GIRLS’ FUND GRANTS
APPLICATION GUIDELINES 2016-2020
FOUNDING DONOR OF MENTORING FOR GIRLS
Nancy Baron of The W. Garfield Weston Foundation
FOUNDING PARTNERS OF THE GIRLS’ FUND
Ann Southam Empowerment Fund at Canadian Women’s Foundation
Zukerman Family Foundation
RBC Foundation
GIRLS’ FUND DONORS
Canadian Natural Resources Ltd
Mary Jane Crooks and Claire Crooks
Dr. Lori Egger and Stephen Laut
Julie George
Lynda Hamilton
The Haynes-Connell Foundation at the Toronto Community Foundation
Andrea Miller
Rogers Media
TD Bank Group
and Individual Donors across the country
ABOUT THE CANADIAN WOMEN’S FOUNDATION
The Canadian Women’s Foundation is Canada’s public foundation for women and girls. Since
1991, thanks to generous donors across the country, we’ve invested in more than 1,300
community programs across Canada, and are now one of the ten largest women’s foundations
in the world. Every year, we help empower nearly 30,000 women and girls to move out of
violence, out of poverty and into confidence.
We focus on the most critical challenges facing women and girls, and invest in the most effective
solutions for long-term change:
ENDING POVERTY: We help women living on low incomes by investing in programs that
help them launch a small business, learn a skilled trade, or gain valuable work
experience in a social purpose enterprise. We also bring together community
organizations to share research, skills and best practices for women.
STOPPING THE VIOLENCE: We help women in Canada to move out of violence by funding
emergency shelters and programs that help survivors to rebuild their lives. We are
working to end the crime of sex trafficking in Canada, by helping women and girls to
escape from traffickers and by working with local stakeholders to create action plans.
We also invest in school-based violence-prevention programs that teach girls and boys
to stop the violence — for good.
EMPOWERING GIRLS: We help girls in Canada to move into confidence by funding
dynamic programs that engage their body, mind, and spirit. In these programs, at-risk
girls can explore science and technology, play sports, learn to think critically, or take
on leadership, in a supportive all-girl environment.
A LEADING VOICE FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS
As the leading national foundation for women and girls in Canada, we are committed to getting
the issues facing women and girls front and centre in the hearts and minds of Canadians. Through
collaboration with the community organizations, media, corporations, foundations,
government, and donors, we raise the volume on the issues that impact women and girls.
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ABOUT THE GIRLS’ FUND
Women have made vast strides over the past few decades. Women occupy higher levels of
workforce participation and take on more leadership roles than ever before. These
accomplishments should be acknowledged, celebrated and utilized in building programming for
all girls.
Although women have more opportunities than ever before, many girls still face systemic
barriers and oppressive practices that negatively impact their personal growth and
development. On a daily basis, girls deal with issues related to their physical and mental health,
body image, gender and self-esteem (Iglesias and Cormier, 2002). A large percentage of young
Canadian girls also deal with poverty, racism, homophobia, transphobia and sexism on a daily
basis. Violence against women and girls also continues to be a serious problem.
Girls-only programming allows girls a safe space to explore their identities, create positive
relationships with others and focus on their unique strengths and capabilities. It provides a
nurturing environment for girls to engage with older female role models, creating immense
potential for growth, acceptance and support. Girls-only programs can create space for
discussion that encourages girls to question stereotypes, talk about bullying and speak up on
issues. This creates an atmosphere where girls can build the skills and confidence needed to
challenge inequalities that exist in the systems and institutions around us.
Since 2006, the Canadian Women’s Foundation’s Girls’ Fund has supported dynamic programs
and networks for girls between the critical ages of nine and thirteen that engage their body,
mind and spirit. We invest in programs where girls can explore science and technology, do
physical activities, or take on leadership in a supportive all-girl environment. They become
media literate, learning to think critically and to question the stereotyped images that surround
them. They understand how to make healthier life choices and stay safer in dating relationships.
Along the way, they learn to take on new experiences with confidence and meet new challenges
with courage. These critical thinking, communication and decision-making skills are the
building blocks that help girls grow stronger and create a solid foundation for a brighter future.
In 2012, building on the Girls’ Fund and creating greater opportunities for girls, the Nancy Baron
Mentorship for Girls Program was added with generous funding from The W. Garfield Weston
Foundation. It has created another way to promote leadership, increase exposure to diverse
perspectives and experience, and build confidence through relationship building.
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TYPES OF GRANTS AND FUNDING AVAILABLE
The Canadian Women’s Foundation is continuing its commitment to provide funding to support
organizations and programs in Canada working with girls aged 9 to 13. It is expected that
funding will be available for up to 28 grants, but the final number of grants is subject to
Foundation fundraising. These are multi-year grants that will be awarded for a period of 4
years.
The deadline for the applications is Wednesday, December 2nd, 2015.
Commitment to gender diversity: It is important to note and understand that although the Girls’
Fund uses the term ‘girl’ as a social category, gender is a spectrum and not limited to strict
categories of ‘girl’ or ‘boy.’ Participants in girls programming may fall anywhere along that
spectrum. In order to be inclusive and to foster the human rights of all youth, expanding
programming to include all girls regardless of how they express their gender identify is crucial.
An inclusive environment means all girls feel safe and supported, however they may identify.
Over the past funding cycle, a small but increasing number of organizations funded through the
Girls’ Fund have worked with a few participants in their girls programs each year that were
questioning their gender identity. The Girls’ Fund is committed to supporting organizations to
create ‘diversity positive spaces’ and include all girls however they may identify.
Organizations can apply for one of the following types of funding:
A. Girls program involving weekly programming for girls
B. Girls group mentoring program involving formal mentoring, matching small groups of girls
with one mentor or team of mentors
C. Combined girls program and girls group mentoring program
D. Network activities involving building capacity of girls serving organizations across a region
or nationally
A. Girls Program

