Black Class Action Secretariat (BCAS)

What Black Class Action Secretariat (BCAS) does

The Black Class Action Secretariat (BCAS) is a Canadian non-profit organization founded in 2020 and headquartered at 2300 Yonge St, Suite 1600, Toronto, Ontario, operating under the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act. Its mandate is to dismantle systemic anti-Black discrimination in Canada's federal public service and broader public institutions through strategic litigation, advocacy, education, and policy reform. BCAS leads a $2.5 billion proposed class action against the federal government on behalf of 45,000 current and former Black public sector employees alleging discriminatory denial of entry, promotion, and advancement across 99 federal departments and agencies over a 52-year period. The organization has driven tangible policy outcomes, including amendments to the Public Service Employment Act, recognition of Black Canadians as an employment equity group under the revised Employment Equity Act, and $49.6 million in announced federal funding for mental health and career development programs for affected workers.

BCAS's offerings span a litigation and advocacy portfolio rather than a technology stack. Service programs include the SAFE (System for Achieving Fairness and Equity) Certification Program, STRIVE training, a Representation Program, and the Anti-Black Racism Reporting and Advocacy Program. Two flagship initiatives anchor the organization: the Coalition Against Workplace Discrimination (CAWD), a domestic coalition of 20+ labor unions and advocacy groups, and the Global Litigation and Advocacy Network for People of African Descent (GLANPAD), an international network of delegates from 25 countries launched at the UN Permanent Forum in Geneva in April 2024. A "Justice" sub-brand sells merchandise (iPhone and Samsung phone cases at $30-$35). There is no proprietary software, AI, or platform product.

Revenue is generated through tiered membership subscriptions — Individual Change-Maker at $25/month or $300/year, Advocacy Partners at $6,000/year, and Corporate Change-Maker at $20,000/year — alongside merchandise sales and individual contributions; all memberships require Board of Directors approval. The organization operates with 1-10 employees and a community-led go-to-market model built on grassroots organizing, union partnerships, press conferences at the Federal Court and the UN, and earned media across LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, and YouTube. BCAS is governed by a Board chaired (interim) by Dr. Massoda Ma Nlep and an Advisory Board chaired by Dr. Johnny Mack, with CEO Nicholas Marcus Thompson directing litigation and international strategy.

Name

Black Class Action Secretariat (BCAS)

Legal name

Black Class Action Secretariat

Website

https://bcas-srcn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BCAS is a Canadian non-profit founded in 2020 that combats systemic anti-Black discrimination in Canada's federal public service through a $2.5B class action lawsuit, advocacy campaigns, training, and policy reform serving 45,000 affected workers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Rights Advocacy Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Racial & Ethnic Justice Organizations (BPAGAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Civil Liberties & Constitutional Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAA), Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

Keywords

• Anti-discrimination advocacy
• Class action litigation
• Equity certification programs
• Workplace inclusion training
• Policy reform advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: BCAS generates revenue through annual and monthly membership subscriptions at multiple tier levels, ranging from individual change-maker memberships to corporate and advocacy partner packages.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Justice-branded merchandise including phone cases for iPhone and Samsung devices, with proceeds supporting national advocacy efforts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

BCAS leads landmark class action litigation and national advocacy against systemic anti-Black discrimination in Canada's federal public service, while delivering equity training (STRIVE), workplace certification (SAFE), employee representation, an Anti-Black Racism Reporting and Advocacy Program, and global coalition work via CAWD and GLANPAD. It also sells Justice-branded merchandise to support its advocacy mission.

Product overview

The Black Class Action Secretariat (BCAS) operates as a national non-profit organization focused on advocacy, education, and policy reform rather than a traditional software product company. BCAS's portfolio consists of: merchandise products under the 'Justice' brand (iPhone and Samsung phone cases sold through their shop), service programs including the SAFE Certification Program, Representation Program, STRIVE training, and Anti-Black Racism Reporting and Advocacy Program, membership tiers ranging from $25/month individual plans to $20,000/year corporate partnerships, and two major initiatives—CAWD (Coalition Against Workplace Discrimination) for domestic advocacy and GLANPAD (Global Litigation and Advocacy Network for People of African Descent) for international engagement. The organization primarily advances its mission through legal advocacy, national campaigns, workshops, training, and policy reform rather than technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Justice: Official merchandise line of BCAS, featuring phone cases (iPhone and Samsung) sold through the BCAS Shop. Proceeds support the national fight for fair workplaces.

