19 local organizations receive $359,000 through WRCF’s Racial Equity Fund

We’re pleased to share that Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) is providing $359,000 from our Racial Equity Fund to 19 organizations. This includes support from the City of Waterloo and several WRCF Fundholders and donors who are looking to advance the work of organizations serving people in Waterloo Region who are Indigenous, Black, and people of colour.

For 2026, we've directed our Racial Equity funding toward building the social infrastructure that helps communities across our region connect and thrive – supporting organizations that are developing, enhancing, or reinforcing activities that bring people together around shared interests and identities in spaces that are publicly accessible.

"Racial equity isn't a destination. It's ongoing, collective work, and it requires sustained investment in the communities and organizations leading the way,” said Eric Avner, President & CEO, Waterloo Region Community Foundation. “These organizations are building places where people can gather in safety, celebrate their identities, and find the support they need to thrive. WRCF is proud to fund this work, and we're grateful to our partners, Fundholders, and donors who share this commitment to create a more just and connected Waterloo Region."

A volunteer committee of community members who self-identify as Indigenous, Black, or as a person of colour developed the granting guidelines and application, reviewed applications, and recommended how the funding would be allocated.

The 2026 Racial Equity Grants recipients:

• Adventure4Change

• AfriWat

• Afropolitan Canada

• Anishnabeg Outreach

• bookmytherapy

• Crow Shield Lodge

• Global Premier Futbol

• Hmong Association of Canada

• Kind Minds Family Wellness (Community Justice Initiatives)

• Liberian Association of Canada

• Muslim Women of Cambridge (Greenway-Chaplin Community Centre)

• Rhythm & Blues Cambridge (Kinbridge Community Association)

• Rohingya Centre

• Run for Office Waterloo Region (Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre)

• ThruTalent (Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre)

• Waterloo Region Chinese Canadian Association (Centre for Mutual Wellbeing (CMW))

• Willow River Centre (SHORE Centre)

• Women of Dignity International (Firm Voice Foundation)

• Women of Grace International (Social Development Centre Waterloo Region)

Note: Charitable organizations in brackets represent the charitable partner working alongside the non-qualified donee on the funded initiative.

Want to help?
If you'd like to support the Racial Equity Fund and help fund future applications we receive, please visit wrcf.ca/re-donate.

Today, we also announced funding through our Community Funds and Arts Fund, with overall funding of $1.84 million distributed across Waterloo Region. Read the combined press release here.

If you have any questions, or would like to connect with someone, email us at grants@wrcf.ca.