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- The Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program’s 2026 Anti-Racism Call is open from October 8 at 8:00 a.m. ET through November 12, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. ET.
- Eligible applicants include Canadian nonprofits, Indigenous organizations, public institutions, governments, and certain agencies working on projects that address systemic racism and discrimination.
- Applicants must request the official package, submit a complete email application, and show clear objectives, measurable results, a balanced budget, and a realistic plan.
What the Canadian Anti-Racism Projects Funding 2026 call supports
Canada’s 2026 Anti-Racism Call is a funding opportunity under the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program. It supports collaborative projects that address systemic racism and discrimination while improving inclusion and equitable access within Canadian organizations and institutions.
The call is currently open. Applications are accepted from October 8, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time, until November 12, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The deadline is firm, so organizations should allow time to request the application package, collect signatures, check attachments, and send the completed package by email.
Projects should contribute to one or more expected results, such as stronger support for communities experiencing racism, better data and research about equity-deserving communities, improved responses to incidents of racism, or greater awareness of systemic racism and religious discrimination.
The call also gives priority to projects that strengthen social cohesion and a shared sense of belonging in Canada, or that improve the availability and use of data and evidence for community-led solutions.
Read the official Anti-Racism Call application guidelines
Who can apply?
The program is intended for Canadian organizations and institutions. A U.S.-based organization cannot apply simply because its project serves people in Canada; the applicant must fall within one of the eligible Canadian categories.
Eligible applicants include:
- Canadian not-for-profit organizations, associations, and unincorporated groups
- Non-federal Canadian public institutions, including schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, health care institutions, boards of education, chambers of commerce, and police agencies
- Provincial, territorial, regional, and municipal governments and their agencies
- Indigenous not-for-profit organizations representing First Nations, Inuit, or Métis communities
- Indigenous governments, band councils, and tribal councils
Eligibility applies to the applicant, the proposed project, and the expenses in the budget. Canadian Heritage makes the final determination, and the program is competitive. Meeting the basic eligibility requirements does not guarantee an award.
Who may be excluded
An organization may be ineligible if it discriminates contrary to applicable law, advocates intolerance or prejudice, supports offensive content or discourse, or undermines the values of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Canadian Human Rights Act, or Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy.
What kinds of projects fit the call?
A strong proposal needs to connect its activities to the Anti-Racism Call’s objective and at least one expected result. Simply describing a worthwhile community activity is not enough; the application should explain the systemic problem, the people affected, the proposed response, and how progress will be measured.
Examples of potentially eligible activities include:
- Research, surveys, consultations, and evidence-based reports
- New learning materials, training sessions, tools, or educational resources
- Mentorship, internship, leadership, and volunteer initiatives
- Partnership and network development
- Workshops, meetings, and knowledge-sharing activities
- Websites that improve access to anti-racism data and resources
- New policies, programs, or services that respond to diversity and discrimination
- Communications plans that help organizations respond to discrimination on social media
The proposal should show a sustainable benefit rather than a one-time activity with no clear follow-up. For example, a project could create a community-led research product, train staff who will continue using a new practice, or develop a policy that changes how an institution responds to systemic barriers.
How much funding is available?
The maximum amount payable is $1 million per recipient per project. However, Canadian Heritage says it expects to allocate up to approximately $300,000 per project, depending on the number and quality of eligible applications and the funds available.
The call supports projects lasting up to one fiscal year. An approved project can start no earlier than April 1, 2027, and must end by March 31, 2028.
Government assistance from this call and other federal, provincial, territorial, or municipal sources cannot exceed 100% of total eligible project-related expenses. A balanced budget is required, and additional funding from the organization, private sources, or other governments may strengthen the project’s financial plan.
Do not begin spending because you expect approval. Expenses incurred before written confirmation of funding are made at the applicant’s own risk.
What to prepare before applying
Canadian Heritage requires a complete application package. Incomplete applications will be rejected, so it helps to build a document checklist before writing the final email.
| Applicant type | Documents to prepare |
|---|---|
| All applicants | Signed application form, signed Declaration/Attestation, balanced budget using the program template, and most recent financial statements |
| Incorporated organizations | Letters patent and incorporation documents, current Board of Directors list, and bylaws |
| Unincorporated groups | Articles of association or Terms of Reference, plus a signed Unincorporated Applicant Acceptance of Liability form |
| Organizations with partners | Letters of support explaining each partner’s financial, time, or expert contribution, when available |
The budget should have no surplus or deficit. Every major cost should connect to a specific activity, and the requested amount should look reasonable for the project’s scale, audience, timeline, and expected results.
