Spotlight Grant

Spotlight Grant

Applications are now closed.

Canadian Women & Sport’s Spotlight Grant aims to shine a light on girls, women and gender-diverse individuals who typically don’t get the access, support, or funding they need to fully participate in sport and physical activity.  

UPDATE: Operating budget eligibility has changed: We have received feedback that the previous $1 million dollar eligibility limit was restrictive to organizations working in, and for communities, so as a result have changed our eligibility requirements to serve those who are intended to benefit from this opportunity. The intention of this grant is to build capacity for community organizations to serve their communities. Priority will be given to organizations who work at the community level.

This grant is for community sport and physical activity organizations who are working to remove barriers and expand opportunities for girls, women, and gender-diverse participants from the following communities:  

  • 2SLGBTQIA+  
  • Black  
  • Indigenous, First Nations, Inuit, Métis, Other 
  • Racialized
  • Low-income  
  • Persons with a disability  
  • Newcomers (in Canada 5 years or less)  

To be eligible for the Spotlight Grant, a minimum of 80% of participants in the initiative must identify with or belong to the communities listed above. 

Access the *UPDATED* Application Guide

Canadian Women & Sport recognizes that the commonly used definition of sport doesn’t give space to all forms of physical activity and recreational programming. Our definition of sport includes cultural programs, land-based programs, play and game-based programs, as well as programs that support reconnecting with one’s identity. We welcome applications that support these types of programming. 

Three levels of funding are available: $5,000, $25,000 and $50,000.  

The Spotlight Grant is part of the Community Sport for All initiative which seeks to remove barriers and increase sport participation rates for underrepresented communities. This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.  

GRANT CRITERIA

Who is eligible to apply? 

Community-serving groups, non-profit and/or charity organizations who are led by, or directly serving girls, women and/or gender-diverse individuals from the priority communities listed above are encouraged to apply.  

Organizations must have a business number and an annual operating budget of less than $1 million dollars. Please note, Indigenous communities are eligible regardless of operating budget, as we recognize that they are the primary deliverers of sport and physical activity in their communities. Please select “less than $1 million dollars” to the annual operating budget question on the eligibility form.

Examples of eligible organizations include: 

  • Associations 
  • Charities 
  • Community organizations 
  • Indigenous communities
  • Provincial sport organizations  
  • Multi-sport organizations  
  • National sport organizations 
  • Non-profits 
  • Religious organizations  
  • Sport or physical activity clubs 

If you are a community group that does not have a business number, consider partnering with a local organization to be your fiscal sponsor (ex. Friendship Centres, Settlement Agencies, etc.) . 

What project/program expenses are eligible? 

Grant funds can be used for expenses directly related to the funded initiatives’ activities including: 

  • Compensation for human resources directly related to initiative activities (i.e., salaries, facilitator honoraria, etc.) 
  • Venue costs 
  • Marketing and communications 
  • Travel costs related to carrying out the initiative 
  • Equipment costs 
  • Participant and/or leader training 
  • Registration fees 
  • Data collection 
  • Childcare 

What could a sample project look like? 

The Spotlight Grant aims to fund initiatives that:  

  • Help keep girls, women, and gender-diverse individuals participating in sport and physical activity. 
  • Increase the leadership capacity or representation of girls, women and gender-diverse individuals in sport and physical activity. 
  • Enhance an organization’s capacity for gender equity and inclusion. 

Key dates 

  • Spotlight applications open Tuesday, October 11, 2022 and will close Monday, November 14, 2022 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. 
  • Grant funding must be spent by March 2023. 
Questions? Contact Us

For other Community Sport for All funding opportunities, please see below:

This project has been made possible by the Government of Canada.