Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Shoppers Foundation for Women's Health

Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health is a national philanthropic initiative associated with Shoppers Drug Mart that focuses exclusively on women’s health and health equity in Canada. Working with more than 360 partner organizations, the foundation distributes financial support to charities, community programs and research initiatives that help ensure care is more equitable and accessible for women in diverse communities across the country.

The foundation has committed to invest $50 million by 2026 to advance its mission. Since 2022, it reports having contributed more than $34 million to address health inequities faced by women, confirming an active and large-scale grantmaking and donation role. Funds are channelled to registered charities and partner organizations that provide direct services, advocacy and research related to women’s health.

The foundation structures its commitments around three broad pillars: improving access to care and support, increasing awareness of women’s unique health needs and existing equity gaps, and supporting research and innovation in women’s health. Within these themes, it supports a variety of programs, including local women’s mental health services, menstrual health and product access initiatives, and national women’s health research collaborations.

Examples highlighted on the site include raising funds for local women’s mental health programs through the Run for Women event series, partnerships with organizations such as Moon Time Sisters, The Period Purse, Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters and BC Society of Transition Houses to improve access to menstrual products and education, and collaboration with Women’s Health Collective Canada to help prioritize women’s health research.

The primary beneficiaries of the foundation’s funding are women and gender-diverse people across Canada, including those facing intersecting barriers linked to geography, income, race, Indigeneity and other social determinants of health. The homepage also highlights major thematic initiatives, such as a multi‑million‑dollar commitment to support families and communities of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2Spirit+ Peoples.

By directing donations from the public and corporate contributions toward vetted charities, the foundation acts as an intermediary grant provider, amplifying the impact of community organizations. Its impact reports, produced on a recurring basis, document the amounts invested, key partner charities and the reach of funded programs in mental health, reproductive and menstrual health, and broader women’s health equity.

While the website emphasizes impact summaries and thematic priorities rather than detailed application processes, it clearly positions Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health as a structured funding body with multi‑year financial commitments. Through published impact reports and concise descriptions of partner organizations and initiatives, it offers stakeholders a transparent view of how donations and corporate investments are deployed to advance women’s health across Canada.