The District of Muskoka is accepting applications for the 2024 IDEA Community Grant Program, a collaborative initiative with the IDEA Advisory Group. Grants aim to support local efforts to promote inclusion, diversity, equity, and anti-racism (IDEA).
To address specific needs within the community and support the advancement of IDEA principles in Muskoka, the 2024 IDEA Community Grant Program offers up to $2,500 through two funding streams:
Small Employer Funding: In 2021, the IDEA Community Report highlighted that workplaces are a common setting for discrimination in Muskoka. In response, this funding stream supports small employers who are committed to strengthening or incorporating IDEA principles into their operations by providing training to staff, board members and volunteers.
Community Partner Funding: This stream aims to support organizations across Muskoka in creating opportunities for increased public awareness and community education. Projects that align with dates of recognition or national days of education, particularly those that promote anti-hate themes, are also eligible.
Eligible participants include small employers, charities, non-profits, grassroots organizations, associations and clubs. Successful applicants must submit progress and final reports to demonstrate both impact and fiscal responsibility.
Applications are open from May 31, 2024, to July 30, 2024. All funded projects must be put into action over a 24-month period ending by September 30, 2026. Proposals will be assessed based on their alignment with the IDEA principles, clarity of vision, community impact, and demonstrated need.
“We are committed to funding initiatives that do more than talk about diversity and inclusion, they actively represent these principles,” said Mark Nakamura, Chair of the IDEA Advisory Group. “By supporting local projects and initiatives with measurable impacts, we are supporting meaningful change, bringing us closer to a more inclusive Muskoka.”
For more information, to apply online and to learn more, please visit www.engagemuskoka.ca/IDEA.
