(2024) Grants for Women Entrepreneurs: 55+ Business Grants for Female-Owned Businesses
In 2024, women entrepreneurs across Canada have access to a wealth of funding opportunities which are in place to help foster growth, innovation and success.
As of today, there are over 55 business grants and funding options for female owned businesses which you can see below, enabling you to secure the needed funding to take your business to the next level.
These business grants and funding options are available across all industries and provinces of Canada, as well, are aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs who are attempting to overcome the financial barrier and active their business goals.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand your existing business, this guide will help you navigate the landscape of grants for women entrepreneurs in Canada, educating you on women entrepreneur financing, female entrepreneur grants and the available small business loans for women.
Access 55+ Business Grants and Government Loans for Women
Business grants for women entrepreneurs can provide a financial boost that is required to turn innovation into a reality, expand operations and overcome the unexpected challenges of business ownership.
Join us as we explore the different business grants and government funding options for female-owned businesses in 2024.
Are Female-Owned Business Grants Right For You?
As we review the 55+ business grants and government loans for women entrepreneurs, it is imporatnt to know if you and your business are a fit.
Business grants and funding programs for women are specifically created to help support female entrepreneurs at various stages of their business venture. With that in mind, a number of factors are at play to determine if a female-owned business grant or program is right for you. These factors include the below:
☑️ The business must have female ownership.
If you are hoping to apply to a women focused grant or funding program, your business must be majority female owned. Meaning 51% or more of the business must be owned by a woman, or multiple women.
☑️ The business must be legally registered. (Sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation)
☑️ The business must be located in Canada. Certain women programs will require a specific location, or province.
☑️ Certain female grants and business loans require that a business be in a certain stage. This can vary, but can include from the startup process, to the growth and expansion process.
☑️ Certain grants are industry-specific, focusing on sectors like technology, healthcare, retail, or green initiatives. It’s essential to ensure your business aligns with the grant’s industry focus.)
☑️ The intended use of the grant funds can influence eligibility. Common purposes include research and development, marketing, scaling operations, hiring staff, and purchasing equipment.
In addition to this, as a woman in business, your first priority should be to have a solid business plan. One that outlines your business goals, strategies, financial projections as well, showcases that you are a female entrepreneur.
By meeting these general qualifications, women entrepreneurs can access a number of business grants and funding options to support their business in Canada.
You can review all business grants and funding options for women entrepreneurs within the Funding Database.
Access the 55+ Women Focused Business Grants and Funding Options
If you are considering starting a business, or have an existing business that is majority female-owned (51%), you should consider government funding and business grants.
With that in mind, you must have expenses that you’d like to cover. Have a look at the below, to see what small business grants for women entrepreneurs can be used for!
What Can Small Business Grants for Women Be Used For?
Women business grants and funding options can be used to cover a number of startup and expansion costs as you run your business. Here are some of the more commonly used user cases as how to benefit from the available funding:
The government of Canada, including the local and provincial government offices provide a large number of options for small business owners and female entrepreneurs to take advantage of. These options vary from business to business, however the majority will come in the form of business grants, business loans and tax breaks/credits.
While these funds are all government funds, some can be government backed as well (via banks and lenders).
Business Grants for Women
Business grants for female business owners, considered free money is often the best form of funding that a business owner can obtain as it can give a business several key benefits, including:
Government grants for Women offer several benefits for businesses, including:
- Non-Repayable Funding: These are grants that do not need to be repaid, unlike loans, which helps businesses manage cash flow and reduce financial burden.
- Financial Support: These business grants provide crucial financial support, allowing businesses to invest in growth, innovation, and development without impacting their capital reserves.
- Risk Mitigation: Accessing these business grants reduces the financial risk associated with new projects, research and development, or expansion plans.
- Competitive Advantage: Government grants can enhance a business’s competitive edge by enabling investments in new technology, skilled labor, and market expansion.
- Encourages Innovation: Grants often target innovative projects, helping businesses develop new products, services, or processes that can lead to significant market advantages.
