Deadline: 18-Jan-23
Investment Readiness Program Fall 2022 is now open for applications to boost sector participation of women, Two Spirit, Trans, and non-binary people in social innovation and social finance.
The Foundation will receive up to $5 million in 2022-2023 to help build the capacity and investment readiness of SPOs, so they are better able to access the proposed Social Finance Fund or other investment opportunities in Canada.
Program Goal
- The Foundation will support and encourage the growth and readiness of women, girls, Two Spirit, trans, and non-binary serving organizations to join the social innovation and social finance ecosystem. This may include support to social purpose organizations that currently do not consider themselves part of that ecosystem. The Foundation seeks to prioritize funding to organizations that reach women, girls, Two Spirit, Trans, and non-binary who face multiple barriers, in communities where the needs are greatest.
- Through the Investment Readiness Funding, they aim to:
- Increase the number and variety of groups engaged in the social finance ecosystem
- Build awareness and enhance capacity of social purpose organizations
- Contribute to learning’s, best practices, and knowledge transfer in the ecosystem
- Apply a gender lens and intersectional approach to the IRP initiative.
Funding Information
The range of funding available is:
- Impact Stream: $45,000 – $75,000;
- Catalyst Stream: $5,000 – $15,000;
- Systems-Change Stream: $35,000 – $60,000.
Funding stream
- Impact Stream ($45,000 – $75,000)
- To sustain, scale or grow the impact of an existing or well-developed social enterprise/business initiative that generates revenue from the sale of goods/services;
- To develop and/or launch a community-driven social innovation project focused on attracting investment/social finance (e.g. community bond raising project, outcomes contract project, etc.);
- Have a well-developed enterprising model and are farther along in their understanding and preparation for taking on investment. Your organization is ready to take on a big project to increase your organization’s impact and get one step closer to your social finance goals;
- Have or plan to have, a mechanism that generates revenue from the sale of goods and/or services. Revenue from donations does not count in this context. The IRP is intended to support the adoption and growth of revenue generation through the sale of goods and/or services;
- Have a plan or intention to seek investment, whether loans or equity at a future date.
- Catalyst Stream ($5,000 – $15,000)
- To explore, develop, test, launch or pilot a social enterprise/business initiative. You may have an idea or testing an idea and need to complete some discovery work to validate the enterprise by putting together a business plan/case, develop the revenue generation/business model, conduct market research, complete a feasibility study, prototype a product/service, etc.);
- To access specific technical assistance or support on a very specific aspect of your project, that will assist you in launching or growing your social enterprise, or in preparing to take on investment;
- To get a community-based social innovation project off the ground (e.g. community-bond raising, outcomes contract, procurement contract, etc.);
- Have, or plan to have, a mechanism that generates revenue from the sale of goods and/or services. Revenue from donations does not count in this context. The IRP is intended to support the adoption and growth of revenue generation through the sale of goods and/or services.
- Systems-Change Stream ($35,000 – $60,000)
- For collaborative social innovation/social finance projects that address a systemic issue impacting women and/or gender diverse people. This stream is for projects that that will help address a root cause by shifting/transforming structures, mindsets, power dynamics or rules) with the intent of achieving lasting change;
- To enhance the ecosystem of social enterprise development, social entrepreneurship, social finance, community financing, gender lens investing and other related sector areas that address systemic issue(s) impacting social purpose organizations led by and/or serving women/gender diverse people;
- Projects can include sector resource development, market research and sector wide surveys, sector case studies, network development, etc.
- Project does NOT need to generate revenue;
- Supports projects that builds a more inclusive and integrated social innovation/social finance ecosystem focused on women and/or gender diverse people.
What They Fund?
- Programs for women, girls, trans, Two Spirit, and non-binary people who face multiple barriers and are underserved, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples, Black people and racialized people, those living in rural or northern communities, those who identify as 2SLGBTQI+, living on low-incomes, older peoples, refugee, immigrant or non-status peoples, those with disabilities and/or who are Deaf, and young people;
- Projects in which participants are leaders;
- Projects that consider the realities of participants’ lives e.g. by providing childcare, transportation assistance and advocacy supports;
- Projects that have established partnerships with other local women’s organizations or community-based organizations that have experience working with women, girls, trans, Two Spirit, and non-binary peoples;
- Grassroots organizations with small budgets;
- Projects that demonstrate a gender-analysis within the project materials, organizational structure, etc.
- Projects where their funds can help leverage other funds.
Canadian Women’s Foundation does not fund
- Individuals (including sole proprietorships);
- Federal, provincial or municipal government agencies and school boards (they can be involved but funding will be made directly to the community organization);
- Fundraising events;
- Conferences;
- Projects outside of Canada;
- Projects not solely or primarily focused on women, girls, trans, Two Spirit, and non-binary peoples;
- Deficit or emergency funding;
- Films or videos (unless this is part of a larger project);
- Capital expenditures (e.g. procuring real estate such as purchasing a building, facility or other real estate assets, debt restructuring, the normal cost of business such as rent/leases, major capital equipment purchases such as vehicles, manufacturing equipment, major building/facility upgrades, and depreciation of capital assets);
- Self-defense training (if it is the only component of the project);
- Profit-based organizations that apply as the primary applicant.
Who can apply?
You can apply if your organization is a:
- Registered Charity;
- Qualified done (e.g. many First Nation Band Councils, most municipalities or hamlets, and most universities etc.);
- Social enterprise businesses (for-profit), cooperatives, and other non-profits must apply in partnership with a charity or qualified done. For example, a for-profit social enterprise can apply in partnership with a local charity, municipality or university that has a mission aligned to your project. For example, a non-profit that doesn’t have charitable status can apply in partnership with a charity, or your local municipality, or local university in support of your project;
- All projects must be led by and/or serving women, girls, Trans, Two Spirit, and/or non-binary people.
For more Information, visit Investment Readiness Program Fall 2022.
