This is a fully remote opportunity open to individuals from all regions of Canada (excluding Quebec)

Background on Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative (SBCCI)

The Federal government created the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative (SBCCI) through Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to help increase the capacity of grassroots not-for-profit organizations serving Black communities in Canada. Using an intermediary delivery model, the initiative aims to achieve the following specific objectives:

• Provide funding through a fair and transparent process and otherwise support Black community organizations across Canada (excluding Quebec) to increase their organizational capacity building and capital assistance.
• Support the funded organization and work with partner organization towards improving the capacity of the Black community organizations, thus enhancing the vitality of the sector and building community capacity.
• Address and be inclusive of diverse Black communities.

About the Position

Tropicana Community Services (TCSO) is inviting applications from individuals in all regions of Canada (excluding the Province of Quebec) who are interested in serving as members of the Adjudication Committee for the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative. The Adjudication Committees will be responsible for reviewing proposals received from Black-led not-for-profit organizations to the Capacity building for Black Canadian Grassroots Organizations and making grant recommendations to TCSO. The committee members will be responsible for reviewing applications for projects that are received from organizations within their respective regions. The regions are as follows:

• Atlantic Region: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland
• Central Region: Ontario
• Western Region: Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia

The Grant Review Committee members will be required to participate in a virtual orientation session to be held on a date to be advised. Committee members may also meet in person to participate in adjudication committee meetings, if required.

Term: Members will be appointed to serve commencing Fall 2025 Winter 2025/26

Duties and Responsibilities of Members

• Review grant applications
• Read and provide preliminary scores for all applications assigned to them.
• Score applications following the funding opportunitys evaluation criteria and scoring matrix provided
• Committee members will also be provided with a form for noting the strengths and weaknesses of each of their assigned applications. These notes will serve as the bases for discussing applications during the committee meeting.
• Where grants are likely to be recommended, the committee members will review and recommend funding amount for each application.

Skills and Qualifications

• Must reside in Canada.
• Bilingualism will be considered an asset.
• Previous experience reviewing or adjudicating grant applications or experience running a Black led NGOs, non-profit organizations will be considered an asset.
• Are familiar with Black communities/organizational issues in their region.
• Possess awareness and knowledge of local, regional or provincial opportunities and challenges.
• Have a clear understanding of, and agreement with, TCSOs mandate, vision and mission.
• Understand anti-Black racism and systemic racism and the effects on the Black led NGOs, non-profit organizations in Canada.
• Ability to apply TCSO criteria and make recommendations in a fair and unbiased manner
• Understand the barriers facing Black led NGOs, non-profit organizations and organizations due to systemic racism and the impacts of COVID-19.
• Be equipped with knowledge and experience of community-based organizations, volunteerism, and community development.
• Protect and maintain as confidential all matters arising before the Adjudication Committee.
• Respect the privacy of other Committee members and agree not to disclose information or views expressed by individuals during meetings.
• Abstain from making a recommendation on any application where he/she has a conflict of interest. All Committee members are required to declare any real or perceived conflicts of interest.
• Ensure recommendations are made in a fair and unbiased manner.
• Not discuss information with persons not on the Adjudication Committee.
• Not disclose information obtained from the work of the Adjudication Committee.
• Conduct themselves in a manner that supports the integrity and credibility of SBCCI.
• Prepare for and fully participate in meetings.
• Previous experience reviewing or adjudicating grant applications or experience running a Black led NGOs, non-profit organizations will be considered an asset.
• Are familiar with Black communities/organizational issues in their region.
• Possess awareness and knowledge of local, regional or provincial opportunities and challenges.
• Members who will review application from the Atlantic, Central and Western region must reside in their respective region.

Compensation

Adjudication Committee members are volunteers and will not receive remuneration from Tropicana for serving on an Adjudication Committee

Meetings

• Frequency: Committee meetings will occur weekly or on a per need basis. Adequate notification will be given ahead of time. Successful applicants should expect to volunteer up to twenty-five (25) hours.
• Format: Meetings will be virtual (Zoom).
• Consensus: The Committees will strive for consensus wherever possible. When a consensus is not possible, a simple majority vote will be used.

Reporting

All discussion items and recommendations will be recorded in the meeting minutes. The Committee will make funding recommendations to Tropicana for final decisions and approval.

Committee Support

The Tropicana project team will provide administrative support including:

• Orientation and role of Committee members
• Facilitating meetings of the Committees
• Technical advice concerning program criteria and adjudication processes
• Regular communications including notification of Tropicana decisions, funding announcements
• Updates, etc.

Although we appreciate each application, only those candidates being considered for the position will be contacted.

Tropicana Community Services commits to promoting inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) through its information and support, advocacy, programming, internal policies, and governance structures. Tropicana Community Services will aim to ensure that our staff reflect the experience, skills and diversity of the communities we serve and create an inclusive, barrier-free work environment, beginning with the recruitment process. If you have restrictions that need to be accommodated to fully participate in any phase of the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.