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Racial Equity Fund

Racial equity and social infrastructure funding

Offered by

Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF)

Official source: wrcf.ca

Source change captured July 31, 2026

Funding available: $ 5,000 - $ 30,000
Deadline: Unspecified
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Who can apply: Registered charitable organizations; See full eligibility

Overview

The WRCF Racial Equity Grants support organizations in Waterloo Region that are led by Indigenous, Black, or people of colour. In 2026, approximately $250,000 is available for activities that strengthen social infrastructure and advance racial equity.

At a glance

Funding available

Maximum funding: $30,000
Minimum funding: $5,000

Financing goals

Develop strategic partnerships
Develop a new program or service
Increase social or community impact
Enhance an existing program
Strengthen organizational capacity
Reach a new target audience
Raise awareness or mobilize a population
Renovate or expand facilities
Renovate or adapt facilities

Eligible candidates

Location: Waterloo
Ontario
Eligible Industries: All industries
Annual revenue: All revenue ranges
Organisation size: All organization sizes
Audience: Indigenous Peoples
Other Racialized Persons
Black Canadians
Legal structures: Non-profit

Non-profit candidates

Sector of operation: Social Services, Civic and Advocacy Organizations, Grant-making Foundations, Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups: Indigenous peoples, Minority groups
Scope: Regional

Receipt of requests is now closed

Get notified about updates to this grant.

Availability timeline

2026

Periods: 3

Latest changes

July 31, 2026

Racial Equity Grants guidelines added

The Racial Equity Grants content now includes the 2026 Application Guidelines, adding more detailed eligibility, application process, and review information.

The Racial Equity Grants content now includes the WRCF 2026 Racial Equity Grants Guidelines, which adds a full guideline document alongside the grant overview. This material expands the published eligibility criteria, application steps, review process, tips for applicants, evaluation information, and contact details for the program. The guideline document also surfaces the key dates section and the eligible and ineligible expenses section, so applicants now have more complete instructions in one place.

Official source: wrcf.ca

July 31, 2026

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

Registered charitable organizations
Qualified donees recognized by Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Nonprofit organizations working with a Charitable Partner that is a registered charitable organization or qualified donee
Grassroots organizations without a Charitable Partner

Who is not eligible

Municipalities
Hospitals
Organizations that operate as a school, including private and public elementary, secondary, or post-secondary schools

Eligible expenses

People costs (wages, consulting fees, support to staff, etc.)
Capital costs including space adaptation, equipment purchase, space rental, leasing, and maintenance
Materials and supplies
Administration costs, technology costs, printing and communication
Community outreach and engagement, other activity-related expenses

Ineligible Costs and Activities

Fundraising expenses, including gifts, prizes, and awards
Funding to individuals
Endowment requests or deficit reductions
Political or religious activities
Research, software development, or activities outside of Waterloo Region

Eligible geographic areas

Waterloo Region
Cambridge
Kitchener
North Dumfries
Waterloo
Wellesley
Wilmot
Woolwich

Activities funded

Developing, enhancing, or reinforcing activities that bring people together around shared interests and identities in spaces that are publicly accessible
Create opportunities for meaningful interactions within groups of shared identities
Leverage programming between two or more organizations that introduces people to new opportunities, skills, and members of the broader community
Establish or reinforce a network between organizations to increase the level of programming offered overall in community; share resources to augment services; or deliver a wider range of options for people to connect, learn, or have fun together
Support the enhancement of a shared space that is used by more than one organization with the ability for the enhancement to be linked directly to increased usage

How to apply

Step 1: Review the guidelines and supporting materials
- Read the grant guidelines and application questions.
- Review the budget template and evaluation report requirements.
Step 2: Prepare required information
- Gather organizational details and financial documents.
- Prepare the activity description, budget, and any charitable partner information if applicable.
Step 3: Complete the application
- Fill out the online application form on the WRCF Racial Equity Grants page.
- Request a verbal application or translation support by email if needed.
Step 4: Submit before the deadline
- Submit the completed application and required documents before the closing date.

Documents Needed

Most recent Financial Statement for your organization
Budget for the activity
If you are working with a Charitable Partner: Financial Statement of the Charitable Partner
If you are working with a Charitable Partner: Charitable Partnership Agreement form (signed and completed)

Selection criteria

Alignment with the Grant Guidelines
Link to social infrastructure in Waterloo Region clearly articulated
Activity clearly demonstrates equity and inclusivity, and includes the contributions of the people being served
Goals of the activity and impact on participants and community are clearly articulated and presented
Clear, accurate budget that defines what the funds will be used for

Processing and Agreement

All applications must be complete, including all required documents, and submitted by the due date: March 30, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.
Any applications that are incomplete or submitted after the due date will not be considered.
Once funding decisions have been made, a member of WRCF staff will call all grant applicants to notify organizations of the grant results.
If you receive a grant, you will be required to complete a short grant evaluation report that tells us how you used the funds, and the impact you had. The final report is due by September 30, 2027.

Additional information

The City of Waterloo is partnering with WRCF in 2026 and is contributing funding

Contacts

grants@wrcf.ca

519-725-1806 x 206

Official sources

Racial Equity Fund - Waterloo Region Community Foundation

Frequently Asked Questions about the Racial Equity Fund Program

What is the Racial Equity Fund?

How much funding can be received?

Racial Equity Fund Funds up to $30,000 of admissible expenses.

Who is eligible for the Racial Equity Fund program?

To be eligible for the Racial Equity Fund program, you must: Based in Waterloo Region and focused on providing services for racialized communities in Waterloo Region Majority of leadership must self-identify as Indigenous, Black, or people of colour Grassroots organizations without a Charitable Partner must have been providing services to community for more than a year

What expenses are eligible under Racial Equity Fund?

People costs (wages, consulting fees, support to staff, etc.) Capital costs including space adaptation, equipment purchase, space rental, leasing, and maintenance Materials and supplies Administration costs, technology costs, printing and communication Community outreach and engagement, other activity-related expenses

Who can I contact for more information about the Racial Equity Fund?

You can contact Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) by email at grants@wrcf.ca or by phone at 519-725-1806 x 206.

Where is the Racial Equity Fund available?

The Racial Equity Fund program is available the province of Ontario.

Is the Racial Equity Fund a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Racial Equity Fund is a Grant and Funding

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