Products and services

• SAFE Certification Program

Quantifiable outcome

• $49.6 million in government funding announced for Black public servant mental health and career development programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Pan-African in NorwayminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2024International partner joining GLANPAD network, drawing lessons from BCAS litigation model for global anti-racism efforts.
• Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of Canada's largest unions representing over 240,000 workers. PSAC is a founding member of the Coalition Against Workplace Discrimination (CAWD), dedicated to improving equity and social justice for public sector workers.
• Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresenting over 25,000 professional employees across various federal departments. CAPE is committed to ensuring members work in environments free from discrimination.
• National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWith over 425,000 members across Canada, NUPGE advocates for public sector worker rights and actively combats systemic racism and discrimination in the workplace.
• Canadian Black Nurses Alliance (CBNA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn organization dedicated to supporting Black nurses in Canada, promoting diversity and inclusion within the healthcare sector and beyond.
• The Enchanté NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA national network connecting and supporting 200+ 2SLGBTQ+ organizations, committed to fostering inclusive environments that respect diverse identities.
• The Red CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFocused on addressing racial disparities and advocating for the rights of racialized communities in the fight against systemic racism in Canada.
• Federation of Black Canadians (FBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA national non-profit advancing the social, economic, political, and cultural interests of Black communities in Canada.
• 613-819 Black HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA regional organization serving Black communities of Ottawa and Gatineau through community engagement, advocacy, and support services.
• Black Canadians Civil Society Coalition (BCCSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting the UN International Decade for People of African Descent mandate, working to address systemic racism and promote rights of Black Canadians.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC): Canada's largest federal public service union, representing 240,000+ workers. Comparable to BCAS as a coalition partner addressing workplace discrimination against Black public sector workers in overlapping federal institutions, though operating as a labor union rather than an advocacy NGO.
• National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE): National union representing 425,000+ public sector workers across Canada. Comparable to BCAS's constituency and advocacy agenda, though primarily a labor union rather than a civil rights organization; BCAS Board Member Jason MacLean serves as NUPGE's Secretary-Treasurer.

Broad incumbents

• Maytree Foundation: Canadian private foundation focused on reducing poverty and advancing systemic change through policy, research, and advocacy. Comparable as a Canadian social justice organization pursuing structural reform, with a broader (non race-specific) agenda.
• Canadian Race Relations Foundation: Federal Crown corporation with a national mandate to advance race relations and combat racism in Canada. Comparable as a national anti-racism organization, though it operates more as a research, education, and grantmaking body rather than a litigation-driven advocacy group.
• Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives: National progressive research and policy organization addressing social, economic, and inequality issues. Comparable as a Canadian policy and advocacy organization, though broader in scope and not race-specific.

Direct peers

• Federation of Black Canadians (FBC): National non-profit advancing the social, economic, political, and cultural interests of Black communities in Canada. Closely comparable to BCAS in mission and scope, with a BCAS coalition member partnership underscoring direct alignment.
• Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC): Ontario-based legal aid clinic that provides legal services to Black communities confronting systemic racism. Directly comparable to BCAS in mission and method, with a narrower Ontario-focused scope and a similar legal advocacy model.
• Colour of Poverty: Canadian non-profit focused on racializing poverty and systemic discrimination affecting racialized communities. Comparable to BCAS's advocacy and policy reform work, with a focus on the intersection of race and economic outcomes.
• African Canadian Legal Clinic: Ontario non-profit legal clinic addressing issues of anti-Black racism through legal interventions, test-case litigation, and law reform advocacy. Highly comparable to BCAS's class action and policy reform approach, with a focus on Black Canadians and racial justice.

Regional players

• Urban Alliance on Race Relations: Toronto-based non-profit working to address systemic racism in urban Canadian contexts. Comparable to BCAS's anti-discrimination advocacy with a narrower geographic scope (Toronto/Ontario) and a focus on equity in policy and public services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/blackclassactn
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/blackclassaction
• Facebookfacebook.com/blackclassaction
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/black-class-action-secretariat
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackclassaction

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Black Class Action Secretariat (BCAS)