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Issues Affecting Women Programme - Canada
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Issues Affecting Women Programme

Supports organizations in advancing women's rights and justice through long-term strategic initiatives.
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Funding available
$ 25,000 - $ 7,000,000
Timeline
  • Open continuously
Location
Canada

Overview

This program offers substantial financial support to organizations working to promote women's rights and address violence against women. Funding ranges from USD 25,000 to USD 7 million, with an average award of USD 600,000, aimed at fostering long-term social change and movement building.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.

At a glance

Funding available

Financing goals
  • Increase social or community impact
  • Develop strategic partnerships
  • Develop workforce skills
Eligible Funding
  • Maximum amount : 7,000,000 $
  • Minimum amount : 25,000 $
Timeline
  • Open continuously

Eligible candidates

Eligible Industries
  • All industries
Location
  • Canada
Legal structures
  • Non-profit
Annual revenue
  • All revenue ranges
Organisation size
  • All organization sizes
Audience
  • All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
  • Economic, Social and Community Development
Target groups
  • All the groups
Revenue structures
  • Mixed revenue (<50% earned)
  • Mixed revenue (50%+ earned)
Scope
  • Provincial

Next Steps

1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility

Activities funded

  • Community outreach and advocacy campaigns promoting women's rights.
  • Organizational capacity enhancement for grassroots movements.
  • Research activities to inform policy change on gender issues.
  • Training programs for women leaders and activists.

Documents Needed

Organization registration documents, project proposal, supporting materials such as budgets and timelines.

Official resources

Official page

Issues Affecting Women Programme

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

  • Women-led or women-focused organizations committed to gender justice.
  • Non-profit organizations working on women's rights issues.
  • Advocacy and community mobilization groups involved in violence prevention.

Who is not eligible

  • For-profit companies not dedicated to social issues related to women's rights.
  • Organizations outside the specified geographical regions unless explicitly eligible.
  • Entities with unresolved legal or financial issues or insolvency.

Eligible expenses

Costs related to program activities supporting women's rights, organizational capacity building, and advocacy efforts.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

  • Activities not aligned with program goals such as unrelated community projects.
  • Expenses for activities that do not support women's rights or address violence against women.
  • Operational costs unrelated to program delivery.
  • Activities outside the focus regions unless specified in particular calls for proposals.

Eligible geographic areas

Global, with a focus on regions mentioned in the funding region description.

Selection criteria

  • Strategic relevance and potential impact of the project (40%).
  • Organizational capacity and past experience (30%).
  • Innovation and sustainability of proposed activities (20%).
  • Alignment with program objectives and regional priorities (10%).

How to apply

Submit an initial letter of inquiry describing your organization's work and project ideas.Await invitation to submit a full application if there is alignment with program priorities.Prepare and submit a detailed project proposal including objectives, activities, and supporting documents.Complete and send application through the designated submission platform or address provided by the program.Participate in any follow-up discussions or interviews as required during the review process.

Processing and Agreement

  • Application review is conducted on a rolling basis with decisions made by the Board of Trustees.
  • Decisions can take from two months to over a year after the concept note submission.
  • Applicants will be notified of the outcome and may be asked for additional information or clarifications.
  • Funding agreements will be finalized upon approval, outlining conditions for disbursement and project monitoring.

Additional information

The application process is invitation-only, but organizations can submit a letter of inquiry to express interest in alignment with the program's strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Issues Affecting Women Programme Program

What is the Issues Affecting Women Programme?

This program offers substantial financial support to organizations working to promote women's rights and address violence against women. Funding ranges from USD 25,000 to USD 7 million, with an average award of USD 600,000, aimed at fostering long-term social change and movement building.

How much funding can be received?

Issues Affecting Women Programme Funds up to $7,000,000 of admissible expenses.

Who is eligible for the Issues Affecting Women Programme program?

To be eligible for the Issues Affecting Women Programme program, you must: Women-led organizations, committed to long-term change, aligned with program goals.

What expenses are eligible under Issues Affecting Women Programme?

Community outreach and advocacy campaigns promoting women's rights. Organizational capacity enhancement for grassroots movements. Research activities to inform policy change on gender issues. Training programs for women leaders and activists.

Where is the Issues Affecting Women Programme available?

The Issues Affecting Women Programme program is available across Canada.

Is the Issues Affecting Women Programme a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Issues Affecting Women Programme is a Grant and Funding

Who are the financial supporters of the Issues Affecting Women Programme?

Issues Affecting Women Programme is funded by Oak Foundation