Check back in Fall 2025 for an announcement of successful applicants.
In summer 2025, Changemark launched a pro bono program providing $100,000 in professional grant-writing and fund development services to support non-profit, community-based organizations delivering harm reduction services related to substance use.
Organizations were invited to apply for the program and will be selected through a formal review process, the review panel will include Indigenous advisors, people with lived and living experience, and Changemark representatives. Services will be delivered over a 12-month period.
What the Program Offers:
- Grant Writing: Our team of experienced grant writers supports in writing, structuring, information gathering, and ultimately crafting compelling grant proposals that truly tell their story and aim to maximize the likelihood of success. We can also support copy-editing, budgeting, administrative and technical aspects of grant applications, enabling your team to focus on developing a strong project plan.
- Grant Research & Prospecting: We conduct comprehensive research to find funding opportunities that match organizational goals and provide practical recommendations on priorities and next steps.
- Fund Development Strategy: We work with organizations to help navigate the grant and funding landscape, co-developing tailored funding strategies aligned with the organization’s needs, capacity and strategic goals.
- Grant and Proposal Writing Training & Support: We offer teams foundational skills, tools, and strategic guidance to develop confidence in grant writing, enabling ourprners to craft strong proposals independently.
Who Was Eligible
Eligible applicants were non-profit, community-based organizations offering harm reduction services related to substance use. These organizations are community-led and driven by lived or living experience, cultural knowledge, and local priorities — rather than by government, academic, or institutional mandates.
Focus on Equity
Due to the enduring impacts of colonialism and systemic racism, toxic drug-related deaths and events have disproportionately impacted First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples. As a result of funding disparities and inequitable access to life-saving supports, people living in Northern, rural, and remote locations are also disproportionately impacted. We prioritized:
- Indigenous-led organizations and those delivering services in Nation
- Organizations serving Black and racialized people, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, youth, trades workers, sex workers, people experiencing housing insecurity or recent incarceration, those with co-occurring mental health challenges, and individuals affected by the child welfare system
- Organizations serving Northern, rural, and remote locations
All grants written for Indigenous-led organizations or in Nation are developed by Indigenous grant writers, supported by settler allies.
Questions about the program or future opportunities?
Contact: probono@changemark.ca
