Black-Led Climate Action Grants

The Black-Led Climate Action Grants program is a new program from Environment, Climate and Forestry, aimed to support climate action by and for Black communities in Toronto. It was approved as part of the City’s 2025 Carbon Budget and TransformTO Net Zero Action Plan: Action 16.4: Develop and implement a Black-led climate action grants program. The program was established to improve equitable access to climate funding in Toronto. Across Toronto, Black communities disproportionately experience many of the social, economic and environmental factors that increase vulnerability to climate impacts while also facing barriers to accessing funding and resources that support climate action. 

The program was developed through an extensive community co-design process between January and June 2026. This process included community co-design workshop sessions, key informant interviews, internal and external stakeholder consultation, and written submissions.  This engagement helped to identify key principles for the program, including accessibility, community leadership, capacity-building, mentorship, cultural relevance and long-term sustainability. Community leaders emphasized that Black communities are already leading climate-related work but often face barriers such as limited funding, organizational capacity and access to support networks.

Community input directly shaped the final program design, including the use of a Community Review Committee, flexible reporting approaches, mentorship and partnership requirements, a broad and holistic definition of climate action, and the adoption of a three-stream funding model focused on supporting Black-led, Black-serving and Black-mandated groups and organizations (B3).

Eligible Groups

All groups must identify as Black-led, Black-serving, Black-mandated (B3) and demonstrate a commitment to Afrocentric principles, practices, values and ways of working. Examples may include leadership and governance, hiring practices, program delivery approaches, partnerships, community relationships and accountability to Black communities.

B3 Organization or Group (All Funding Streams)

B3 groups are:

• Black-led (Governance): Led by a majority of members, staff and/or board members who self-identify as Black or of African descent
• Black-serving (Population): Primarily serves Toronto’s diverse Black communities
• Black-mandated (Mission): Mandate that explicitly states that they serve Black communities and are grounded in Black/African-centered approaches across services and programs

Grassroots Groups (Funding Stream 1)

• Groups must have at least three members
• Groups must either work through a trustee or a formal partnership with an eligible not-for-profit organization applying to the Black-Led Climate Action Grants program. See trustee requirements.
• Partnerships with a trustee or registered B3 not-for-profit should emphasize mentorship, capacity-building and shared learning.

Not-for-Profit Organizations (Funding Streams 2 and 3)

• Registered B3 not-for-profit organizations do not need to utilize a trustee, provided the requirements listed for trustees are met.
• For Funding Stream 3, priority will be given to collaborative projects that include no-fee trusteeship, mentorship, support or partnership arrangements with grassroots, resident-led or youth-led organizations that have also applied for Funding Steam 1.

All Funded Groups Must

• Sign the Declaration of Compliance of Anti-Harassment/Discrimination City Policy
• Review and acknowledge the City of Toronto Guide to Political Activities for City Funded Groups and sign a corresponding document to acknowledge the policy.

Who Cannot Apply

• Groups with less than three members
• Individuals or for-profit businesses
• Religious organizations without clear separation of community services
• Political parties
• Grant-making organizations
• Industry or trade associations
• Organizations mandated by other levels of government
• Landlord/tenant or condo corporations

The application for Black-Led Climate Action Grants will be open from August 26 to October 2, 2026 at 5 p.m.

Key Dates

• Applications open: August 26, 2026
• Information sessions: August 19, 2026 from noon to 1 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m.
• Applications close: October 2, 2026 at 5 p.m.
• Application review: October to November 2026
• Applicants notified: December 2026

Timeline is subject to change.

Steps to Apply

1. Develop a new or enhanced project plan
2. Attend an information session or consult City staff for feedback
3. Prepare application in response to application questions (posted August 26, 2026)
4. Procure all necessary documentation (i.e. B3 documentation, letters of support from project partners, complete project budget, proof of in-kind support, etc.)
5. Submit application via the Application Portal (opens August 26, 2026)

Accessibility support is available (alternate formats, interpreters, off-hour meetings). Please contact Evan.Artis@toronto.ca for more information.

Review of Applications

Applications will be screened for eligibility by City of Toronto staff. Applications that are determined to be eligible will be further assessed by a Community Review Committee made up of local community and climate action leaders. Final recommendations for funding will be approved by the Executive Director of the Environment, Climate and Forestry Division.

The Community Review Committee will assess proposals based on the following criteria.

Core Requirements

• Does the group or organization fulfill the B3 requirement?
• Does the project serve the Black community?
• Does the group or organization appear to have the ability to carry out the project?

Project Strength

• How clear is the goal of the project?
• Is there a good rationale for the project?
• Does the project address a community need?
• How well do the proposed activities support the project’s overall goal?

Technical Merit

• Is the grant application clear and detailed?
• How clear and realistic are the steps of the project?
• How clear and realistic is the budget?

Community Engagement

• Does the application demonstrate that the project would be valuable to Black communities?
• How detailed is the plan to support the Black community?
• Does the project include other Black community members, initiatives or organizations?
• Does the project have a location that is accessible to Black community members?

