-for-profit organizations providing business support services
Who is not eligible
- For-profit businesses
- Organizations not registered in the Registre des entreprises du Québec (REQ)
- Organizations not operating in Quebec
- Organizations that are not Black-led (less than two-thirds Black leadership/governance)
Eligible expenses
- Wages associated with eligible activities
- Consulting fees
- Travel expenses
- Other project delivery costs directly related to eligible activities
- Overhead costs (e.g., rent, telecom, utilities, insurance) up to 15% of total project costs
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Establishment of a fund to finance business projects
- Debt refinancing
- Amortization costs
- Purchase of assets above fair market value
- Non-essential costs not directly related to the project
Eligible geographic areas
- Quebec
Activities funded
- Incubation and acceleration programs for Black-led businesses
- Business consulting and support services
- Strategy development (studies, assessments, action plans)
- Networking activities and business contacts
- Mentoring and managerial capacity development initiatives
How to apply
- Step 1: Confirm authorized submission
- Ensure the application is completed and submitted by the organization’s authorized person (signing authority).
- Step 2: Prepare application package
- Complete the application form.
- Compile the organization’s financial statements and annual reports for the previous two years.
- Prepare the project proposal addressing the call’s evaluation criteria, including required supporting information (e.g., positioning, partnerships, geographic coverage, planned activities, timeline, performance indicators, financing package, forecasts).
- Include CVs (1 page each) of management team members and, if applicable, five mentors.
- Step 3: Submit documents by email
- Send the required documents to the email address indicated in the application form.
Documents Needed
- Completed application form (submitted by the signing authority/authorized person)
- Financial statements for the previous two years
- Annual reports for the previous two years
- Project proposal (max 10 pages, excluding appendices)
- CVs (1 page each) for management team members and, if applicable, five mentors
Selection criteria
- Contribution to the BEP Ecosystem Fund objective and expected results / anticipated economic impacts for businesses
- Organizational capacity and performance
- Complementarity and collaboration with the entrepreneurial ecosystem
- Reasonableness of the costs and relevance of the financing package
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed through a competitive evaluation process.
- Applications must include all required information to be considered (incomplete or late files are not considered).
- CED may request additional information from applicants at any time during the evaluation.
- CED may approve an amount different from the amount requested.
- If approved, eligible costs can start from April 1, 2026 (costs incurred before this date are not eligible).
Additional information
- This call for projects is competitive; meeting requirements does not guarantee funding due to budget availability and proposal volume.
- Incomplete or late applications will not be considered; applicants may be asked to provide additional information during the evaluation.
- As Phase 2, applicants are expected to demonstrate unique positioning, expertise, and added value within Quebec’s Black entrepreneurship support ecosystem.
- Ability to deliver services in both official languages is considered an asset.
Official sources
Frequently Asked Questions about the CED — Black Entrepreneurship Program Program
What is the CED — Black Entrepreneurship Program?
Provides up to $3,000,000 over four years (up to $750,000/year) to support Black-led, not-for-profit organizations in Quebec. Funding supports activities such as incubation/acceleration, mentorship, networking, training, outreach, and capacity building to strengthen the Black entrepreneurship ecosystem.
How much funding can be received?
CED — Black Entrepreneurship Program Funds up to 90% of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the CED — Black Entrepreneurship Program program?
To be eligible for the CED — Black Entrepreneurship Program program, you must:
Quebec NPO registered in the REQ
Black-led leadership and governance (≥ two-thirds)
At least 1 year providing business support services
What expenses are eligible under CED — Black Entrepreneurship Program?
Wages associated with eligible activities
Consulting fees
Travel expenses
Other project delivery costs directly related to eligible activities
Overhead costs (e.g., rent, telecom, utilities, insurance) up to 15% of total project costs
Who can I contact for more information about the CED — Black Entrepreneurship Program?
You can contact Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED).
Where is the CED — Black Entrepreneurship Program available?
The CED — Black Entrepreneurship Program program is available the province of Quebec.
Is the CED — Black Entrepreneurship Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?
CED — Black Entrepreneurship Program is a Grant and Funding