How to JustChange Anywhere
Almost two years ago we pressed pause on JustChange to evaluate our model of giving. Then: the COVID pandemic... Our social safety net was tested and found to be inadequate. Every existing inequality an opportunity that this virus was able to exploit — made clear by...
Pressing Pause
Pressing Pause JustChange accelerates bold ideas in Ottawa for social, environmental and economic change. We've been doing this for over 6 years by giving out nearly $40,000 in grants to dozens of grantees. We're so proud of the ideas we have funded and who we've...
January 2019 – Foodlocker
For so many of us, the beginning of a new year represents a fresh start; an opportunity to set new personal goals, to check out sweet events in the city, and to try different experiences. For certain Ottawa residents, however, facing this brand new year is daunting as...
November 2018 – People’s Vision for Herongate
JustChange is thrilled to announce the winner of its November 2018 grant: People’s Vision for Herongate Herongate is one of Ottawa's most diverse, yet lowest income neighbourhoods. Located in south Ottawa, between the Heron-Walkley junction to the east,...
October 2018 – Ecology Ottawa and Green Infrastructure
JustChange is pleased to award their latest grant to Ecology Ottawa for their Green Infrastructure Campaign. Ecology Ottawa is a not-for-profit, grassroots and volunteer-driven organization who works to make Ottawa the green capital of Canada. Ottawa has seen its...
August 2018 – Hall of Power
A group of high school seniors are challenging the stigma associated with hip hop in the Ottawa arts scene and in the general community. In their upcoming photography exhibition, titled Hall of Power, John McCrae Secondary School’s senior...
May 2018 – The Birth Talks Presents!
Around the world, about four babies are born each second of every day. The circumstances under which they are born vary drastically. Each birth story is different and unique – and does not always follow the strictly joyful narrative we tend to hear. For...
March 2018 – Timsle Inc.
A few years ago, second-year university student Quayce Thomas found himself confused, unhealthy, and spiraling into depression and substance abuse. He was soon diagnosed with bipolar disorder following an episode of acute psychosis. Quayce was able to tackle the...
January 2018 – Algonquin Aki Media Project
The Algonquin Aki Media Project aims to support the creation of media by and/or for Algonquin people [*Aki is the Algonquin/Anishinaabemowin word for land or territory]. The main focus of this project will be to raise money in order to financially support individual...
October 2017 – Foodsharing Ottawa
Canadians waste a staggering $31 billion of food each year, and it’s estimated that less than two thirds of the food that is produced worldwide is actually consumed. Waste can occur at every stage of the production process before the food gets to our table....
August 2017 – Butterfly Box
It is estimated that 1 in 4 women will experience a miscarriage or pregnancy loss in their lives. Although it is so prevalent, it’s not often talked about, leaving many families to experience their grief in isolation. The stigma surrounding pregnancy and infant loss...
June 2017 – Locall
We are thrilled to announce our latest JustChange grantee – Locall. Locall aims to find innovative solutions for newcomers (immigrants and refugees) seeking to integrate into Canada, but who face challenges with language barriers. In essence, they have designed,...
April 2017 – EthicalTree
JustChange is happy to announce the winner of this month’s micro-grant, EthicalTree. Siavash and Frank co-founded EthicalTree because, as ethically-oriented consumers themselves, they found it very difficult to find businesses that aligned with their values. According...
February 2017 – Ottawa Rock Camp for Girls
The JustChange Ottawa board is excited to announce that the latest $1,000 grant is going to Ottawa Rock Camp for Girls, an organization that uses music as a vehicle for empowerment for self-identifying girls. Their flagship event is a rock camp where participants...
December 2016 – Empower’em
Empower'em President and Founder, Nayaelah Siddiqui, understands there is a growing lack of self-confidence in Muslim women, which needs to be addressed. According to the Environics Survey of Muslims in Canada (2016), one of the top issues facing Canadian Muslims is...
