Laying the Groundwork for a Sustainable Future
written by Rachael Sonola, Community Foundations of Canada
For over a decade, the Rainbow Refugee Association of Nova Scotia (RRANS) has supported LGBTQI+ refugees seeking safety and community in Canada. Founded in 2011 by passionate community members, RRANS has helped resettle many individuals, providing vital support and advocacy.
During the pandemic, similar to other organizations, RRANS faced unprecedented challenges. "The pandemic really shifted the work that we do," says Rhiannon Makohoniuk, Co-Executive Director of RRANS.
“We saw increased isolation and difficulty accessing support services as everything moved online”
With the growing needs of communities, it was clear that charities and non-profit organizations are crucial in addressing persistent and complex social problems especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. RRANS knew that they needed to build a more sustainable foundation and applied to the Community Services Recovery Fund (CSRF) program with the hopes of using the operational funding to develop internal systems and processes for the necessary long-term growth of the organization.
The pandemic meant that the borders were closed and there would be a pause on newcomers and refugees for a while. This pause gave the RRANS team some time to reflect on internal changes that could be made to better support its community. Through the CSRF funding, RRANS focused on being more representative of the community it serves, as well as providing operational support that enabled the team to focus on leadership development and mentorship from within the BIPOC and LGBTQI+ communities.
“This fund was really important for us to be able to have the time, resources, and energy to create solid foundations and supports for a sustainable future”
With the CSRF support, RRANS was able to develop a comprehensive staff handbook, develop efficient financial procedures, and even obtain charitable status. This funding also enabled the organization to rebrand, crafting a visual identity that better reflected its grassroots, community-driven approach.
"It was a really beautiful process that showed us we have this special, grassroots space that works with the community," Rhiannon shares. "We were able to get rid of our old clip art logo - it had served its purpose, but now we have branding that truly captures who we are."
This funding support has been transformative for the organization. "It ensures that we can still remain the same, community-minded organization for years to come because we can be sustainable," Rhiannon says. By building strong internal foundations, RRANS can now focus on expanding their impact, sponsoring more refugees, providing education, and working on advocacy.
Rhiannon shares how the CSRF funding supported RRANS to lay the groundwork for a "sustainable future" - one where LGBTQI+ refugees can find the support and community they deserve. With this foundation in place, the organization is equipped to continue supporting vulnerable individuals for years to come.
"It's not the glamorous work, but it's practically creating foundations so that we can exist and help people thrive”. Thanks to the CSRF's operational support, RRANS can now dream bigger and have an even greater impact on the lives of LGBTQI+ refugees in Nova Scotia.
The Community Services Recovery Fund was a one-time $400 million investment from the Government of Canada to support community service organizations, including charities, non-profits, and Indigenous governing bodies as they focused on how to adapt their organizations for recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Community Foundations of Canada, alongside the Canadian Red Cross and United Way Centraide Canada, supported close to 5,500 community service organizations through the Community Services Recovery Fund.