Grant and Funding Programs Offered by CFUW Charitable Trust (CFUW)

The CFUW Charitable Trust is the philanthropic arm associated with the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW). Established in 1967 as a separate registered charity in Ontario, it was created to receive donations and manage funds dedicated to supporting women’s advanced education. The Trust now administers an investment portfolio of over one million dollars to finance a suite of fellowships, scholarships and awards distributed annually across Canada.

Working at arm’s length from CFUW, the Trust focuses on financial support for women university graduates pursuing graduate studies and professional training in a wide range of disciplines, including science, mathematics, engineering, home economics, education, visual arts, music, humanities and social sciences. It also backs awards related to creative arts and libraries, reflecting CFUW’s broader commitment to literacy and cultural life.

Through the National Fellowships & Awards Program, the CFUW Charitable Trust funds approximately fifteen named awards each year, with a combined value of over ninety thousand dollars. These include major fellowships such as the CFUW Indigenous Women’s Award, Dr. Alice E. Wilson Awards, the Memorial Fellowship, the Elizabeth & Rachel Massey Award, the École Polytechnique Commemorative Awards, the Linda Souter Humanities Award, and several discipline-specific fellowships.

The programs are designed primarily for Canadian women pursuing graduate studies (master’s and doctoral levels) or professional degrees. Some awards target specific groups or themes, such as Indigenous women in law, medicine or Indigenous studies, mature students returning to graduate school, or women in STEM fields. Others focus on the creative and performing arts, fine arts, music or humanities. Many awards are tenable in Canada or abroad, provided that study occurs at recognized degree‑granting institutions.

The Trust operates a structured annual competition, with online applications managed in partnership with Universities Canada. Application guidelines are published in both English and French, along with detailed FAQs. Each competition cycle has clear timelines: guidelines and application links are posted in the fall, a firm January deadline is set (or earlier if a maximum number of applications is reached), winners are selected and notified in June, and the official list of awardees is published in September for the corresponding academic year.

Eligibility for all awards is restricted to women as an affirmative action provision under the Canadian Constitution. Applicants must normally hold or be completing an undergraduate degree and be enrolled or applying to eligible graduate or professional programs at recognized institutions. Specific awards add further criteria related to discipline, level of study, or thematic focus.

The CFUW Charitable Trust is governed according to Canada Revenue Agency rules for charities. Its constitution allows the building of reserve funds so that existing awards can be sustained and their value increased over time. The Trust reports publicly on funded fellows and awardees each year, highlighting their research and creative projects, which span topics such as health systems, environmental sustainability, Indigenous rights, social justice, and artistic excellence.

By channeling donations from CFUW clubs, individual members and corporate sponsors into competitive fellowships and awards, the CFUW Charitable Trust plays a significant role in enabling Canadian women to pursue advanced education and leadership in academia, professions, and the arts.