Grants and Contributions

Through this 26-month project, Women’s Equity Lab will build its capacity to advance gender equality by addressing the barriers to investment for Canadian women. The project will increase the capacity of the organization’s management team and will conduct a review of the accessibility and impact of their processes, policies, and guiding documents, among other resources. This will include conducting a strategic planning review, the implementation of new technologies and tools for better monitoring, collaboration and engagement, and training in the principles of angel investing for member investors at the core of the organization. Technologies and tools new to the organization will be further utilized to create a national database of women-led and women-focused companies and better manage the organization’s finances. The organization will implement a national communication strategy for all member groups. Women’s Equity Lab will improve and increase engagement and collaboration with underrepresented groups including OLMCs, 2SLGBTQI+ communities, newcomers, Black, and racialized groups. They will do so by building an accessible and bilingual website, participating in conferences catered to underrepresented groups who may seek investment opportunities for their companies or to become member investors, as well as seeking out other direct engagement opportunities for feedback on organizational messaging and strategies.

Supplemental funding will allow for enhancement of marketing and communication strategies to amplify the impact of existing work and strengthen visibility with key stakeholders. The funding will support the onboarding of new volunteers, allow them to participate in national symposiums, and expand educational programming. Supplemental funding will facilitate engagement with experts in artificial intelligence to improve accounting, oversight, and overall efficiency.

With the Supplemental funds and extension provided in early 2026, Women’s Equity Lab will (i) increase capacity and accessibility of WEL management team; (ii) consolidate and streamline WEL back office operations by implementing technology solutions that enhance both efficiency and effectiveness; and (iii) improve and increase external connectivity opportunities and activities with underrepresented groups including OLMC, 2SLGBTQI+ communities, newcomers, Black, and racialized groups. Through this, they will further advance Gender Equality.

This 30-month project will support a feminist response and recovery from the current impacts of COVID-19, through systemic change. Capital Investment Network will achieve this by establishing a national network of Women’s Equity Labs that will consist of nine new chapters across rural and urban areas in seven regions across Canada to increase women-led investing, and the development, implementation, and evaluation of a young women’s mentorship initiative.

At the end of the project, the organization will have contributed to addressing systemic barriers by supporting positive distribution of authority, voices, and decision-making power, encouraging more equitable and effective sharing of resources, and increasing networks and collaboration to accelerate systemic change to support women’s equality.

Building upon a proven model of three existing Women’s Equity Labs in British Columbia, the project will rely heavily upon networking, relationship building and collaboration to empower women across Canada with the skills necessary to actively participate in the investment and leadership of emerging businesses.