Grants and Contributions:

Certification of Funders Serving Women Entrepreneurs

NA21316

$699,646.00

Aug 6, 2021 - Mar 31, 2024

This 29-month project will support a feminist response and recovery from the current impacts of COVID-19, through systemic change. Forum for Women Entrepreneurs in British Columbia will achieve this by working with funders, such as traditional financial institutions and equity investors, to remove or reduce women entrepreneurs’ barriers to accessing capital in order to grow their business. Funders will be invited to join a certification program that would involve educating staff, advancing new inclusive policies and practices, revisiting external and internal processes and updating their corporate culture. A particular focus will be put on addressing harmful perceptions and prejudices that funders may have towards women entrepreneurs and on recognizing and addressing the unique systemic barriers faced by Black, Indigenous and Women of Colour (BIWOC). A working group made up of representatives of women entrepreneurs and financial institutions, along with the voices of BIWOC and LGBTQ2S+ entrepreneurs and research on adapted funding practices, will inform the development of the processes, inclusive policies and practices and certification program. At the end of the project, the organization will have contributed to addressing systemic barriers by advancing inclusive policies and practices, encouraging more equitable and effective sharing of resources, increasing networks and collaboration to accelerate systemic change, supporting positive distribution of authority, voices, and decision-making power, and addressing persistent harmful gender norms and attitudes of the system, all to support women’s equality.

Women and Gender Equality Canada

Women and stakeholders have access to supports to address issues relating to equality between women and men.

Vancouver, British Columbia, CA V6C 1T2

001-2021-2022-Q3-00074

Contribution

Grants and Contributions

Not-for-profit organization or charity

Forum for Women Entrepreneurs in British Columbia

Women's Program

The purpose of the Women’s Program is to advance equality for women in Canada by working to address or remove systemic barriers impeding women’s progress and advancement. The WP supports the Government of Canada’s goal of advancing gender equality in Canada. It is consistent with Government of Canada priorities related to economic prosperity, and supports Canada’s international commitments related to gender equality.