The Innovators & Entrepreneurs Foundation (IEF) is seeking applications for the 2022/23 Micro-Grant Program.
The IEF micro-grants exist to support Canadian entrepreneurs and small & medium sized enterprise (SME) business owners belonging to racialized and/or equity-deserving communities as they overcome and recover from the various global and regional business disruptions and impacts of recent years.
Types of Grants
They are thrilled to announce that they will be providing a total of $30,000 in cash grants and $11,000 in Meta advertising credits to deserving businesses. They have four micro-grant categories, and a total of six micro-grants worth $5000 cash each.
The Climate-Related Product Innovation Micro-grant, sponsored by UPS: a $5000 cash grant to be awarded to a business demonstrating innovation to address urgent climate-related issues.
The Global Impact Micro-grant, sponsored by UPS: a $5000 cash grant to be awarded to a business who has demonstrated international scale.
3 x Woman Identifying Business Owner Micro-grant, sponsored by TD #TDWomenInEnterprise: three micro-grants of $5000 cash each ($15,000 total) to be awarded to women identifying business owners seeking access to a business grant to scale their business.
The Digital Innovator Micro-grant, sponsored by Meta: a $5000 cash grant plus $5000 in Meta advertising credits to be awarded to a business who moved their operations online as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Meta is also providing Meta advertising credits worth $2000 to three additional businesses who apply for (but do not win) the Digital Innovator Micro-grant.
Eligibility Criteria
Applications/nominations can be submitted by individuals or organizations, by a third party or by a nominating partner. The application must be completed in full, and the person named as the applicant must be informed of the terms and conditions of the application.
Only one submission per applicant per 2022/23 micro-grant category will move onto the adjudication process.
Applicants can apply for more than one micro-grant category provided they meet the category qualifications. You must submit a new portal application for each application; one (1) per category.
An applicant/nominee cannot receive more than one 2022/23 micro-grant per year.
Applicants must:
Be alive and be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Be at least one of the following for the business the application is based on: founder, owner, co-founder, co-owner, person who owns or co-owns the entity or trademark for brand, product name, or service.
Be active in the business and a key decision-maker/senior leader.
Business has been registered with the Canada Revenue Agency.
The applicant identifies as a member of (a) equity-deserving or/and racialized community(ies). See definition below.
The business and/or the owner/co-owner or founder/co-founder meet the additional categorical requirements specified in the grant being applied for.
