2027 WES Ecosystem Fund
Aboriginal Peoples
Arctic and Northern Regions
Community, Regional & Enterprise Development
Creative Arts, Culture and Heritage
Environment, Energy and Natural Resources
Governance and Public Policy
Information and Communication Technology
Oceans, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Social Justice
Well-being, Health and Biomedical Discovery
Deadlines
Academic Unit: Inquire with unit
Memorial Deadline: Wednesday 4th, November 2026
External Deadline: Monday 9th, November 2026
Description
The Government of Canada is advancing gender equality and women’s economic empowerment through the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES, or the Strategy). As part of the Strategy, the Government is ensuring women across Canada have access to the business supports they need to start or grow a business. The 2027 WES Ecosystem Fund call for proposals is now open. This call will identify and select projects that provide women entrepreneurs across Canada with the business supports they need to start, grow, or scale their businesses.
Eligibility
Projects must be led by a Canadian incorporated (federally or provincially) not-for-profit organization that has been operating for at least three years. Lead applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- – Have an established mandate focused on supporting women entrepreneurs; and/or,
- – Have existing programming (offered within the past three years) focused on women entrepreneurs.
This call for proposals is open to organizations that have not previously received WES program funding, as well as previous WES funding recipients.
Project Scope and Priorities
Eligible projects will offer business support services to women entrepreneurs and/or majority women-owned businesses. Funding consideration will be given to projects that:
- – are national in scope, or serve a minimum of 4 provinces and territories that are not regionally clustered (multi-regional);
- – have a budget of between $250,000 and $6,000,000;
- – be completed by March 31, 2031; and
- – deliver services and products in both official languages as per the Official Languages Act.
The application deadline is November 16, 2026, at 11:59 pm (Pacific Time).
Please visit WES Ecosystem Fund for more information, eligibility criteria, and application details.