Grants for Women Founders in Canada (2026)
Open and closed grants, prizes, loans and equity funds for women founders in Canada, with amounts, deadlines and eligibility. Last checked 28 October 2026.
As of 28 October 2026, the largest open opportunities for women founders in Canada are the Amber Grants for Women (USD 15,000 monthly grants, next deadline 31 October 2026) and Canada's Total Mom Pitch (up to $50,000, closes 15 November 2026). Most women-specific funding in Canada is in the form of loans, so we list those clearly next to the grants.
Not everything here is a grant. We list prizes, loans and an equity fund too, and label each one in the Type column so you know whether you can keep the money, must repay it, or give up a share of the company. Amounts are in Canadian dollars unless marked USD, and where a Canadian source gives a dollar amount without a currency we show it as CAD.
Closed programmes stay in a separate table with the expected next round, because most of them repeat on a similar schedule each year. We review this page monthly.
Last checked: 28 October 2026. Updated monthly. See how we check.
Open now
| Program | Type | Amount | Deadline or status | Who can apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amber Grants for Women | Grant | Three monthly grants of USD 15,000 and three year-end grants of USD 75,000 | Open. Deadline is the last day of each month, 11:59 pm Eastern Time, next on 31 October 2026. Winners announced by the 21st of the following month | Women aged 18 or older with a business at least 50% women-owned and based in the US or Canada. Start-up Grant for idea-stage businesses and those under USD 10,000 revenue. Non-refundable USD 15 fee, waiver on request |
| Canada's Total Mom Pitch | Prize | One winner receives up to $50,000 in non-dilutive funding and business services | Applications close 15 November 2026. Top 5 finalists pitch live on 10 February 2027 | Open to Canadian entrepreneurs. The programme is run by Total Mom, check its eligibility page before applying |
| Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund | Loan | Loans of up to CAD 50,000 | Ongoing. Renewed in June 2026 with CAD 59 million over five years. Apply through a delivery organization, not to the federal government | Women entrepreneurs starting or growing a business. Delivered by Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada (regional providers), NACCA for Indigenous entrepreneurs, Nventure, and Evol in Quebec |
| AWE business loans for women in Alberta | Loan | Repayable loans of up to CAD 150,000, typically at Prime +2% to Prime +4%, terms up to five years | Ongoing. Start with the Loan Readiness Quiz, then an eligibility assessment with a loan advisor | Business at least 50.1% owned by women, operating or planning to operate in Alberta, with a business plan and a realistic path to revenue |
Closed programmes
Most of these repeat on a similar schedule each year, so the next round is often predictable.
| Program | Type | Amount | Deadline or status | Who can apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMO Celebrating Women Grant | Grant | Ten grants of CAD 10,000 (CAD 100,000 in total) | 2026 window ran 2 to 23 April, recipients announced in summer 2026. The programme is annual and the 2027 window is not announced | Canadian women-owned businesses with measurable community-building impact that advance at least two UN Sustainable Development Goals |
| Mastercard Small Business Fund, Canada | Grant | Ten grants of CAD 10,000, plus mentorship and digital growth support | 2026 window ran 3 to 24 March. Next window not announced | Women small business owners in Canada |
| Cartier Women's Initiative | Prize | USD 100,000, 60,000 and 30,000 per region (amounts from secondary sources, confirm) | 2027 cycle closed 16 June 2026. The call opened 16 April, so the next one is likely April 2027 (to confirm) | Women-owned for-profit with positive impact, USD 50,000 to 5 million revenue, 5 to 250 employees |
| BDC Women in Technology Venture Fund | Equity investment fund | Investment size not stated on the fund page | Closed to new investments. It now supports existing portfolio companies | Women-led Canadian technology companies from seed to Series B |
How to choose
Idea or very early stage. Amber Grants has a Start-Up Grant for idea-stage businesses and those under USD 10,000 in revenue, and Canadian businesses can apply. For a loan instead of a grant, start with the Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund through the delivery organization for your province.
Earning revenue. The Total Mom Pitch offers up to $50,000 in funding and services, and the BMO Celebrating Women Grant and the Mastercard Small Business Fund are the annual CAD 10,000 grants to watch each spring.
Federal funding news. In June 2026 the federal government announced CAD 173.7 million over five years to renew the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, including CAD 59 million for the loan fund. A separate call for the WES Ecosystem Fund, open to eligible organizations until 9 November 2026, funds ecosystem organizations rather than individual founders as described in the announcement.
FAQ
Are there grants for women founders in Canada?
Yes, but few. The BMO Celebrating Women Grant and the Mastercard Small Business Fund each gave ten grants of CAD 10,000 in 2026, and Canadian businesses can also apply to the Amber Grants. Most women-specific funding in Canada is in the form of loans, such as the federal Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund.
Do I give up equity?
Grants and prizes listed here do not take equity. Loans must be repaid, and the BDC Women in Technology Venture Fund is an equity investor, although it is now closed to new investments.
Can a Canadian business apply to US programmes?
Sometimes. The Amber Grants accept women-owned businesses based in the US or Canada and charge a non-refundable USD 15 fee, with a waiver on request. Many other US programmes require a US-registered business, so check each one.
How do I get a Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund loan?
You apply to one of the delivery organizations, not to the federal government: Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada and its regional providers, NACCA for Indigenous entrepreneurs, Nventure, or Evol in Quebec. Loans go up to CAD 50,000.
When do the BMO and Mastercard grants open again?
Neither has announced 2027 dates. In 2026 the BMO window ran from 2 to 23 April and the Mastercard window from 3 to 24 March, so spring is the likely time to watch.
Methodology
We take amounts, deadlines and eligibility from the programme owner's own page whenever one exists, and use news or aggregator sites only to find programmes. We review the page monthly and whenever a round opens or closes, and the last-checked date at the top is updated each time. Grants, prizes, loans and equity funds are never mixed in one category.
Cite this page
Founded by Women. Grants for Women Founders in Canada. Last checked 28 October 2026. foundedbywomen.org/grants/grants-for-women-founders-canada
Looking for recognition rather than funding? See the FBW Awards.
