Participatory Grantmaking
About This Series
The government of Canada aims to welcome 401,000 new permanent residents by the end of 2021, with the goal to boost economic recovery and resilience - which is creating an opportunity for the Canadian social sector to step up to help welcome newcomers in ways that are inclusive and equitable. This series, in partnership with the World Education Services (WES) Mariam Assefa Fund, features digital stories to highlight their first-ever participatory grantmaking project in Peel region, Ontario facilitated by the Tamarack Institute for Community Engagement. These stories will dive into each phase of their pilot project that aims to put newcomer community members at the centre of funding and grantmaking decisions, shifting power to those directly affected by social and economic changes in their communities.
Community members are leading this participatory grantmaking project — here’s how it works.
Traditional philanthropy is often criticized for its power imbalance where the funders usually call all the shots. So who gets left out? It’s the communities and people within it who are actually impacted by the funding. Bringing community members to the decision-making table can give them the power to determine, through their lived experience, what areas they think need funding.
“I felt the power, I felt the fire”: Empowering newcomers to the Peel Region through participatory grantmaking
Many funders are interested in moving away from the traditional grantmaking models — which have been criticized as rigid, opaque and disconnected from lived experience. Community organizations say there’s value in building a flexible system — one that can change and transform based on what a community needs at any given moment.
Is your trust-based grantmaking process breaking enough rules?
Many small organizations are limited from accessing grants through their lack of charity status, and operational power, while still being a driving force for vital projects. Without grantmakers who will adapt to their unique needs, these grassroots community groups will be stunted from growing their impact in their communities.
Forged by the community: how these six organizations are bridging economic gaps for newcomers
On average, the Peel Region welcomes more than 18,000 newcomers every year who continue to be seriously under-employed despite being highly educated.