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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Waterloo Region, ON, November 1, 2024 – Capacity Canada is thrilled to announce that the Government of Canada has awarded $575,000 in funding for its new initiative, “Open Hearth: Transformative Mentorship and Culture Change Advancing Nonprofit Equity.” Capacity Canada also extends its gratitude to the Suncor Energy Foundation for its longstanding support and partnership that has made it possible to bring the new project to Alberta and Newfoundland.
This significant 33-month project, which commenced in mid-July 2024 and will run through March 2027, builds upon the success of Capacity Canada’s Makeover Project and is set to drive systemic change for underrepresented women – Indigenous; living with disabilities; members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities; newcomer, migrant, Black and racialized – in the non-profit sector.
Funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE), Government of Canada, the project is designed to enhance women’s representation in leadership and decision-making roles within the non-profit sector. By focusing on transforming networks and collaboration, organizational culture, and gender norms and attitudes, this project aims to foster a more equitable and inclusive environment for underrepresented women leaders.
“We know that underrepresented women, trans and non-binary individuals face compounded barriers to attaining and thriving in leadership roles. We look forward to working with these communities to build what is needed to help them succeed. It’s important that we have these diverse perspectives in decision-making and leadership to tackle the complex challenges we now face as a sector and a society,” said Cathy Brothers, CEO, Capacity Canada.
To begin, Capacity Canada will implement the project in the Waterloo Region in Ontario, Calgary in Alberta and St. John’s in Newfoundland & Labrador. The project will be delivered over a period of 33 months between July 5, 2024, and March 31, 2027.
The project will feature two key components:
- The Women’s NFP Mentorship Network – This initiative will offer an inclusive, safe, interactive, and collaborative mentorship experience designed to support women in their leadership journey.
- EDIA Culture Change – This component will drive cultural shifts within nonprofits, creating supportive environments that empower women leaders.
“We are excited to have the renewed support of WAGE to help us continue our work towards systemic change for women in the non-profit sector,” stated Fableeha Choudhury, Project Manager. “The project will be a catalyst for increasing women’s representation in leadership and decision-making roles. Being part of Open Hearth is a commitment to building a future where equity and inclusion are at the heart of every non-profit organization.”
The “Open Hearth” project follows the Makeover Project, which ran from January 2022 to April 2023. The Makeover Project, also funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE), successfully identified and addressed barriers for underrepresented women in non-profit leadership in the Waterloo Region. Over 30 women collaborated to develop tools such as the Mentorship Network Concept and the Culture Change Tool. These resources are now integral to the “Open Hearth” project and will serve as a foundation for ongoing efforts toward systemic change.
Capacity Canada looks forward to the transformative impact of this important project and its role in shaping a more inclusive future for women in non-profit leadership.
For more information about Capacity Canada and the “Open Hearth” project, please visit their website: https://capacitycanada.ca/open-hearth/.
For additional information, please contact:
Cathy Brothers
CEO, Capacity Canada
(226) 808-7220