- Improves Credibility: Receiving a government grant can enhance a business’s credibility with investors, customers, and partners, as it demonstrates government support and validation of the business’s potential.
- Access to Expertise: Many grant programs offer additional resources such as mentorship, networking opportunities, and access to industry experts, which can be invaluable for business growth and development.
- Job Creation: These business grants aimed at job creation help businesses hire more staff, contributing to local economic development and increasing the company’s operational capacity.
Government Loans for Women Entrepreneurs
Much like traditional bank loans, government loans for women are not different in a standard sense that you are still borrowing money, however, government loans have number of key benefits to a business owner utilizing them, including:
- Lower Interest Rates: Government loans often come with lower interest rates compared to traditional bank loans, making them more affordable and reducing the overall cost of borrowing.
- Flexible Repayment Terms: These loans typically offer more flexible repayment terms, allowing businesses to choose repayment schedules that align with their cash flow and financial situation.
- Access to Larger Amounts: Government loans may provide access to larger amounts of capital than other funding sources, enabling businesses to undertake significant projects or expansions.
- Support for Specific Sectors: Many government loan programs are tailored to support specific industries or sectors, providing targeted financial assistance to businesses in those areas.
- Encourages Investment in Innovation: Government loans often support innovation and development projects, helping businesses invest in new technologies, research, and development efforts that can drive growth and competitiveness.
- Boosts Business Credit: Successfully securing and repaying a government loan can help build and improve a business’s credit history, making it easier to obtain additional financing in the future.
- Job Creation and Economic Growth: Government loans can facilitate job creation and contribute to local economic development, benefiting both the business and the wider community.
- Supplementary Support: In addition to financial assistance, government loan programs may offer supplementary support such as business advisory services, mentorship, and networking opportunities.
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Less Stringent Requirements: Government loans may have less stringent eligibility and collateral requirements compared to private sector loans, making it easier for small and medium-sized businesses to qualify
Access 55+ Business Grants For Female Entrepreneurs
Tax Breaks / Tax Credits For Female-Led Businesses
One of the easier funding types offered by the government of Canada is the available tax breaks and credits. These tax breaks and credits directly reduce the amount of taxes a business owes, resulting in significant cost savings that can be reinvested into the business.
By lowering tax liabilities, businesses retain more of their earnings, improving cash flow and financial stability. This also can encourage businesses to invest in new equipment, research and development, employee training, and other growth initiatives that might otherwise be cost-prohibitive.
No matter of the type of funding, be it a government business grant, a government loan, or a tax break/credit, as a startup or growing business, you should regularly check available government funding options and take advantage of them.
How Much Grant Money Or Funding Can I Get As a Female Owned Business?
Our Funding Database currently has over 1,500 different funding options available; including 55+ female owned business grants and funding options.
A typical female business owner , starting up, or expanding their business, will be eligible to 4-5 different options. Multiple more options, if regular funding searches are conducted (this is done by our experts for you).
Funding amounts and how much you can get in grant funding varies from business to business, as it is based on your specific funding needs, in accordance to the expenses that you wish to cover.
Currently, for 2024, business grants and funding ranges from $1,000 to $500,000 (larger options are available when combined)
Access 55+ Business Grants for Women in Business
2024 Women Entrepreneur Small Business Grants and Funding List – 55+ Options
Government funding options are constantly changing.
New city and provincial and federal options are constantly closing; and new incentives are coming in. Staying on top of these funding options is crucial to ensure you don’t miss any business grants and funding options for the rest of 2024.
Below is a list of over 55+ for women business grants, government loans and funding options that can help your female-led small business.
If you wish to consider any of the options, speaking with a qualified expert is recommended – call 1-800-288-9691.
55+ Grants and Funding for Female Entrepreneurs
| WISE Fund | Various amounts |
Grants for sports administrators, coaches, officials and teachers offering or creating opportunities and programming for girls and women in sport.
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| Film and Video Individual Project Funding | $15,000 |
Funding is available for individual Alberta artists and arts administrators for specific film and video arts projects.
