Investment Readiness Program:
Your Impact

Through the Foundation’s Investment Readiness Program, you’ve helped strengthen more than 100 social purpose organizations (SPOs) led by and for women and gender-diverse people.

SPOs include charities, non-profits, social enterprises, for-profits, and co-operatives that advance social, cultural, or environmental goals. Since the revenue they generate can be reinvested back into their work, this business model enables gender equity organizations to generate funding, boost social impact, and become more sustainable.

Between 2019 and 2023, the Foundation fueled 100+ social purpose organizations with $8 million and provided:

  • One-on-one support
  • Connections to experts to assist with feasibility assessments, business plan development, marketing support, and legal advice
  • Forums to build relationships with other SPOs, investors, and people in social finance

See your impact in action

Our hope is to be able to continue offering this shopping option to more Calgarians and save more items from going into landfills and help protect the environment for many years to come.”

Asia Hamzaie, WINS More Store

Stitch Lab [is] a bunch of amazing ladies from all walks of life coming together to learn different skills [and] talents. … We’re learning how to become our own entrepreneurs and how to go out there and become better citizens.”

Victoria, Stitch Lab

The housing will provide a much-needed safe, supportive space where survivors and their children can find solace, and have time and access to resources to figure out what is next.”

Susan Namulindwa, Maama Watali

Thanks to the support from the Canadian Women’s Foundation’s Investment Readiness Program, and our partnership with SEED Winnipeg, we’ve been able to expand our operations, refine our business strategies, and secure vital financing for growth.”

Nicole Tomala, Eadha Bakery

With the support from the Investment Readiness Program and the Canadian Women’s Foundation, ImaginAble Solutions has partnered with Cerebral Palsy Alberta to facilitate disability innovation workshops across North America to train health professionals on Guided Hands, the design-thinking process, and how to use 3D printing technology to create innovations for their clients with disabilities.”

Lianna Genovese, ImaginAble Solutions

The Investment Readiness Program is funded by the Government of Canada’s Social Innovation/Social Finance Strategy.

Government of Canada Logo

How Social Purpose Organizations Got Stronger

  • Social finance awareness: 85% strengthened their understanding of the social finance market
  • Organizational ability: 85% improved their understanding of structures, systems, and skills required for social entrepreneurship
  • Business model/plan Development: 77% improved their ability to develop a viable business plan
  • Impact measurement and reporting: 74% strengthened their capacity to measure and report the impact of their work
  • Network development: 74% built connections through the program with key actors in the social innovation and social finance ecosystem

  • See the Impact Summary

Evaluation Report 2022-2024

Cover page of Investment Readiness Program Evaluation Report

Theory of Change

A thumbnail image of the Investement Readiness Program Theory of Change