Women’s Economic Leadership and Legacy (WELL) Fund

Overview

The Women’s Economic Leadership and Legacy (WELL) Fund supports projects across the province that advance women’s economic security.

Increasing women’s economic opportunities helps to:

• support Ontario’s economic prosperity by helping more people join the workforce and filling labour shortages
• improve safety, wellbeing and outcomes for women and their families
• prevent gender-based violence and support recovery by helping survivors gain financial independence

The WELL Fund supports projects in 2 funding streams:

• High-growth sectors stream
• Anti-human trafficking stream

These projects support women’s economic empowerment by creating more opportunities for women to gain skills, grow their careers and take on leadership roles. They:

• build on Ontario’s existing women’s economic empowerment programs, which supports women’s career growth in high-demand sectors
• provide enhanced supports to help survivors of human trafficking rebuild their lives, adding to services available through Ontario’s Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy

High-growth sectors stream

This stream supports projects that help women succeed, advance and lead in key sectors of the economy.

Projects focus on:

• fostering more inclusive and supportive work environments
• identifying and sharing best practices to support advancement
• strengthening leadership opportunities for women from diverse backgrounds, including Francophone and Indigenous women

Year 1 sectors and service providers

Clean energy

• Women in Renewable Energy (WiRE)

Construction

• Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario (PBCTO)

Entrepreneurship in technology

• Impact ON
• The Firehood
• Innovation Factory

Anti-human trafficking stream

This stream supports survivors of human trafficking as they recover, rebuild their lives and work toward financial independence.

Projects provide:

• pathways to education and employment
• peer supports
• services that are survivor-led and trauma-informed
• supports designed by and for Indigenous survivors

Year 1 service providers

• BridgeNorth Women’s Mentorship and Advocacy Services
• Ganohkwasra Family Assault Support Services
• Huronia Transition Homes
• Legal Assistance of Windsor
• Minwaashin Lodge Indigenous Women’s Support Centre
• Sudbury and Area Victims Services (SAVS)
• Voice Found

Learn about additional supports for survivors funded through Ontario’s Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy.

Additional women’s economic empowerment programs

Investing in Women’s Futures

Employment supports that help women facing social and economic barriers build skills, find employment or start a small business.

Women’s Economic Security Program

Pre-apprenticeship, entrepreneurship and employment skills training for women with low incomes.

Building Indigenous Women’s Leadership

Indigenous-led resources that empower Indigenous women to take on leadership roles in their communities.

Programs to help survivors of gender-based violence

Programs that help survivors of gender-based violence gain economic security and financial independence. These programs are funded through Ontario’s four-year action plan to end-gender based violence.