October 2016 — Trans Health Information Ottawa
“I don’t know much about trans health,” is a term that our next grantee hears all too often. Trans Health Information Ottawa (THIO) is working to eliminate that phrase from Ottawa’s healthcare vernacular. Completely unfunded, this group of dedicated people have been...
August 2016 — Building Purple Bridges
We are thrilled to announce our August 2016 grantee: Building Purple Bridges. This grassroots initiative aims to address the service gaps for outdoor/survival sex-workers in the Vanier neighbourhood. Building Purple Bridges is lead by a team composed of individuals...
June 2016 — Black Hair: A Documentary
For this month’s JustChange grantee, her introduction to activism hit very close to home: with her own hair. Questioning why she hadn’t felt comfortable wearing her hair naturally, Asma realized the beauty standards we all internalize keep many people from embracing...
April 2016 – Integrative Solutions Group
Community consultation on urban development projects in Ottawa often seems like a meaningless exercise. Most of us can name an example (or two!) within our own neighbourhoods where community consultation was either non-existent or superficial at best. While there are...
February 2016 — Kind
JustChange is thrilled to announce our February 2016 grantee: Kind! Kind is a space for LGBTTQ+ communities in Ottawa. Offering a wide variety of services, from counselling to education programs to the Purrfect Café, Kind is an inclusive and welcoming space for people...
JustChange and PhilanthroTHINK: What’s New in Philanthropy?
Free Event at Carleton University on February 25th 2016 at 2:00pm! What’s New in Philanthropy? Giving Circles, Social Investment and Engaged Millennials Philanthropy is being reinvented in a variety of ways. Giving circles are creating new collective approaches....
December 2015 — I Wear One
Around half of Canadian women will suffer from some form of an inability to control their bladder according to the Canadian Bladder Survey. We had no idea that these symptoms, called incontinence, affected so many Canadians. JustChange was happy to make Erin...
#GivingTuesdayCA
As you may know, today is #GivingTuesdayCA. For those who don’t know, today is a day is where charities, companies and individuals join together to share commitments, rally for favourite causes and think about others (ww.givingtuesday.ca). Naturally then, there will...
October 2015 – Gees Bees
“If we can encourage a few new beekeepers, bring pollination back to communities, and give people the opportunity to enjoy their very own honey – well, that’s a great day!” – Marianne Gee, Gees Bees We at JustChange are abuzz over our latest grantees, Marianne and...
Heartwood House
Have you ever noticed that concrete jungle in your neighbourhood? We all have them. We walk by them on the way to work and on the way to the grocery store. They’re ugly, generally feel unsafe and we naturally avoid them at all costs. More and more urban designers,...
Bautechnik
It’s June, and we’re pleased to announce the winner of the most recent JustChange grant: Bautechnik, to support their work as builders of rammed earth and cross-laminated timber structures. Rammed earth is an ancient construction technique of compacting earth,...
Micro-grants Making Waves in Ottawa
Ottawa’s micro-granting scene is hot. Awesome projects need look no further than Awesome Ottawa, women in the arts can tap into Tontine, Soup Ottawa provides one-off opportunities on various themes, and we accelerate great ideas for social and environmental change. If...
JustChange supports urban farming model in Ottawa
“Much of the food we consume is shipped thousands of miles away and dependent on an unsustainable petroleum-based system, which in the long term damages the environment, food security, local economies and ultimately, human lives.” – Madeleine Maltby, founder...
February Grant: Adaptive Music Expressions
You’ve had a long day at work or school. You come home, sit down on the couch, and play some music with friends. The simple act of tuning up and tuning out has been a practice to benefit mental well-being and social inclusion for thousands of years. And in today’s day...
On #GivingTuesday
by Albert Thibodeau, Co-Founder & Board Member I think any initiative that can get people to, of their own volition and without coercion, give their time or money to a cause is a good initiative. This means I’m against cashiers asking for charity at the check out,...