How to apply for the 2026 Anti-Racism Call
The application process is handled by email rather than through a general online submission button. First, read the full guidelines and contact Canadian Heritage to receive the application package. Then complete, sign, and date the form, attach the supporting documents, and send the complete package to the program’s official funding email address.
Contact Canadian Heritage to request the application package- Review the eligibility rules and project priorities.
- Contact the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program to request the application package.
- Write a project plan with a clear need, activities, target participants, partners, timeline, and measurable results.
- Complete the official budget template and make sure revenue equals expenses.
- Gather the required legal, governance, financial, and partner documents.
- Obtain signatures from someone with signing authority for the organization.
- Send all documents as email attachments no later than 4:00 p.m. ET on November 12, 2026.
Canadian Heritage does not accept application forms, budgets, or other required documents through file-sharing services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, Box, or WeTransfer. Scanned handwritten signatures and accepted digital signatures are allowed, but typed names without a proper signature are not enough.
How applications are evaluated
Reviewers compare eligible proposals with one another and prioritize projects based on the available funding. The strongest applications usually make the connection between the problem, the activities, and the expected results easy to follow.
Your proposal should explain:
- Why the project is needed and what evidence supports that need
- How affected communities and stakeholders will participate in designing or delivering the work
- What each activity will produce or change
- How the project will reach its intended participants
- How results will be measured realistically
- Why the budget is reasonable and the organization can deliver the project on time
- How the project supports social cohesion, evidence, or both when relevant
A previous failure to comply with the conditions of an earlier funded project may affect a new application. Organizations should also be ready to report on the project and retain records if funding is approved.
What happens after submission?
Canadian Heritage says it will acknowledge receipt within two weeks of receiving the application. If no acknowledgment arrives by the end of the second week, contact the program rather than automatically resending the application.
An acknowledgment does not mean the application is approved. Funding decisions depend on eligibility, the quality and relevance of the proposal, the budget, competing applications, and available resources. If selected, the organization may receive funding through a grant or contribution agreement and will have reporting obligations. Contributions of $250,000 or more per fiscal year require an audited financial report.
Recipients must publicly acknowledge Government of Canada support in English and French, follow workplace well-being requirements, and comply with any additional conditions in the funding agreement.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Submitting a general diversity event without explaining how it addresses systemic racism or discrimination
- Requesting costs that are not clearly tied to project activities
- Sending an unbalanced budget
- Leaving out signatures or required organizational documents
- Using a file-sharing link instead of attaching the documents to the email
- Starting project spending before written funding approval
- Assuming eligibility means the organization will receive funding
- Waiting until the deadline day to request the application package or resolve a technical problem
The safest next step is to read the official guidelines now, contact Canadian Heritage for the application package, and work backward from the November 12 deadline. Keep a copy of the sent email and attachments so your organization can confirm exactly what was submitted.
Helpful Links
- Application Guidelines — Projects Component, Anti-Racism Call – Review the official objective, eligibility rules, funding limits, required documents, evaluation criteria, and submission instructions.
- Projects Component — Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program – Check the current status of the Anti-Racism Call, intake dates, program contact information, and related guidance.
- Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program – Learn how the Projects component fits within Canadian Heritage’s broader funding program and review related resources.
- Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy 2024–2028 – Review the federal strategy referenced in the program’s eligibility and funding conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can a U.S. nonprofit apply for Canada’s 2026 Anti-Racism Call?
A. No. The eligible applicant categories are Canadian organizations, institutions, governments, Indigenous organizations, and Indigenous governments. A U.S. organization would need to work through an eligible Canadian applicant if the arrangement meets the program’s rules.
Q. Is the funding a guaranteed grant if an organization meets the eligibility rules?
A. No. The call is highly competitive, and Canadian Heritage says that submitting an eligible application does not guarantee funding. Proposals are compared with other applications and prioritized according to available resources.
Q. Can a project start before April 1, 2027?
A. The call is for projects with a start date no earlier than April 1, 2027. Spending before written confirmation of approval is at the organization’s own risk and should not be treated as reimbursable.
Q. How many applications can one organization submit?
A. An organization can submit only one application to the Projects component’s 2026 Anti-Racism Call.