Up to fourteen grants will be made to organizations focused on delivering programs to girls
between the ages of 9 and 13, using one or more of the following approaches:
 Science and technology
 Physical literacy and sports
 Leadership and empowerment
 Media literacy
 Aboriginal culture and teaching

Girls programs are generally held at least once a week

Girls’ program grants will range from $25,000 to $40,000 annually for a 4 year period.
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B. Girls Group Mentoring Program
– Nancy Baron Mentorship for Girls Program

Up to fourteen grants will be made to organizations focused on delivering an intentional
group mentoring program matching small groups of girls with one mentor or a team of
mentors.

The ratio of mentors to girls is usually one mentor to three or four girls. One-on-one
mentoring will not be considered.

Girls group mentoring program grants will range from $25,000 to $40,000 annually for a 4
year period.
C. Combined Grant: Girls Program and Girls Group Mentoring Program

Some of the twenty-eight grants can be made to organizations that want to deliver both a
girls program and a girls group mentoring program. These two programs must be distinct
from each other, with the mentoring program including formal matched relationships
between participants and mentors. The two programs can serve the same group of girls or
can serve different groups of girls.

A combined grant for girls program and girls group mentoring can be up to a maximum of
$60,000 annually for a 4 year period.
D. Network Activities

One to three grants will be made to organizations that are striving to develop networks and
strengthen connections between girls’ programs and girl-serving organizations focusing on
one of the following populations:
 Northern communities
 Girls with disabilities
Or one of the following issue areas related to girls:
 Gender diversity
 Mental health

These grants will be up to $40,000 annually for a 4 year period.
Please note that we will only accept one application per organization.
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OVERALL ELIGIBILITY AND CRITERIA FOR GRANTS
Please read these criteria carefully as your application will be assessed based on your
organization’s ability to incorporate these criteria in to your programming.
1. Overall Eligibility
To be considered for a grant under the Girls’ Fund, your program or initiative is required to
meet the following:
 Must focus on girls between the ages of 9 and 13

Must be girls only programs, inclusive of all gender expression
It is important to note and understand that although the Girls’ Fund uses the term ‘girl’ as
a social category, gender is a spectrum and not limited to strict categories of ‘girl’ or ‘boy.’
Participants in girls programming may fall anywhere along that spectrum. In order to be
inclusive and to foster the human rights of all youth, expanding programming to include all
girls regardless of how they express their gender identity is crucial. An inclusive
environment means all girls feel safe and supported, however they may identify.

Must have valid charitable number from Canada Revenue Agency or be a First Nation that is
designated by Canada Revenue Agency as a qualified donee.
If your organization does not have charitable status or is not a qualified donee, we may be
able to consider an application from an organization you work with that is registered charity
with a mandate relevant to your program. The other organization’s volunteer Board of
Directors will be legally responsible for ensuring that the funds are spent for the charitable
purpose intended, and they will be required to sign a letter of agreement. The other
organization will be considered the grantee and your organization will be considered a
partner in the program.
2. Overall Criteria
When reviewing applications for the Girls’ Fund we focus our resources by prioritizing the
following overall criteria:
 Relevance of the approach for girls in a local area

Organization’s philosophy and previous experience with girls

Clarity and viability of ideas

Ongoing effects/impact which will endure beyond the grant

Organization’s ability to carry out the work and to attract the other funds required if the
request to Foundation is for partial support of costs

Organization’s openness to learning from other approaches and interest in testing new ideas

Programs for girls who face multiple challenges including: First Nation, Métis and Inuit girls;
Black girls and girls of colour; Rural or remote girls; LGBTQ girls; girls of diverse gender
expression; low-income girls; Newcomer, immigrant, refugee or undocumented girls; girls
with disabilities and Deaf girls.
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3. Grant Specific Criteria
Organizations are required to select the type of grant for which they would like to apply
and should look at the criteria for that grant type.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Girls Program Grant
Girls Group Mentoring Program Grant
Combined Grant - Girls Program and Girls Group Mentoring Program
Network Grant
Each type of grant has criteria that the Review Committee will use to assess applications in that
category. You should review these criteria carefully and keep them in mind when answering
the application questions.
A. Girls Program Criteria
The Girls’ Fund is looking for program models that enhance protective factors for girls, such as
connectedness, confidence, enhanced critical thinking skills. The Girls Program grants must
use one or more of the following approaches in their programming:
 Science and technology
 Physical literacy and sports
 Leadership and empowerment
 Media literacy
 Aboriginal culture and teaching
The best practices listed here are the criteria that will be used to assess the girls program
grant applications:

