Foundation for Black Communities (FFBC) is looking for young Black community members and adult allies to join its Grant Advisory Committee to provide guidance on the design and distribution of one of FFBC's forthcoming Youth Grant Program. The focus of the Youth Grant Program will be Youth and Well-being in Ontario.

Who are we looking for?

• Eight (8) Black youth of ages 14-29 from diverse life experiences, gender identities, sexual orientation, immigration status, languages, income levels and youth who identify as having a disability from across Ontario

• Eight (8) adult allies leading and supporting black youth-focused programs and services from across Ontario

What are the roles of the Volunteers?

The community advisors will have opportunities to contribute at different stages of the grantmaking process as listed below. Participants will identify which role/s they’re interested to engage in during the recruitment process and will receive training and support by FFBC staff. There is lots of room to learn and grow in this volunteer position.

• Design: with support from FFBC staff, advisors will get the opportunity to design the youth health and wellness grants based on priorities and needs that matter to Black youth

• Promotion: will assist in promoting the grants in their respective communities to Black-led, Black-serving, and Black-focused organizations

• Grantmaking: will review grant applications and decide which ones receive funding

• Supporting Grant Recipients: with assistance from FFBC staff, advisors will provide support to grant recipients during grantee orientations and networking opportunities

Meetings:

Majority of the work above is done through online meetings hosted over Zoom. Meetings will be held every two weeks for 1–2-hour durations.

Timeline:

The committee will be formed as soon as possible and will be in place until June 30, 2022, and committee members will be consulted if there is a need to extend the end date.

What are the skills and experiences we’re looking for?

• Lived experience and understanding of Black youth’s health and wellness priorities

• Experience in Black youth organizing, grantmaking, youth-focused nonprofit organizations, marketing and communications are assets

• Access to a computer, stable internet connection and ability to use virtual meeting tools (If these are a barrier to your participation, we can discuss support.)

Benefits of volunteering for FFBC:

• Opportunity to guide and inform the granting process of Canada’s first Black-led, serving and mandated philanthropic foundation

• Compensation for time and/or high school and post-secondary course credit

• Opportunities to network and learn new skills and experiences not only in grantmaking but also in teamwork, communications, community outreach and leadership

• Volunteer reference letters

Want to know more or apply?

If you’d like to find out more about this opportunity, please contact hr@forblackcommunities.org. You can apply for the committee by emailing us your name, contact information (email and phone number) and a brief outline of who you are, what perspectives/experiences you bring and what makes you interested in the volunteer position.

Please include “Youth Wellness” on the subject line of the email.

When is the deadline?

Positions are available as soon as possible. Applications will be reviewed until the positions are filled.

About FFBC

The Foundation for Black Communities is Canada's first Black-led, serving, and mandated philanthropic foundation. We invest directly into Black-led, serving, and mandated grassroots, non-profit, and charitable organizations, ensuring they have the necessary resources to make a meaningful impact and meet the needs of Black communities. Our mission is to ensure every Black person in Canada can thrive and all Black communities have agency in defining their own future.