We are in an unignorable and overdue moment of change. Society is reflecting on how we will deepen our collective responsibility towards advancing racial justice and building equality. The work involves listening and learning in order to act. For philanthropists it also means understanding how to respond with your donations urgently and in the long-run. You can get started with the Black and Indigenous led and serving organizations listed below. They are doing the heavy lifting to dismantle racism in a variety of ways. They are also past and present recipients of Toronto Foundation grants.
Additionally, use these guiding principles to help you go deeper with using your philanthropy to advance racial justice:
- Give to grassroots organizations: Though often overlooked they are where movements for change emerge from and they advocate for voices from the communities they serve to be heard in creating solutions. This is how you create effective and sustainable change. Many of the grantees listed below are grassroots organizations and small-to-medium sized nonprofits.
- Give to Black and Indigenous serving organizations: Statistics show that Black and Indigenous people disproportionately experience systemic discrimination, even compared to other marginalized groups. Any work towards equality must address the needs of these groups. Also, representation in leadership matters a lot. It sends a powerful message of whatâs possible and ensures that the work will be delivered in a culturally-relevant and appropriate way.
- Get connected: The new philanthropy is about getting informed to take action. Learn from and build relationships with leaders and organizations doing the work to advance racial justice. Use your platform, networks, and influence to speak up and raise awareness.
- Life-long commitment: Being an ally is about the long road. We know you're motivated to get started but remember that the movement needs your ongoing commitment. We hope you'll continue to learn, build your relationships and give now and into the future. We too continue to work towards deeper understanding and connections with Black and Indigenous communities to improve how we leverage philanthropy.