DIVERSEcity announces successful applicants to their Call for Proposals through the Equity Stream Fund from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
The non-profit sector in BC and Yukon has deep roots in supporting people and communities, with thousands of grassroots organizations contributing to social and economic opportunities, equity and impact, despite capacity and funding challenges. Since 2023, DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society, a nearly 50-year-old registered charity, has been partnering with grassroots non-profits through its BUILD BC-Yukon program, sharing knowledge, supporting collaboration and building organizations’ capacity so they can better achieve their charitable missions serving newcomers, BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+, seniors, youth, women and people with diverse abilities in communities in BC and Yukon, helping build a stronger Canada for everyone.
In January 2026, DIVERSEcity issued a Call for Proposals for grants to grassroots organization ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 through the Equity Stream Fund from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Funding is intended to meet grassroots organizations where they are at, reduce their barriers, while supporting sustainable, community-led growth, supporting them in areas such as governance, leadership, funding, technology, operations and more.
“BUILD BC-Yukon is not just a program, it’s a shared commitment to strengthening the ecosystem that supports equity-deserving communities across BC and Yukon,” said Tina Balachandran, DIVERSEcity’s Senior Manager, Equity & Community Engagement. “This work is about leveling the playing field by addressing systemic barriers that many grassroots organizations face, particularly in accessing resources, navigating funding systems, strengthening governance, and improving access to federal and other funding opportunities.”
Through its work with BUILD BC-Yukon, DIVERSEcity has discovered a consistent trend across grassroots non-profit organizations — their challenge is not a lack of leadership, innovation or impact, their challenge is that the systems around them have not evolved to meet them where they are. “The weight of delivering essential services without stable support are very real across the sector, and yet, despite all of this, the level of impact they are making is significant,” added Tina.
In total, 63 applications were received, 30 of which have been selected to receive grants, spanning across Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, the Okanagan, the Kootenays, Northern BC and the Yukon, reflecting both geographic reach and the diversity of grassroots leadership across regions.
DIVERSEcity is thrilled to announce the following grassroots organizations as recipients of funding:
DIVERSEcity CFP Grant Recipients
- ACT by Vidal Society – Lower Mainland
- Afro-Caribbean Society of Northern British Columbia – Northern BC
- Am Enough Society – Lower Mainland
- Association of Cameroonians in British Columbia (ACBC) / Association des Camerounais en Colombie-Britannique (ACCB) – Lower Mainland
- Baobab Black Seniors Health and Social Care Services Society – Lower Mainland
- BLOSSOM Society for Intercultural Families – Kamloops
- Canadian Filipino Association of the Yukon – Yukon
- Daughters of Hope Resources Society – Lower Mainland
- Diverse Voices Foundation – Lower Mainland
- Empower Society – Lower Mainland
- Foundation for a Path Forward – Lower Mainland
- Great Zimbabwe Cultural Society of British Columbia (ZICUSO BC) – Lower Mainland
- Griottes Polyglottes Arts & EDI Scty – Lower Mainland
- International Refugees Support Foundation – Lower Mainland
- Khaliyl’s Kids Family Care Foundation – Lower Mainland
- Khalsa Seva Alliance Foundation – Lower Mainland
- Kingdom Acts Foundation – Lower Mainland
- Mainland Community Services Society (MCSS) – Lower Mainland
- OCCA Communities Association – Lower Mainland
- Pathways to Leadership with Racialized Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Society – Lower Mainland
- Roses Life Women Center Foundation – Penticton
- Sacred Community Pathways – Haida Gwaii
- Salt City Advocacy Society – Lower Mainland
- Sher Pride – Lower Mainland
- Sisters In Canada Wellness Society – Lower Mainland
- Somali Community Network Cooperative – Lower Mainland
- The Inclusion Project Society – Lower Mainland
- Through Food Society – Lower Mainland
- Umoja Operation Compassion Society – Lower Mainland
- Women Transforming Cities International Society – Lower Mainland
See Backgrounder for more information on each recipient.
Watch our video recap of a recent Meet and Greet event with all the recipients.