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| Future Capital Executive Program | Various amounts |
Harness the power of early-stage investing as a tool for corporate innovation and professional development
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| Angel Academy | Various amounts |
Educational investor accelerator program designed for female leaders in the corporate and technology sectors.
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| TECHNATION’s Career Ready Program | $7,000 |
Wage subsidy program to support businesses by financing their decision to hire a student for a work-term placement.
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| Fierce Founders Intensive Track | $50,000 | Support and funding for women and non-binary founders |
| WEOC National Loan Program | $50,000 |
Offers business management training, trade missions, one-to-one business advice, and networking events, to women-owned enterprises in Nova Scotia.
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| Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Business Loans | $150,000 |
Women Entrepreneurs Program provides financial support for entrepreneurs as well as advisory support
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| Business Loans for Youth | $70,000 |
Offers unsecured loans up to $70,000 to women entrepreneurs who reside in British Columbia and are between 19 and 39 years old.
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| WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS | $150,000 |
The Réseau is a network of Community Financial development Corporations and Community Business Development Corporations that work together with the aim of creating a vibrant economy in Québec.
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| Women in Business New Brunswick | Various amounts |
Offers services and programs to women business owners and entrepreneurs in New Brunswick to expand their business, access resources, training and networking opportunities.
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| Vancity Unity Women Entrepreneurs Program | $100,000 | Loan opportunity for women entrepreneurs |
| Cartier Women’s Initiative Award | $100,000 |
The Cartier Women’s Initiative is looking for committed women entrepreneurs heading businesses with the potential to grow significantly in the years to come. It is a unique opportunity for them to take their companies to the next level.
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| Women’s Enterprise Centre Business Loan | $150,000 |
To offer financial assistance, counselling and access to business information for female entrepreneurs.
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| Shes Next Program | $10,000 |
10 exceptional women entrepreneurs will be selected to receive a grant plus a one-year annual IFundWomen Coaching Membership.
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| Pitch for the Purse | Various amounts | Pitch competition win seed funding for female founders |
| Woman Identifying Business Owner Micro-grant | $5,000 |
Micro-grants to be awarded to women identifying business owners seeking access to a business grant to scale their business.
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| Business Loans for Women | Various amounts |
Loans for women entrepreneurs in B.C. for starting, buying or growing a business.
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| PARO Prosper Peer Lending Circles | $5,000 |
PARO Peer Circle Loans provide up to $5,000 to women in business in Northern Ontario who belong to PARO Circles.
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| NextStep Program for Indigenous Women | Various amounts |
This program supports Indigenous women entrepreneurs at an early start-up phase who wish to develop a comprehensive business plan. One on one business advising is also available.
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| Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs | Various amounts |
Provides support, consultation, and access to networking events to women in business in Newfoundland and Labrador.
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| Microlending for Women in Ontario Program | Various amounts |
This program provides skills training, mentoring, and microloans to low-income women in Ontario who wish to start a business.
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| Women Program | Various amounts |
Funding opportunity for women’s organizations fighting against domestic violence
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| PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise | Various amounts |
PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise offers guidance and support to women in business in Northern Ontario.
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| Prince Edward Island Business Women’s Association | Various amounts |
The Prince Edward Island Business Women’s Association provides advice, mentoring, networking events, and other business resources to women in business on PEI.
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| Alberta Women Entrepreneurs Association | Various amounts |
To provide business counselling, mentoring, information, and financing to Alberta’s women entrepreneurs.
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| Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development (SINED) – Pan-Territorial Fund | Various amounts |
The Fund supports projects involving multiple territories (or a territory and one or more provinces) related to areas within the territories to promote inter-jurisdictional cooperation for shared economic interest.
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| BMO Launch Me Entrepreneurship Program & Competition | $20,000 |
Take your business idea to the next level for the Launch me Entrepreneurship Program
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| Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Inc. | Various amounts |
To provide loans, advisory, training, and networking services to women entrepreneurs throughout Saskatchewan.
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| Financing | $450,000 |
Loans for underrepresented entrepreneurs (including women) in Quebec, both for start ups as well as established businesses.
