Deadline: 02-Oct-20
The Canadian Women’s Foundation is accepting proposals for the third and last funding cycle of the Investment Readiness Grants Program.
Through the Investment Readiness Program funding, the Foundation aims to boost women’s sector participation in social innovation and social finance. This is especially important for organizations that serve women who face multiple barriers and are underrepresented in this field.
The Foundation believes that promoting entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as the growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises helps women develop greater economic prosperity. With more knowledge and experience in the use of social finance mechanisms and tools, the women’s sector will be better able to support these enterprises.
Program Goal: The Foundation will support and encourage the growth and readiness of women-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 who face multiple barriers, in communities where the needs are greatest.
Aims
- Increase the number and variety of groups engaged in the social finance ecosystem
- Build awareness
- Enhance capacity
- Increase accessibility to expert advice and information
- Contribute to learning on what works
- Apply a gender lens throughout using GBA+
Funding Information
- In total, the Foundation will fund approximately 40 grants across the 3 cycles of this 2-year funding program with each grant funded up to a maximum of $50,000.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be a registered charity OR an incorporated non-profit organization with a valid charitable number from Canada Revenue Agency OR a First Nations Band/Municipality designated as a qualified donee by Canada Revenue Agency.
- If your organization DOES NOT have charitable status or is not a qualified donee, they can consider an application in partnership with another organization that is a registered charity with a mandate relevant to the project.
- The other organization’s volunteer Board of Directors will have fiscal responsibility for the grant and be legally responsible for ensuring that the funds are spent for the charitable purposes intended. They will be required to sign a letter of agreement and work in partnership with the organization delivering the project.
For more information, visit https://canadianwomen.org/grants-irp19/