Example Projects

• Climate education and awareness programs including workshops, public events, environmental literacy campaigns and climate knowledge-sharing rooted in Black histories, cultures and lived experiences
• Youth climate leadership projects such as youth mentorship programs, leadership training, environmental stewardship activities, climate camps and youth-led climate action campaigns
• Climate health and wellness initiatives that improve access to green spaces, promote nature-based wellness, address extreme heat or support mental and physical health through environmental programming
• Community resilience and climate adaptation projects that help Black communities prepare for climate impacts such as heat waves, flooding or other climate-related risks
• Waste reduction and circular economy programs such as repair cafés, community composting, reuse initiatives and sustainable consumption projects
• Land-based learning and cultural programming that connect climate action, environmental stewardship, cultural identity, community knowledge and Afrocentric approaches to sustainability

Hosting Events

Depending on the nature of the proposal, applicants may be required to secure insurance. Please consider this when preparing your project budget.

• Applicants will be expected to inform both staff and your respective city councillor about all public facing events with at least two weeks’ notice.
• Applicants can access space in community centres and libraries free of charge if requesting space within regular operating hours. Eight weeks’ notice should be provided. Visit the links below to see available locations.
  • Toronto Public Library Community Rooms
  • Community and Recreation Centres
• If your proposal involves organizing an event in a park you may need to secure a permit from Parks and Recreation based on the following criteria:
  • Bookings are required for all gatherings with more than 25 people
  • Outdoor event permit rates are based on projected attendance
  • Set-up and clean-up fees may be applied; a damage deposit may be required for larger events
  • For more information, visit Booking Fees for Social Gatherings
  • If your event includes: the sale or service of alcohol, serving food to the public, amplified sound (speakers, megaphone), structures or other more complicated elements, submit a Special Event Booking

For support in developing your project budget please contact Evan.Artis@toronto.ca.

Below is a list of expenses that are eligible and ineligible. Please note that only expenses that are deemed reasonable and necessary to the success of the project will be approved.

When sourcing goods and services for your grant projects, please prioritize hiring Black, Indigenous and equity-deserving staff, consultants, labourers, interpreters and translators, and supporting Black, Indigenous and equity-deserving businesses for eligible purchases. Additionally, please support Canadian-owned businesses and suppliers whenever possible.

Project Reporting

Groups are required to report at multiple stages over the course of the project and in the following ways:

• An overview of the project process, findings and benefits of the project in a format that suits the needs and capability of the group and project. Staff will provide more information and guidance on the types of project reporting that are available.
• Submit an expense summary and a reporting verification document once the project is completed.
• Evaluation on the impact of the project. Staff will provide more information and guidance on this evaluation.

What is a Trustee?

A trustee is an incorporated not-for-profit organization with audited financial statements and the financial systems in place to administer grant funds.

A trustee will distribute the funding according to the approved project budget. Trustees may also provide additional support to funded projects such as project management and mentorship. Not-for-profit applicants in Streams 2 and 3 can act as their own trustee, provided they fulfill all the requirements listed below. Applicants in Steam 3 who meet the below criteria can partner with applicants in Steam 1 to act as a no-fee trustee. Partnerships should be created before applying.

Eligible Trustee Organizations

Trustee organizations must meet all of the following eligibility criteria and be approved by City staff to act as your trustee:

• Agree to take responsibility for the management of financial and project activities proposed by the applicant organization; and
• Report on the use of grant funds to the City and maintain documentation for audit purposes
• Be an incorporated not-for-profit organization with recent audited financial statements
• Demonstrate effective management and administrative capacity
• Be based in the city of Toronto (head office must be located in Toronto and a majority of programs and services are located in Toronto) or be an urban off-reserve Indigenous-led organization
• Have existed for at least one year
• Be in good standing with the City of Toronto (up to date on all requirements for City funds the organization may have received in the past)
• Collaborate with other service providers and community groups
• Demonstrate a clear separation between religious and community service functions (if religious activities are provided by the organization)
• Comply with the City of Toronto Anti-Racism, Access and Equity Policy
• Have a service mandate related to the funded project

Roles and Expectations of the Trustee

The trustee organization:

• Holds financial authority and a position of trust and responsibility for the project grant funds
• Maintains proper fiscal oversight including using their existing financial systems and policies when dispersing the grant funds to your group (i.e. petty cash disbursements, honoraria, invoice payment, expense reimbursements, etc.)
• Has overall legal responsibility for the grant funds
• Provides assurance that all funding received will be spent only for the purposes outlined in the Trustee Agreement and in the Letter of Understanding and according to the approved project budget
• Acts as the project’s financial and administrative manager for the duration of your project
• Ensures compliance with accountability and legislative requirements
• Host regional gathering(s) for trusteed groups and/or co-host with City larger networking events for grantees (or interested applicants)
• Provide administrative support such as help with paperwork, contracts, reporting and setting up basic processes to support the project
• Provide capacity support such as coaching on budgeting or financial planning, connecting grantees to additional resources, and
• Signs the Letter of Understanding issued by the City with the grant recipient group. The Letter of Understanding outlines the terms and conditions of the grant funding.

Trustee Fees

Trustee organizations may charge fees for their services. Fees of up to 20 per cent of the total project funding are eligible for funding.