Open Call: BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program (Canada)

The program focuses on funding established small businesses that are majority owned and led by women or non-binary entrepreneurs, supporting growth through clear business planning, measurable impact, and alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). The priority areas include fostering inclusivity, promoting global stewardship, strengthening business impact measurement, and enabling business growth through targeted grant funding.

Each year, the program awards ten Canadian small businesses with a $10,000 CAD grant to support their growth. Applicants must demonstrate the business they are building, the impact they are creating, and how the grant funding will enhance that impact. Businesses are expected to connect their work to two to three UN SDGs, explain how impact is measured, and outline plans for scaling their operations.

To be eligible, applicants must be legal residents of Canada, have the authority to apply on behalf of their business, and have not previously received a BMO Celebrating Women Grant. Eligible businesses must be at least 51% owned and controlled by women or non-binary individuals, operate lawfully for-profit in Canada, have been active for a minimum of two years, generate at least $50,000 CAD in annual revenue, and derive at least 50% of revenue from Canadian consumers or businesses. The principal place of business must also be located within Canada.

Applications open on April 2, 2026, and require basic applicant and business information, short-answer questions about business growth and impact, identification of UN SDGs, and an explanation of how grant funds will be used. Semi-finalists will be invited to submit a short video of 60 to 120 seconds in English or French, highlighting the SDGs they focus on and explaining the potential impact of the grant on their business growth.

For more information, visit BMO.