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Anti-Racism Sponsorship Fund
Apply for up to $250 to support your projects, events, initiatives, research or campaigns that are focused on anti-racism work in the Niagara region. Open from September to August of each year, or until funding is completely used.
Read more about the fund and apply below!
All students and community members primarily residing, working, or going to school in the Niagara Region are welcome to apply. Individuals and organizations can apply for funding, but cannot submit multiple applications for the same project or event.
Projects must fall within the fiscal year in which you are applying (fiscal year runs from September 1 - August 31).
Black people, Indigenous people, people of colour, racialized people, melanated people, and people of the global majority (as individuals)
Campus clubs and community groups led by Black people, Indigenous people, people of colour, racialized people, melanated people, and people of the global majority
Small community groups and organizations with annual budgets under $10,000
Campus clubs and community groups that outline their commitments and action plan for anti-racism
Application from individuals or groups who have not applied before
All applications that do not fall within the groups listed above will be discussed and considered by the OPIRG Brock Board of Directors.
Activities that qualify for funding:
The primary goal/objective for which you are requesting funds must take place within the fiscal period of that year (September-August)
Speaker, facilitator, and artist honorariums
Accessibility measures for events or meetings including but not limited to: dependent care, transit tickets, food for events
Anti-racism policy and action plan development funding
Printing costs related to your project
Supplies for migrant workers
Supplies for supporting communities of Black people, Indigenous people, people of colour, racialized people, melanated people, and people of the global majority
Additional activities listed on applications will be subject to the discretion of the OPIRG Brock Board of Directors.
Activities that do not qualify for funding:
Projects that do not outline a connection to anti-racism work and/or communities of Black people, Indigenous people, people of colour, racialized people, melanated people, and people of the global majority
Voluntourism - Voluntourism is when someone travels to a community far away to volunteer and they benefit from the experience more than those they seek to help.
Projects taking place outside of the Niagara region (some exceptions can be made for this for folks local to Niagara traveling to an event)
Funding an employee or contractor already being paid by your organization
Reimbursement for an expense that has already passed (some exceptions can be made for this subject to discretion of the Board)
If you have any questions, please email communication@opirgbrock.com with
“Anti-Racism Sponsorship Fund Question" in the subject line.
Once you submit the Anti-Racism Sponsorship Fund Application, please email your budget to communication@opirgbrock.com. You can use this budget template (click the doc below to download a .doc version of the template). Alternatively, you can submit your own budget template, as long as it outlines the same information.
The reason we ask for the budget and your other sources of funding is to ensure that the projects we are supporting meeting the guidelines and priorities of this fund, as well as the OPIRG Brock Safer Space Policy. This process also allows our team a more complete understanding of your application, as well as the community partners and sponsors for this event.
Please complete as many sections as possible.
Upon receiving applications and a budget outline, applications will be reviewed by the OPIRG Brock Board of Directors and Staff to determine whether or not funding requirements are met as outlined above.
Applications will be followed up with by the Board of Directors within 2 weeks, with an approval, denial, or a request for more information/clarification. If an application needs further consideration from the Board that will exceed this time frame, applicants will be contacted with a request for more time to come to a decision.
Follow up emails to successful applicants will outline their next steps, as stated below under "Requirements of successful applicants".
Reply to “you have been successful” confirmation email within two (2) weeks of receipt. If you do not reply within two (2) weeks, the allocated funding will return to the fund for another application
Provide legal name and address for the funding cheque. The legal name must match the bank account name that the cheque will be deposited into.
Cash the funding cheque within six months of receipt. Cheques cannot be cashed after the six month marker. If a cheque is not cashed, the applicant will have to contact the OPIRG Brock team to have the cheque re-issued and re-mailed. If a cheque has to be re-issued more than once, the payment will be void.
Follow up with OPIRG Brock on the request for a testimonial if so indicated on the form.
If you indicated that you will be using the OPIRG Brock or logo in your promotional materials, please indicate so on the form and provide digital copies of those materials to OPIRG Brock.
