Qmunity Fund Committee Member

Capital Rainbow Refuge is a registered charity founded in 2010 to support and sponsor LGBTQI+ refugees. Through volunteer-led sponsor groups, advocacy, community building and outreach, we help LGBTQI+ refugees and newcomers arrive and thrive in Eastern Ontario.
Program Overview

The Qmunity Fund is a volunteer-powered program of Capital Rainbow Refuge that provides financial support to LGBTQ+ newcomers living in the National Capital Region who are not privately sponsored refugees.

The Fund offers extraordinary financial assistance of up to $1,000 per individual to help cover costs that are not covered by government programs or insurance. Funding prioritizes expenses that support newcomers’ health and wellbeing and help to affirm their identity, recognizing the unique barriers faced by LGBTQ+ newcomers.

The Qmunity Fund is grounded in Capital Rainbow Refuge’s guiding principles, including empowering newcomers, using a trauma-informed and anti-oppressive approach, and fostering safe, respectful relationships. We uphold the rights of both volunteers and newcomers to establish clear boundaries and to engage in an environment free from violence, harassment, or discrimination.

Unlike private refugee sponsorship, Qmunity does not involve a contractual commitment to provide long-term financial or social support. Assistance through the Qmunity Fund is short-term, task-specific, and needs-based, designed to complement not replace other settlement services and supports available in the community.
Roles & Responsibilities

Members of the Qmunity Fund Committee are responsible for overseeing the fair, transparent, and trauma-informed allocation of financial assistance to LGBTQ+ newcomers through the Qmunity Fund.

The Qmunity Fund Committee operates through a collaborative volunteer model:

• Committee members serve in a volunteer governance and decision-making role, contributing to the fair and transparent allocation of funds.
• A designated Capital Rainbow Refuge staff member attends all committee meetings and is responsible for providing more information on applications, meeting directly with newcomers for appointments or reimbursements on approved cases.
• Committee members do not meet directly with applicants and are not responsible for case management.
• This structure supports clear boundaries, confidentiality, and trauma-informed practice while enabling volunteers to contribute meaningfully to funding decisions.

Core Responsibilities

1. Review Funding Applications

• Review Qmunity Fund applications in a timely manner
• Assess eligibility based on established fund criteria
• Consider the urgency, impact, and alignment of requests with the fund’s purpose
• Apply an equity-based, anti-oppressive lens when making decisions

2. Make Funding Decisions

• Collaborate in decision making, request additional information on funding requests
• Participate in committee discussions and decision-making meetings (typically monthly)
• Identify and discuss exceptions when requests fall outside standard criteria

3. Ensure Responsible Stewardship of Funds

• Help ensure funds are used for approved and eligible expenses
• Support transparency and accountability in fund disbursements
• Respect funding limits (maximum $1,000 per individual unless otherwise approved)

4. Uphold Program Values

• Apply trauma-informed, newcomer-centered principles
• Respect confidentiality and privacy of applicants
• Maintain clear boundaries between volunteers, staff, and applicants
• Contribute to a safe, respectful, and harassment-free environment

5. Follow Policies & Procedures

• Adhere to Capital Rainbow Refuge policies, including confidentiality and code of conduct
• Follow Qmunity Fund processes for approvals, documentation, and record-keeping
• Declare and manage any conflicts of interest

6. Support Continuous Improvement

• Provide feedback on fund guidelines, eligibility criteria, and processes
• Identify gaps or emerging needs among LGBTQ+ newcomers
• Support improvements to application forms, guidance documents, and communications

Time Commitment

• Attend fund review meetings (approximately once per month)
• Review applications in advance of meetings (1-2 hours per month)
• Respond to occasional follow-up emails between…