FutureBUILDS NEXT Fellowship 2025: Empowering Black Leaders in Toronto's Housing Sector

Omran Aburayya
Apr 18
2 min read

If you're a Black leader aged 18–32 with a passion for affordable housing and community development in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), the FutureBUILDS NEXT Fellowship 2025 offers a transformative opportunity. Developed by Monumental and funded by Canada's Future Skills Centre, this fully funded, two-month program is designed to cultivate the next generation of non-profit housing leaders.

🗒️FutureBUILDS NEXT Fellowship Summary

Location: Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), Canada
Host Organization: Monumental
Program Duration: June – July 2025
Target Group: Black-identifying individuals aged 18–32
Focus Areas: Non-profit housing, community development, leadership
Coverage: Fully funded (includes travel, accommodation, meals)
Application Deadline: 6 May 2025
Program Start Date: 1 June 2025

🎓 Fellowship Overview

FutureBUILDS NEXT is a free fellowship program aimed at enhancing leadership skills and expanding the talent pool of early-career Black professionals in the non-profit housing sector. The program offers:

Immersive Off-Site Retreat: A full-day retreat to build connections and foster collaboration.
Structured Learning: 10 weeks of interactive sessions with guest speakers and panel discussions on non-profit housing strategies (Thursday evenings, 6–8:30 PM).
Travel-Based Learning Trip: A week-long trip within North America to engage with experts in the Black housing space (week of 7 July 2025).
National Conference Access: Participation in FutureBUILDS’ inaugural national conference in September 2025.

🎁 Fellowship Benefits

Financial Support: Fully funded (includes travel, accommodation, meals)
Networking: Connect with peers, established leaders, and professionals in the non-profit housing sector.
Professional Development: Gain insights into practices and strategies for building non-profit housing.
Fully Funded Travel: All costs for the learning trip, including airfare, accommodation, and meals, are covered.
Conference Participation: Attend a national conference to further expand your knowledge and network.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for FutureBUILDS NEXT Fellowship, Applicants must:

Identify as Black (required).
Be between the ages of 18 and 32.
Have demonstrated leadership experience in Toronto’s diverse Black communities.
Show how a deeper understanding of the non-profit housing sector will benefit their career and community work.
Be willing to commit to a minimum of 2.5 hours per week for program activities.
Provide one letter of recommendation from an existing leader attesting to their suitability for the program.