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| Canada-India Acceleration Program | $20,000 |
A competition to enable female tech entrepreneurs to break into new markets, specifically India, and in the process, make impactful connections, learn valuable skills and spur venture growth.
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| Proof of Concept Program | $250,000 |
Up to $250,000 in funding for innovative natural products and technologies
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| Pique Ventures | Various amounts | Funding opportunity for female-led ventures |
| Women in Technology Venture Fund | Various amounts |
A women-focused fund from seed stage to Series A and B with revenues between $500,000 and $30 million.
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| AgriTalent | $7,000 |
Wage subsidy for employers in agriculture to hire students from diverse academic backgrounds and qualify for a wage subsidy of up to $ 7500 per student.
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| Canadian Agricultural Partnership AgriDiversity Program | Various amounts |
Funding opportunity for under-represented groups in Canadian agriculture
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| Beef Breeder Co-operative Program | $75,000 |
To offer producers the opportunity to boost their calf production and help fulfill a shortfall of Ontario calves to feedlots.
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| FCC Women Entrepreneur Program | Various amounts | Access to financing options for women in agriculture and food. |
| Women in Trade | Various amounts |
Export Development Canada (EDC) is dedicated to helping Canadian women-owned and -led businesses achieve success on the global stage by providing the financial solutions and knowledge to grow with confidence.
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| Women Entrepreneurs in Saskatchewan Financing | $150,000 |
To provide female entrepreneurs with business information, training, loans and advisory services.
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| Femmessor Loans for Women | Various amounts | Financing for women-owned businesses in Quebec |
| Women’s Business Development Program | $100,000 |
The Women’s Business Development Program was designed to assist Saskatchewan Métis Women with the desire to become entrepreneurs, overcome barriers and enhance their ability to leverage financing and support.
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| Alberta Women Entrepreneurs Growth Loan | $150,000 | To help women in Alberta start or grow their own business. |
| Youth Business Loans | $70,000 |
Loan opportunities for women entrepreneurs between the age of 19 and 39.
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| Women in Business Loan | $150,000 |
Funding opportunity for female founders in the Wakenagun community
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| Regional Diversification Pool | $350,000 |
Loan opportunities for Small and Medium-sized enterprises in Eastern Ontario.
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| Funding For Business Projects | $50,000 |
Microcredit loans can help with business startup or development. If you are excluded from conventional financing networks, you may be eligible for a loan with Microcrédit Montréal.
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| Startup Canada Women Founders Fund | Various amounts |
The Startup Canada Women Entrepreneurs Program supports women entrepreneurs, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, to start and scale thriving businesses.
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| Women’s Enterprise Centre of Manitoba | $150,000 |
This initiative is designed to cater to those who are either initiating a startup, strategizing an expansion of their current enterprise, or considering the acquisition of an already-established business within the region
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| Disruption ventures | Various amounts | Venture capital funds for female-founded companies |
| ***Supporting Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs | $50,000 |
Are you an Indigenous woman thinking of starting or growing your business? NADF can help you!
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| ***Science and Technology Internship Programme (CGC-STIP) |
$24,000 |
Green jobs create positive environmental outcomes and have a strong tie to one of the natural resources sectors: energy, forestry, mining, and earth sciences.
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| ****Promoting Women Online | Various amounts | |
| ****S.E.A. Program |
The program is designed to give you the time and resources necessary to complete a business plan and to put that plan into action.
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| ****PROOF OF CONCEPT | $250,000 | |
| ****ACCESS TO TALENT PROGRAM | $75,000 |
The Access to Talent Program helps Canadian SMEs or start-up companies hire an experienced individual to carry out a project to achieve key milestones that support the development of a natural product or technology
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| WEOC National Loan Fund | $50,000 |
Up to $50,000 in loan funding for women and non-binary entrepreneurs as they start, scale, grow and maintain their business.
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| Community Economic Development (CED) | Various amounts |
Grant funding opportunity for community projects in Peterborough BC
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| Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund | $50,000 | Funding opportunity for Indigenous women entrepreneurs |
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