Catherine Donnelly Foundation Spring 2023 grants support 15 organizations with $630,000 in funds

June 2023

Spring 2023 grants from the Catherine Donnelly Foundation support bold initiatives offering transformative solutions that promote civic action, climate justice, the rights of tenants and access to housing

Preserving our environment, engaging individuals – especially those often-ignored communities – in civic participation and guaranteeing safe and secure housing are requirements for a prosperous, sustainable and equitable country, yet these necessities are threatened by political inaction, growing public apathy and unchecked capitalism.

Despite those risks there are visible expressions of new approaches, new coalitions, and renewed energy to tackle inclusive solutions to build a green, fair and dignified society. That’s why we are especially pleased to fund 16 bold initiatives in the areas of adult education and civic engagement, the environment and housing and homelessness in the second quarter of 2023.

Adult education and civic engagement funding is focused on fostering active citizenship, democracy and personal and social transformation to promote a more inclusive, just and sustainable society. Equity-deserving groups are historically underserved by philanthropy and remedying that injustice must be a priority.

In Sudbury, ON, Afro Women and Youth Foundation’s BIPOC Stories4Change project aims to promote active citizenship, self-advocacy and amplifying the voices of women who are Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC). The BUILD Program by Montreal’s Apathy is Boring, meanwhile, offers experiential learning for young adults to equip them with civic knowledge, skills and networks to advocate for institutional change beyond the ballot box.

In Housing, new grants support policies and approaches to remedy Canada’s homelessness crisis and assess and respond to the financialization of housing, a structural change in our markets which is changing homes from a place to live to a financial asset and tool for investor profits. In particular, the Foundation has sought to support the rights and security of tenants in this round of funding.

Ottawa’s OMRA has received funds to document and share how their model of rent subsidies over a targeted period can help low-income families to work toward financial independence without the threat of homelessness, while The Toronto Shelter Network is examining how to re-invest the resources used to operate Toronto’s shelter system to offer more effective and dignified emergency shelter and supportive housing.

Applications were closed for the Environment stream, but the Foundation funded a small number of grants and provided a three-year $150,000 grant to Edmonton’s Indigenous Climate Action to support the capacity of Indigenous communities to participate in decision-making and actions for climate justice in Canada in its role as an Indigenous movement serving organization. The commitment to ICA is an example of how the Foundation is prioritizing greater support for grantees with multi-year funding, less administration and greater collaboration.

Overall, the grants affirm our all-encompassing commitment to social change and empowering equity-seeking groups. “Addressing our most critical social, economic and environmental problems in a just and sustainable manner requires giving everyone a voice and an opportunity to actively participate in creating solutions,” says Claire Barcik, Executive Director of the Catherine Donnelly Foundation. “We’re excited to support so many organizations that intentionally pursue diversity, equity and inclusion through their work.”

Find a complete list of Spring 2023 grants below.

The Catherine Donnelly Foundation is now accepting letters of interest for our Fall grants. Organizations are invited to apply for the civic engagement, housing and environment streams by July 7, 2023. For granting guidelines, visit www.catherinedonnellyfoundation.org. We are committed to reducing barriers to grant applications and willingly work with organizations to accept proposals if issues arise.

ADULT EDUCATION

Afro Women and Youth Foundation • BIPOC Stories4Change • Sudbury, ON • $22,250

BIPOC Stories4Change aims to promote active citizenship, self-advocacy, and social change and amplify the voices of women who are Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC). The project details forms of oppression and actions racialized women can take to change their communities. BIPOC Stories4Change will build an understanding of the value of lived experience and teach participants how to create digital stories. The Afro Women and Youth Foundation hopes the initiative will further strengthen their anti-racist work and foster an equitable society in Sudbury.

Apathy is Boring • The BUILD Program • Montreal, QC • $30,000

Civic education for young adults is a core pillar of Apathy is Boring’s mission to strengthen Canada’s democracy. The BUILD Program offers immersive, experiential learning for young adults across Canada aged 18-30 to equip them with advanced and actionable civic knowledge, skills and networks to advocate for institutional change beyond the ballot box. Reducing poverty, anti-racism and other issues that combat forms of exclusion and oppression will be examined. At the end of 14 weeks, no fewer than 20 participants will deepen their understanding of Canada’s democratic systems and be better prepared to engage and advocate for critical issues. Funds from the Foundation will provide resources for participants to convene and develop their networks.

Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario • BIPOC Farmer Network • Guelph, ON • $46,000*

BIPOC Farmer Network seeks to transform Ontario’s sustainable agricultural sector by supporting educational and community building efforts for BlPOC farmers and overcoming land access barriers for new, young, and equity-deserving farmers. EFAO and the National Farmers Union-Ontario will build from previous work funded by CDF to strengthen the Network through gatherings, information sessions and engaging members in land-access related policy development and education. These interconnected efforts will strengthen the capacities and skills of BIPOC farmers to build resilient ecological farms and communities that mitigate climate change while promoting climate and social justice.

*Funds were provided by CDF’s Adult Education ($36,000) and Environment ($10,000) committees

Food First NL • Strong Foundations for Lived Experience Engagement • St. John’s, NL • $40,000

Funding supports two interrelated initiatives: Food First NL’s soon-to-launch Lived and Living Experience Advisory Group and the development of an updated and regionalized living wage calculation for Newfoundland and Labrador. This work is the continuation of a previous Foundation grant that helped amplify the voices of those with lived experiences of food insecurity and those who volunteer with or work for food-related programs to encourage new ways of thinking and working.

Institute for Change Leaders • Empowering and Strengthening the Toronto York Region Métis Community • Toronto, ON • $36,985

Institute for Change Leaders and Toronto York Region Métis Community will host a series of workshops to share lived experience, educate, undertake participatory research and develop strategies for direct action to address issues of injustice and social exclusion in the Métis community. Unstructured weekly office hours will support the retention of lessons, provide a platform for group cohesion and discussion and allow for skills practice. Follow-up sessions will empower the ongoing work of participants.

Wahkohtowin Development Corporation • RAD (Restore, Assert, Defend) Indigenous Conservation Finance Network • Chapleau, ON • $36,000

RAD Conservation Finance Network is an indigenous-led collaboration encouraging communities to develop financial literacy and economic pathways to support Indigenous-led conservation and assert authority and responsibility for land care on their territories. Funding will provide technical supports to host monthly Full Moon Network learning events and create short summary videos and newsletters to share promising models and voices in the Indigenous conservation finance space.

HOUSING

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives • Unpacking the Obscure Calculations Behind Above-Guideline Rent Increases • Ottawa, ON • $25,090

In Ontario, landlords can apply to increase rents above set provincial standards to fund specific improvements or repairs, yet it is difficult to evaluate whether these above-guideline increases (AGIs) reflect actual costs or just fund higher profits. This research project will provide tenants and tenant advocates with facts, analysis, insights and tools to evaluate landlords’ AGI applications and successfully challenge them at the Landlord and Tenant Board. The work will directly benefit tenants, paralegals, and lawyers who advocate and negotiate with landlords on behalf of individuals and tenant groups.

OMRA • Shelter Corporation Effectiveness of Portable Rent Subsidies for Low-Income Individuals and Families • Ottawa, ON • $49,579

The project will examine how OMRA’s model of time-limited rent subsidies can enable low-income families to work toward financial independence without the threat of homelessness. Researchers will identify the cost and impact of OMRA subsidies over six years and assess the pre- and post-subsidy status of a sample of supported individuals and families. OMRA has partnered with the Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa, Catholic Centre for Immigrants and Action Logement and research will be made available to other organizations.

Ontario Public Health Association • Mobilizing intersectoral collaboration and grounded expertise toward healthy, safe homes for all • Hamilton, ON • $40,000

Funding supports the Ontario Public Health Association and the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment in their expansion of RentSafe, an initiative that helps low-income tenants address unhealthy housing conditions with the involvement of public health, legal aid clinics, by-law enforcement as well as housing providers and other tenants. This project aims to leverage the position of public health units and professionals across Ontario and increase their role in mobilizing resources and expertise across multiple sectors to improve housing conditions, homelessness prevention and health equity.

