Groupe 3737 Calls for Long-Term Commitment to Black Entrepreneurship Beyond 2025

At a recent event co-hosted by SBCCI and Groupe 3737, community leaders, entrepreneurs, and cultural figures gathered to reflect on the progress of Black-led funding initiatives while acknowledging the challenges that remain. The evening underscored the transformative role of organizations dedicated to equity, entrepreneurship, and cultural development.

From the outset, speakers highlighted the resilience that has defined the movement. Early missteps, they explained, were not failures but collective lessons that now shape stronger, more transparent funding models. Central to this progress is the Black National Funders Network, described as a “powerful engine” for dismantling systemic barriers to prosperity.

Since 2020, when the Canadian federal government first entrusted significant resources directly to Black-led organizations, the results have been striking. In Quebec alone, nearly 70 percent of Black non-profits have already received support, while nationally more than 1,200 groups have benefited from over $100 million in distributed funds. For many, this marks a dramatic departure from the pre-initiative landscape, where fewer than 10 percent of Black-led projects received approval in traditional funding cycles.

The human stories resonated just as strongly as the statistics. Entrepreneurs described the incubator as a lifeline during the pandemic, while newcomers and women-led organizations highlighted how mentorship and capacity-building programs are helping them scale their visions. A spirited discussion, inspired by the forthcoming show Les Dragons de la Diversité, revealed a common consensus: Groupe 3737’s unique value lies in combining expert mentorship, access to vital networks, and funding created by Black leaders, for Black communities.

Yet as the celebration wound down, the conversation turned to urgency. The federal mandate that fuels these initiatives is set to expire on March 31, 2025, raising questions about sustainability. During a panel at the SOKAFEST 2024 Conference, Groupe 3737 Vice President Ed Vertus stressed the need for a long-term vision.

“This work cannot end with a date on a calendar,” Vertus said. “We have built something historic. The challenge now is ensuring continuity, so Black entrepreneurs and organizations are not left vulnerable when the funding cycle closes.”

His remarks echoed a growing sentiment within the community: that while progress has been historic, permanence is the true measure of success. The future of Black entrepreneurship in Canada, many argue, hinges on securing support well beyond 2025.