The Building Inclusive Communities Fund (BICF) supports initiatives that celebrate cultural diversity and bring people together to share traditions and identities. It funds projects that promote diversity, inclusion, and social equity through greater public awareness and understanding. The fund also helps remove barriers and improve access so equity-deserving individuals and organizations can fully participate in community life across Nova Scotia.
Program Objectives:
Promote cultural diversity by supporting opportunities for people to share, explore, and celebrate diverse cultural identities and traditions.
Advance equity, diversity, inclusion, and social equity through initiatives that increase public awareness, understanding, and community engagement.
Improve access and remove systemic barriers to enable equity-deserving individuals and organizations to fully participate in community life across Nova Scotia.
Support inclusive, accessible, and discrimination-free programs, services, and community initiatives.
Strengthen communities and organizations by embedding equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) into decision-making and program delivery.
Foster partnerships with organizations committed to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility throughout Nova Scotia.
Program Requirements:
Project overview, budget, and supporting documents.
Description of your organization, project activities, goals, audience, partnerships, and expected impact.
Include a workplan, promotion strategy, evaluation plan, and acknowledgement of provincial support.
Provide a detailed budget with revenues, expenses, and required contributions based on funding tier.
Ensure applications are complete, include accurate contact information, and meet the application deadlines.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligible expenses:
Projects that improve awareness of and access to programs and services that advance equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Activities that support inclusive events and activities that bring people together to share, explore and celebrate diverse cultural identities and traditions.
Projects that strengthen the capacity of organizations to support equity-deserving groups.
Ineligible activities and expenses:
Research, studies, focus groups or public meetings.
Fundraising events or activities.
Operating expenses, e.g., salaries, heat, rent, etc.
Projects and/or activities where religion and religious celebration are the primary focus.
Language classes.
EDIA Training.
Recurring projects/events with budgets larger than $80,000.
Events or projects that have received funding for 2 consecutive years.