St. Matthew’s Non-Profit Housing Inc. • Supporting Successful Tenancy • Winnipeg, MB • $24,000

Supporting Successful Tenancy will help individuals living in Winnipeg who are at high risk of eviction. Assistance is offered through education, case management (peer support and advocacy) as well as connection to community resources. This holistic approach to supporting the overall wellbeing of participants prevents issues that may lead to unsuccessful housing and a loss of tenancy. Funding will be used to support organizational staffing and the tenant employment program.

The Shift • Transforming Policy Responses to Homeless Encampments in Canada • Ottawa, ON • $45,000

This project expands on previous work that created the National Working Group on Homeless Encampments (NWGHE); a group of experts concerned with homelessness that created a Guidance Note on Homeless Encampments that will be presented at an upcoming Big City Mayors Caucus. This phase of the project will focus on expansion of the NWGHE, continued collaboration on solutions and advocacy, development of a new Intergovernmental Framework to Address Homelessness and sharing The Guidance on Homeless Encampments, including encouraging its municipal adoption.

Toronto Shelter Network • Re-Imagining Toronto’s Shelter System Phase 2 – Building Capacity with Local, National and International Collaboration • Toronto, ON • $45,000

In the first phase of this project, supported by CDF, Toronto Shelter Network undertook a series of research and planning activities to help identify feasible and actionable options for re-investing resources used to operate Toronto’s shelter system to offer more dignified emergency shelter and stable and supportive housing. Advocating for the adoption of Housing First principles, TSN will now create a collaboration guide, evaluation tools for sector workers, community members and the public as well as a case study of Dixon Hall’s Bond Hotel evolution from a shelter hotel to transitional and permanent housing.

Environment

Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario • BIPOC Farmer Network • Guelph, ON • $46,000*

BIPOC Farmer Network seeks to transform Ontario’s sustainable agricultural sector by supporting educational and community-building efforts for BlPOC farmers and overcoming land access barriers for new, young, and equity-deserving farmers. EFAO and the National Farmers Union-Ontario will build from previous work funded by CDF to strengthen the Network through gatherings, information sessions and engaging members in land-access-related policy development and education. These interconnected efforts will strengthen the capacities and skills of BIPOC farmers to build resilient ecological farms and communities that mitigate climate change while promoting climate and social justice.

*Funds were provided by CDF’s Adult Education ($36,000) and Environment ($10,000) committees

Environmental Defence Canada • Hands Off the Campaign •Toronto, ON • $25,000

The Ontario government’s plan to develop the Greenbelt, wetlands, forests, and farmland within the Greater Golden Horseshoe region threatens Ontario’s natural environment. Along with Small Change Fund and Alliance for a Livable Ontario, Environmental Defence will build a new partnership to maintain the current boundaries of the Greenbelt, prevent urban sprawl and promote affordable, transit-oriented communities within existing city and town urban boundaries. The partners will work with municipal governments and the federal government, engage with the public and media to raise awareness of these issues and develop research and educational resources on protecting natural environments and promoting sustainable urban development.

Small Change Fund • My Climate Pan • Toronto, ON • $15,000

My Climate Plan is an initiative that aims to move Canadians from awareness of the climate crisis to planning and sustained action. Funding from the Foundation will help field-test their approach to engage urban and suburban newcomer and lower-income communities about their climate action and resilience needs, convene with Indigenous leaders through a series of forums to identify shared priorities and plans for climate resiliency and action, and share learnings that advance climate action.

Multi-year Environment Grants

Indigenous Climate Action • Edmonton, AB • $150,000 ($50,000 a year for three years)

Indigenous Climate Action (ICA) is an Indigenous-led organization guided by a diverse group of Indigenous knowledge keepers, water protectors and land defenders. ICA believes Indigenous Peoples’ rights and knowledge systems are critical to developing climate solutions and they work on connecting and supporting Indigenous communities to achieve climate justice. Specific areas of work include: climate justice education and leadership training that builds the necessary resources and networks for climate action; exploring Indigenous Just Transition strategies and solutions that disrupt current colonial processes; and the strategic disruption of climate policy and solutions through knowledge and perspectives that empower Indigenous peoples to take the lead in climate action.