Cassels Black-Owned Small Business Grant
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Annual cash grants from a shared pool of up to $100,000, plus pro bono legal services, awarded to Black-owned or Black-operated small businesses in Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary. Funded by voluntary contributions from Cassels staff and matched by Wheaton Precious Metals, the program has run for four or more consecutive years. Each grant cycle includes cash disbursements across multiple recipients plus free legal support (business structure, contracts, and compliance advice) from Cassels lawyers.
Eligibility Requirements
- Business must be Black-owned or Black-operated
- Must be a small business (specific revenue/employee caps not published — apply conservatively as a small/micro business)
- Physical location in Toronto (ON), Vancouver (BC), or Calgary (AB) — other cities not eligible
- Active operating business (not a concept or pre-revenue startup)
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $100,000 total pool per cycle, distributed across multiple recipients; individual grant amounts not specified publicly
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Private
- Deadline
- Annual — 2025 cycle closed June 20, 2025; 2026 cycle dates not yet confirmed as of June 2026
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win Cassels Black-Owned Small Business Grant — $19
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 5 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 5-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 6-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 3-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
Applying for Cassels Black-Owned Small Business Grant? Our Grant Proposal Template ($19) mirrors the section structure Canadian reviewers actually score on. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipThe geographic restriction (Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary only) is a hard limit — businesses in Hamilton, Edmonton, Surrey, or other nearby cities are categorically ineligible. The inclusion of pro bono legal services is a differentiator: applicants who can identify specific legal needs (shareholder agreements, contractor templates, IP protection, employment agreements) that Cassels can address get additional value beyond the cash. Frame your application around community impact and business growth potential, not just financial need — Cassels as a law firm is brand-conscious and looks for recipients who will be strong ambassadors. Watch for the annual announcement each spring on cassels.com/latest_news.
Rejection Pitfalls 5
- Business is not Black-owned or Black-operated
- Business is not physically located in Toronto, Vancouver, or Calgary
- Business is too large to qualify as a small business (specific threshold not published — apply conservatively)
Success Profile
Black-owned small businesses in Toronto, Vancouver, or Calgary at startup or growth stage with an existing product or service and identified use for both cash and legal support. Recipients benefit most if they have a growth plan that requires capital injection and can clearly articulate unmet legal needs (business structuring, commercial contracts, or IP) that Cassels lawyers can address through pro bono services.
Evaluation Criteria
Cassels evaluates applications on: confirmed Black ownership or operation, geographic eligibility (Toronto/Vancouver/Calgary), small business status, strength of business narrative and growth potential, community impact of the business, and identification of legal needs the firm can address through pro bono services. No publicly disclosed scoring rubric — selection is qualitative and committee-based.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 5
Eligible Expenses 6
- General business operating expenses
- Equipment and tools
- Marketing and customer acquisition
- Staff wages
- Inventory and supplies
- Legal and professional services (supplemented by the pro bono component)
Ineligible Expenses 2
- Personal expenses
- Repayment of existing business debts (not specified explicitly — apply only for operational uses)
Intake Periods
Annual — one intake cycle per year, typically open spring through mid-June. Exact dates announced each year on cassels.com.
Deadline Notes
The program has run annually for four or more consecutive years. The 2025 cycle deadline was June 20, 2025. A 2026 cycle is expected but not yet publicly announced on cassels.com as of June 2026. Monitor cassels.com/latest_news for the 2026 announcement, typically posted in spring. Geographic restriction: Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary only — businesses in other cities are ineligible regardless of province.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Businesses not physically located in Toronto, Vancouver, or Calgary
- Businesses without Black ownership or Black operation
- Large businesses (specific threshold not published — applies to small businesses)
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
None RiskHow Cassels Black-Owned Small Business Grant Compares
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