Social Infrastructure

WRCF defines social infrastructure as the system of shared spaces, experiences, and resources that enable people to connect with each other, the bridges necessary to build trust and civic participation, to create a sense of belonging and wellbeing. It’s the system that enables sustainable widespread community development.

There is growing evidence that social infrastructure is associated with more social cohesion, and an improved sense of belonging and wellbeing. With our region on track to grow to over one million people by 2040, there needs to be a solid social infrastructure in place to “grow our community as our community grows.” If you want to learn more about social infrastructure, WRCF has a section of their website that includes articles, blogs, videos, and other resources for you to access here.

Racialized communities are being disproportionately affected by inequities. Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) is dedicated to taking the necessary steps toward advancing racial equity in our community. One action that is part of delivering on that commitment is the Racial Equity Fund – dedicated to supporting meaningful, positive action that advances the work of organizations that are led by and serving people in Waterloo Region who are Indigenous, Black, and people of colour. Funds distributed are intended to assist those most impacted by the ongoing and systemic racial disparities that exist in our community.

In 2026, we have approximately $250,000 to be distributed to organizations in Waterloo Region that are led by and serve people who self-identify as Indigenous, Black, or people of colour. In addition, annually, we invite WRCF Fundholders and other partners to financially support this work with us, and more funds may be provided. Last year, with their assistance, we were able to disburse approximately $380,000 to nonprofits through Racial Equity Grants.

The Racial Equity Fund reinforces WRCF’s approach to encouraging self-led activities, with a committee of volunteers from the community who similarly self-identify, approving the grant guidelines, reviewing applications, and determining funding recipients and allocations.

About the 2026 Racial Equity Grants Program

WRCF’s Racial Equity Grants will address social infrastructure through grants that support applications that are developing, enhancing, or reinforcing activities that bring people together around shared interests and identities in spaces that are publicly accessible. These activities should take place in formal civic spaces like libraries and community centres, or informal gathering places like parks and public squares. All who use these spaces should feel welcome, respected, safe, and accommodated, regardless of who they are, where they come from, or their abilities.

The activity that your organization applies for:

• Will either:

  • Create opportunities for meaningful interactions within groups of shared identities, providing participants, and perhaps by extension their circles of support, with an increased sense of belonging in their community, and within Waterloo Region, or

  • Leverage programming between two or more organizations that introduces people to new opportunities, skills, and members of the broader community. By working together, the organizations are able to share resources that link and support people in new ways, or

  • Establish or reinforce a network between organizations to increase the level of programming offered overall in community; share resources to augment services; or deliver a wider range of options for people to connect, learn, or have fun together, or

  • Support the enhancement of a shared space that is used by more than one organization with the ability for the enhancement to be linked directly to increased usage. 

• Cannot be for a one-off activity; however, the grant can be for a new idea that you are hoping to build upon. So, think of activities that you have in place already to connect and strengthen people that your organization supports, OR it can be the start of a new way to build meaningful relationships. Both fit the application criteria.

• Must be able to show the connection between the proposed activity and strengthening social infrastructure locally.

See the Racial Equity Application Guidelines, linked below, for more information.

Information Session: Racial Equity Grants
There will be an informational webinar on February 27, 2026, at 12:00 PM (EST). The webinar will be recorded and made available on this page for those unable to make it.

As part of WRCF’s ongoing commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, we are working to deepen our relationships with Indigenous‑led and Indigenous-serving nonprofit organizations throughout Waterloo Region. To help advance this work, we intend to launch a pilot fund in Q3/Q4 2026 dedicated to supporting Indigenous‑led and Indigenous-serving organizations within the region. These organizations will be eligible to apply for this grant stream alongside any other WRCF grant opportunities. Additional information will be shared once finalized.