Indigenous and Black Flourishing Fund
Overview
The Indigenous and Black Flourishing Fund (IBFF) provides up to $5,000 for Indigenous and Black undergraduate, graduate, continuing education students, and postdoctoral researchers and fellows enrolled at TMU for individual and community-engaged initiatives that advance growth, flourishing, social justice, and systemic change.
Our conceptualization of “flourishing” is based on the discussion from our Transformation Cafe (“Insurgent Flourishing: Centring Indigenous and Black Futurities”) hosted on March 27th, 2025.
As described by Dr. Rai Reece, we understand flourishing as growth “in a state of high well-being, to live life in a fulfilling and meaningful way” – beyond solely survival. She elaborates on the importance of understanding the impact of colonialism on Indigenous Peoples, and the impact of anti-Black racism and slavery on African, Black, and Caribbean people on Turtle Island. Dr. Reece reminds us that “white supremacy has birthed twin oppressions of anti-Indigenous and anti-Black racism, and collective liberation is a form of resistance to these oppressions.” Dr. Reece further emphasizes the synergistic flourishing that occurs between Indigenous and Black activism and scholarship, demonstrating that transformative justice is an action-oriented form of resistance and collective liberation against white settler capitalism.
Our Activists in Residence Collective will review applications every two months, between September and May. Please note that the 2025/2026 deadlines for the bimonthly reviews are:
Sunday, November 30th, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
- Applications received by this date will be reviewed during the week of December 8th.
Sunday, February 1st, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
- Applications received by this date will be reviewed during the week of February 9th.
Sunday, April 26th, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
- Applications received by this date will be reviewed during the week of May 4th.
Please note that this is not a fund for entrepreneurial ventures or businesses. If you are seeking start-up funding, visit the Office of Zone Learning.
Responding to Student Needs
IBFF responds to student requests and feedback for increased funding and support for Indigenous and Black student-led initiatives.
A theme from the (PDF file) 2018 Truth and Reconciliation Report was to “improve and expand support for Indigenous learners”. It was reaffirmed in the (PDF file) 2021 Standing Strong Task Force Report which recommended commitments to the “advancement and support of Indigenous and Black scholarship”.
A student recommendation from the (PDF file) 2020 Anti-Black Racism Campus Climate Review was “funding of events … that specifically support and centre Black students should be created and/or enhanced”. In the follow-up (PDF file) 2021 Black Student Advisory Committee Review further suggestions to meet this recommendation included: “support students that are leading initiatives with qualified facilitators and experienced event planners” and “support more fundraiser events and movements across campus and online”. Recently, the (PDF file) 2024 Cultivating Black Flourishing Report introduced a Black flourishing model to inform TMU’s approach. One of the key process outputs in this model identifies and emphasizes Black-centred initiatives and events.
Application Categories
Students can apply for funding through one of these categories: 1) an individual initiative or 2) a community-engaged initiative.
Individual Initiatives
Students can apply for funding to advance their own learning, scholarship, and professional development. Examples of this includes:
- Conferences (e.g., registration fees, travel, accommodations, poster printing, etc.)
- Research (e.g., honoraria, supplies, transcription, professional services, etc.)
Students can apply for funding to build and sustain community-engaged relationships, initiatives, and activism. Refer to our webpage on student recipients of our Social Innovation and Activism Fund (SIAF) for examples of community-engaged initiatives.
Application Guidelines
Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded for a six month period. An extension of up to six months may be granted upon written request to OSI before the expiration of the Term.
Current Toronto Metropolitan students are eligible for funding. Preference will be given to individuals from designated groups (see note below), individuals who immigrated to Canada from other countries and their children, and first-time applicants. Foreign students and permanent residents are eligible to apply.
Note: Designated groups include four groups specified in the Employment Equity Act (Indigenous Peoples, women, visible minorities, and persons with disabilities) and the 2SLGBTQ community. 2SLGBTQ is an umbrella term for people who identify as Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, Two-Spirit, intersex, gender independent, queer, questioning, or who otherwise express gender or sexual diversity.
Applicants must complete this Google Form (external link) . You will also be asked to upload your resume or CV and a reference letter. You can preview the application form questions here (external link) and review a sample application submission here (external link) .
Students can choose to submit a presentation or video as an alternative to the application form, as long as they respond to all questions in the application form and include a detailed budget.
Contact jmachado@torontomu.ca for any assistance with your application.
Applications meeting the eligibility criteria outlined above will be considered by the Activists in Residence Collective, a network of Indigenous and Black students, postdoctoral researchers and fellows, staff, and faculty.
Proposals will be assessed based on the following criteria:
- Opportunity for the applicant to develop their own learning and experience towards flourishing and social justice.
- Applicant’s demonstrated commitment, involvement, and/or activism in social change.
- Community engagement through mutually reciprocal relationships that contribute to building long-term, positive and authentic bonds.
- Involvement of Indigenous and/or Black community organization(s) in decision-making and pushing institutional boundaries.
- Clear, detailed, and realistic work plan and budget for the proposed activity.
- Activity reflects the values and social justice principles of the Office of Social Innovation.
Student funding recipients must fulfil the following requirements:
- Sign a Funding Agreement before any activity funded, in whole or in part, is carried out.
- Upon completion of the project, present findings in a community forum.
- Upon completion of the project, submit a two-page single spaced project summary demonstrating outcomes to be posted on the project website.
- Upon completion of the project, or up to sixty (60) days after the expiration of the Term, return unused project funds to the Office of Social Innovation.
- Throughout the duration of the project and upon completion of the project, advise the Office of Social Innovation of any conference, materials and publications resulting from the project.
- Throughout the duration of the project and upon completion of the project, acknowledge the Office of Social Innovation and the “Social Innovation and Activism Fund for Indigenous and Black Flourishing” in any materials and publications resulting from project activities. Provide project updates upon request.
Contact
Please contact jmachado@torontomu.ca for further information.