Deadline: 27 February 2020
The Canadian Women’s Foundation is currently accepting proposals for its Annual Grants 2020.
Focus Areas
Organizations can apply for grants in one of the following areas:
- Gender-based violence
- Economic security
- Girls’ empowerment
- Inclusive leadership
Funding Available
- Approximately 23 grants of up to $20,000 per year each will be allocated.
- Organizations may apply for up to an additional $3,000 in Access Funds to reduce barriers for women, girls, Two-Spirit, trans, and non-binary people with disabilities or who are Deaf, for travel in rural or remote areas, or for language or interpretation services.
Overall Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for an Annual Grant, program, project or initiative is required to meet the following:
- Women or gender equality organizations with significant experience in working with women, girls, Two-Spirit, trans, and non-binary peoples such as shelters, sexual assault centres, women’s centres, gender equality advocacy groups, and organizations providing a continuum of services and connection to the community.
- Understand the intersection of inequity and barriers to participation factors such as race, class, gender, and sexual identity, (dis)ability, immigration status, language, or geography.
- Use an asset-based, positive approach that centers participants’ knowledge and experience.
- Demonstrate approaches to create and maintain safer/braver spaces during program time that encourage participants to speak up, and consideration given to the safety of program participants and staff outside of program spaces.
Program Specific Criteria
- Gender-based violence programs: The foundation will fund programs that support women, Two-Spirit, trans, and non-binary people, and their children, who have experienced violence, been coerced into sexual and/or labour exploitation, or that work towards violence prevention with teens. These programs may include approaches that address:
- Housing, counselling, and supports for women, Two-Spirit, trans and non-binary people, and their children, that have experienced violence to rebuild their lives
- Preventing and supporting those that have experienced sexual violence, including in the workplace and on-campus
- Preventing gender-based violence with youth through school or community-based education and interventions
- Anti-trafficking efforts including preventative work with at-risk communities and rebuilding lives for those that have been trafficked
- Capacity building for the sector through resource sharing, training opportunities or knowledge mobilization by regional, provincial, or national groups
- Economic security programs: The foundation will fund programs that aim to improve employability and economic possibilities for women, Two-Spirit, trans, and non-binary people living with low incomes, or who are unemployed or underemployed. These programs may include approaches that address:
- Comprehensive self-employment training and business accelerator programs that provide one-on-one coaching, financial management training, business goal setting, access to loan funds, and/or customized marketing and sales training
- Exploring trades and technology fields through specific job readiness programs, employment and retention supports, and pre-apprenticeship and bridging programs
- Women-specific social enterprises focused on improving economic opportunities by providing on-the-job training, developing transferable skills, offering fair-wage employment opportunities, job placements, or opportunities that foster self-employment
- Capacity building for the sector through resource sharing, training opportunities or knowledge mobilization by regional, provincial, or national groups
- Girls’ empowerment programs: The foundation will fund programs that support girls, Two-Spirit, trans, and non-binary youth aged 9-13 years through group activities, in girls-only settings, that empower and build a sense of belonging among participants. These programs may include approaches that address:
- Enhancing protective factors such as connectedness, confidence, and enhanced critical thinking skills through Science, Technology, Engineering, Technology, Arts and Math (STEAM); physical literacy and sports; leadership and empowerment; media literacy; social and/or environmental justice; or Indigenous culture and teaching.
- Delivery of intentional and comprehensive Girls’ programs using an appropriate format for the community and are aimed at enhancing protective factors for girls
- Formal mentoring and matching of small groups of girls with one mentor or team of mentors for a period of 12 months
- Capacity building for the sector through resource sharing, training opportunities or knowledge mobilization by regional, provincial, or national groups
- Inclusive leadership programs: The foundation will fund programs that support women, girls, Two-Spirit, trans, and non-binary people in developing their leadership skills and provide practical opportunities to hone these skills. These programs may include approaches that address:
- Skills development programs to develop new or enhance their existing skills needed to advance into leadership positions
- Formal mentorship and peer mentorship opportunities for those in private, public, and non-profit sectors
- Policy and advocacy work on women’s empowerment and leadership that actively involves women who have experienced violence and aims to address systemic barriers
- Developing networks that build the capacity of organizations to deliver leadership programs or group mentoring programs across a region or throughout the country
For more information, visit https://canadianwomen.org/grants-annual2020/