Advancing Women-Owned Businesses with the 2026 BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program

Women-owned businesses are a powerful force in Canada’s economy by driving innovation, strengthening communities, and creating meaningful change. At BMO, supporting small businesses is a long‑standing commitment grounded in our Purpose to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. 

That’s why we’re proud to launch the 2026 BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program, an annual program that provides targeted financial support and resources to help businesses accelerate growth and expand their impact. 

In collaboration with Deloitte Canada, BMO will award $100,000 in total funding to 10 women-owned Canadian businesses that demonstrate measurable community-building impact while advancing two to three United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). 

Each selected business will receive: 

• A $10,000 grant 
• One‑to‑one support from a BMO for Women Advocate 
• Access to BMO for Women programming and educational events 
• Opportunities to build connections through organizational memberships 
• A feature on the BMO for Women site 
• A digital BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program recipient badge to showcase their achievement 

Together, these resources are designed to help businesses scale, build resilience, and unlock new opportunities. Applications will be open from April 2-23, 2026. Applicants will participate in a multi‑stage selection process, including video submissions reviewed by an expert judging panel. Grant recipients will be announced in the summer of 2026. 

All recipients will also be invited to attend the BMO Celebrating Women Grant Summit, a two‑day, in‑person event in downtown Toronto. Designed to foster connection and collaboration across the women entrepreneur ecosystem, the 2026 Summit will be especially meaningful, as it marks the 10‑year anniversary of BMO for Women. 

Since launching in 2020, the BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program has grown to reach a diverse range of sectors and industries. It has supported women-owned businesses across Canada, providing over $1,000,000 to the program's grant recipients and connecting them to business advisors and a vibrant professional network. 

As the program enters its next chapter, our focus remains clear: helping women-owned businesses turn bold ideas into sustainable growth. 

Ready to apply? 

If you’re a women-owned business looking to accelerate growth and make a meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply. Applications are open April 2–23, 2026. 

Learn more and apply on the BMO for Women site.