Women Ecosystem Fund (WEF)

Receive up to $3M in Non-Repayable Funding.

Women Ecosystem Fund (WEF) aims to increase women-owned businesses’ ability to access funding, talent, networks, and expertise needed to scale up, expand, and access new markets. The overall goal of this initiative is to support projects that will provide business supports for women entrepreneurs and strengthen the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Canada.

Attention: This program is currently closed. You can speak with a member of our team about future intake periods or similar funding programs you may be eligible for, get email updates through our weekly newsletter, or look through our list of available funding programs in our directory page.

Speak With Our Team About Funding Get Funding Emails Updates Find Similar Funding Programs
Mentor Works Government Funding Application Success Rate

Demande de Financement

Donnez à votre demande les meilleures chances d’être approuvée. Ryan a un taux d’approbation de 86 % pour tous les programmes de financement canadiens.

Apply for This Program

Women Ecosystem Fund (WEF)

Amount of Funding

Successful applicants may receive a non-repayable contribution up to $3 million depending on scope and impact of project.

Amount of Funding from the Canadian Government

Women Ecosystem Fund (WEF)

Eligible Applicants

To be eligible for the Women Ecosystem Fund (WEF) program Applicants must:

  • Be a Canadian not-for-profit organization or association at a local, regional or national level and falls under at least one of the five categories:
    1. Business and entrepreneur support organizations;
    2. Research/innovation hubs;
    3. Organizations that certify diverse suppliers in Canada;
    4. Post-secondary institutions, universities, colleges and technical institutes; and
    5. Indigenous organizations; and Business accelerators and incubators.
  • Applicant must have at least three years as of September 26, 2022;
  • Partner organizations should have a minimum of one year; and
  • Applicants must meet at least one of the following requirements:
    • Have an established mandate focused on supporting women and/or women entrepreneurs; and/or
    • Has administered a support program, focused on women entrepreneurs/women skills development, within the past three years.
Eligible Applicants for Canadian Government Funding

Women Ecosystem Fund (WEF)

Eligible Activities

The eligible activities for the Women Ecosystem Fund (WEF) are:

  • Mentoring or networking;
  • Facilitate capacity building and skills development opportunities;
  • Involve innovative business development and deployment supports and/or strategies;
  • Compilation, development, and delivery of learning materials, policies, procedures, tools, and workshops responsive to the objectives of this initiative;
  • Establish or strengthen inclusive networks and partnerships that identify and share knowledge and best practices, and/or improve coordination of supports for small businesses and entrepreneurs;
  • Advance/support procurement and supplier diversity efforts;
  • Meetings, events, and workshops; and
  • Promotional initiatives to address issues faced by small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Eligible Expenses for Canadian Government Funding

Women Ecosystem Fund (WEF)

Program Deadline

Application deadline is September 26, 2022. Projects must be completed before March 31, 2025.

Program Deadline for Canadian Government Funding
Apply for Government Grants with Mentor Works for Time Savings

Demande de Financement

Nous permettons à nos clients de gagner en moyenne 95 % de temps par rapport aux entreprises qui font leur propre demande de financement.

Start Application

Women Ecosystem Fund (WEF) News

No posts