Explicit attention to gender equity

An asset-based, positive approach

A skills development component (in particular, critical thinking skills)

An accessible girls-only, safe space

Diversity positive space which recognizes and addresses the diversity of girls

Participant directed and/or participant-involved

An informal mentorship component

A holistic approach (e.g. talk, learning and skill development, fun, and community action)

Incremental and continuous programming (i.e. short term summer programs without follow
up programming would not be eligible)

Parental/caregiver/familial support and/or involvement
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B. Girls Group Mentoring Program Criteria
We are looking for organizations who are interested in developing an intentional and
comprehensive group mentoring program. It is our expectation that girls will be involved in
their matched mentoring relationship for a minimum of one year.
Programs may determine the best fit for their community in terms of mentoring format,
including engaging older students, adults, or Elders as mentors, as well as using group or team
mentoring. While one-on-one mentoring is a valuable model of mentoring, it will not be
considered for this funding.
In mid-November, the Foundation will be launching an online Girls Group Mentoring Toolkit.
This toolkit will be a valuable resource for you as you develop your girls group mentoring
application. It can be accessed on the Foundation website at www.canadianwomen.org
The best practices listed here are the criteria that will be used to assess the applications:

Explicit attention to gender equality

An asset-based, positive approach

An accessible girls-only, safe space

Diversity positive space which recognizes and addresses the diversity of girls, and reflects
this through mentor selection

Participant directed and/or participant-involved

Parental/caregiver/familial support and/or involvement

Be centered around mentoring of small groups of girls either by a single mentor or a team
of mentors

Provide structured activities for the mentoring relationship

Engage girls in a matched relationship with a committed mentor for a minimum of one year

Recruitment and screening that takes into consideration compatibility of the groups of girls
and their mentor, and mentors ability to work with and support the group process

Consistency of contact between the mentor and the group of girls (mentees) – regular
meetings build trust and comfort

Significant and ongoing training for mentors

Ongoing support for mentors
C. Combined Grant - Girls Program and Girls Group Mentoring Criteria

See sections A and B above. The same criteria will be considered for each part of the
combined grant.
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D. Network Grant Criteria
The network grants are provided to an organization or partnership of organizations that are
aiming to strengthen the programming for girls within a region or nationally. If it is an informal
partnership, but there must be a lead organization to receive the funding.
The network applications are assessed by how they are addressing the following criteria:

Strengthening the capacity of girl serving organizations through network activities that focus
on:
 One of the following populations
- Northern communities
- Girls with disabilities
 Or one of the following issue areas related to girls
- Gender diversity
- Mental health

Enhancing design of programs for girls

Increasing connections and partnerships among organizations serving girls
CANADIAN WOMEN’S FOUNDATION DOES NOT FUND
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Individuals
Federal, provincial or municipal government agencies and school boards (they can be
involved but the Foundation grant will be made directly to the community organization)
Profit-based organizations
Fundraising events
Conferences (although the project may involve some meetings)
Projects not solely or primarily focused on women and girls
Deficit or emergency funding
Films or videos (unless this is part of a larger project)
Capital expenditures
Projects outside of Canada
Research
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TIMING AND PROCESS
All applications must be submitted by on Wednesday, December 2nd, 2015. No late applications
will be accepted.
You will receive an automatic email notification once your application has been submitted. If
you do not receive an email confirming receipt of your application, it is your responsibility to
notify us at girlsfundgrants@canadianwomen.org
A Grants Committee of community volunteers from across the country and Foundation
representatives will review the applications. The Grants Committee makes recommendations
to the Foundation’s Board of Directors about which programs and networks to fund. The Board
of Directors gives final approval to all grants.
Below is a brief summary of the timeframe for the Girls’ Fund and decisions related to funding.
December 2nd, 2015
Applications due
Dec 2015 – Feb 2016
Grants Committee Review & Shortlisting
March – April 2016
Site Visits for shortlisted applicants only
May 2016
Grants Selection Committee meeting
June 2016
Board Decision
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
There are a number of resources available to support organizations in developing proposal
responses and for navigating the online application platform. Please reference the Guidelines
and Instructions prepared for the grant you are applying for before beginning your online
application.
For
more
information
and
www.canadianwomen.org/grants.
to
access
these
resources,
please
visit
FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE
If you have any questions about these guidelines or your application, please email or telephone
Beth Malcolm or Samantha Cochrane
Beth Malcolm
bmalcolm@canadianwomen.org
416-365-1444 or 1-866-293-4483 ext 235
TTY 416-365-1732
Samantha Cochrane
scochrane@canadianwomen.org
416-365-1444 or 1-866-293-4483 ext 226
TTY 416-365-1732
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