Canadian Women's Foundation

About Canadian Women's Foundation:

Founded in 1991, Canadian Women’s Foundation (CWF) advocates for and funds projects that help women move out of violence and poverty, and into confidence and leadership. CWF says that progress toward gender equality in Canada is at risk. Canada fell from 30^th place to 35^th place in the 2016 Global Gender Gap rankings by the World Economic Forum. In F2018, CWF funded 74 programs, of which 21 served remote communities and 25 primarily served First nations communities. CWF groups the programs it funds into four main categories: Out of Violence, Out of Poverty, Into Confidence, and Into Leadership.

Canadian Women’s Foundation Out of Violence programs received 39% ($975k) of total grants in F2018. CWF aims to prevent violent relationships by funding programs that teach youth how to recognize abusive behaviour. It also funds services that help women and children who have experienced violence such as legal advice, counselling, safe housing, interest-free loans, and sexual assault response and care. In F2018, CWF supported 437 shelters.

Canadian Women’s Foundation Into Confidence programs received 31% ($771k) of total funding in F2018. Programs focus on girls aged 9 to 13, when self-confidence often plummets. Program activities can include science and technology, sports and physical activity, media literacy and critical thinking, indigenous culture and community, and mentoring.

Canadian Women’s Foundation Out of Poverty programs received 16% ($393k) of total grants in F2018. CWF funds 5-year economic development grants for programs focused in three areas: skilled trades and technology, self-employment, and social enterprises.

Results and Impact:

Canadian Women’s Foundation reports that 90% of participants in the Out of Violence programs said they learned to recognize the signs of an abusive relationship. CWF says that 46% of women in its Out of Poverty programs developed a more sustainable livelihood. The foundation reports 92% of girls in its Into Confidence programs felt more confident after attending. It also says that 97% of graduates of the Into Leadership program rated it as either excellent or good.

While Ci highlights these key results, they may not be a complete representation of Canadian Women’s Foundation’s results and impact.

Financial Review:

Canadian Women’s Foundation is a ­­­­large charity, with total donations and special event fundraising of $4.6m in F2018. Administrative costs are 28% of revenues (excluding investment income) and fundraising costs are 32% of donations. For every dollar donated, $0.40 go to the cause. This is not within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. Funding reserves of $19.8m can cover 4.6 years of annual program costs.

­ This charity report is an update that has been sent to Canadian Women’s Foundation for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on June 3, 2019 by Lauren Chin.