Women entrepreneurs in Canada have an exciting opportunity to access funding and scale their businesses through the BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program, delivered in collaboration with Deloitte.
This initiative is designed to support women and non-binary entrepreneurs who are building impactful businesses and driving meaningful change in their communities.
What is the BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program?
The program will award 10 Canadian small businesses with $10,000 CAD each to help accelerate growth, strengthen operations, and expand their impact.
Beyond funding, this initiative recognizes businesses that are not only profitable but also aligned with global impact goals, particularly the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
Who Should Apply?
This grant is ideal for established women-led businesses that can clearly demonstrate:
- What they are building
- The impact they are creating
- How funding will help scale their business
Applicants should be ready to connect their work to 2–3 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and show how they measure their impact.
What You Need to Include in Your Application
When applying, you will be required to:
✔️ Provide basic information about yourself and your business
✔️ Answer questions about your business model, growth plans, and impact
✔️ Identify 2–3 UN SDGs your business aligns with and explain why
✔️ Share how you measure your impact (results, metrics, and targets)
✔️ Explain how the $10,000 grant will support your business growth
Apply here: www.bmoforwomen.com/en/grant/
Bonus Step (For Semi-Finalists)
Selected semi-finalists will be invited to submit a 60–120 second video explaining:
- Their SDG focus
- Their business impact
- How the grant will help them scale
Key Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be assessed based on:
- Clarity and strength of SDG alignment
- Measurable impact and results
- Strategic use of funding
- Overall potential to scale and create impact
- Alignment with inclusivity and global impact goals
Eligibility Criteria
For Applicants:
- Must be a resident of Canada
- Must have reached the legal age of majority
- Must have authority to apply on behalf of the business
- Must not have received a previous BMO Celebrating Women Grant
For Businesses:
- At least 51% owned by women or non-binary individuals
- For-profit and actively operating in Canada
- Minimum 2 years in business
- Annual revenue of at least $50,000 CAD
- At least 50% of revenue from Canadian customers
- Head office located in Canada
Application Time
📅 Applications Open: April 2, 2026 (8:00 a.m. ET)
📅 Applications Close: April 23, 2026 (8:00 p.m. ET)
What Happens Next:
- May: Semi-finalists selected
- June: Finalists announced
- Mid-July: Grant recipients revealed
- Mid-September: Winners attend the Grant Summit
Why This Grant Matters
This is more than funding, it’s a chance to:
Increase visibility for your business
Align your brand with global impact goals
Strengthen your growth strategy
Join a network of impactful women entrepreneurs
If you’re building a business that is not only generating revenue but also creating meaningful impact, this is your opportunity to be recognized and supported at the next level.
At Women of Rubies, we encourage women entrepreneurs to take advantage of opportunities like this, not just to grow their businesses, but to amplify their visibility and position themselves for greater impact.
Need Help Positioning Your Application?
If you’d like support refining your brand, impact story, or visibility strategy before applying:
👉 Join our Brand Audit Masterclass: bit.ly/BrandAuditMasterclass
📩 Or reach out to us at info@womenofrubies.com
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