ANNUAL REPORT JUNE 1, 2006 – MAY 31, 2007 MESSAGE FROM THE Anti-Dote Intergenerational Violence Prevention Program participants LEADERSHIP Since 1991, CWF has focused on creating long-term change for women and girls through our leadership, knowledge and resources. We’ve come a long way since our first year’s granting total of $40,000, and this past year has been a true testament to our growth: • we awarded over $2-million in major grants to 73 initiatives across Canada, and in small grants to 451 shelters for abused women • we raised more than $1-million for women’s shelters and violence prevention programs through Shelter from the Storm, our national fundraising and awareness campaign dedicated to ending violence against women • we presented four regional Economic Development Skills Institutes to learn and share best practices for moving low-income women out of poverty • we hosted two more successful “Women Play BIG” women and philanthropy conferences in partnership with Play BIG • we completed our first year of granting for the pilot phase of the Girls’ Fund and have been hearing great news about the impact of our funding This report gives us a chance to look back at the year with pride and renewed commitment, and to celebrate our partners: the corporations, individuals and foundations that are helping to create long-term change; and the grant recipients who are transforming the lives of women and girls every day. It’s your effort and commitment that reminds us there’s nothing we can’t achieve together for women and girls in Canada. As we move into a new year of leading change in the lives of women and girls, we look forward to the continued pleasure of your company and the power of your support. Deborah Bartlett Margot Franssen Beverley Wybrow Co-President Co-President Executive Director CANADIAN WOMEN’S FOUNDATION 06-07 ANNUAL REPORT | 1 OUR MISSION We invest in the power of women and the dreams of girls. We raise money for programs that enable women and girls in Canada to become more self-sufficient and that create opportunities so women and girls can reach their true potential. OUR YEAR AT A GLANCE VISION Money granted to women’s organizations:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ $2,311,245 We are the only national foundation that helps women and girls reach their full economic and social potential in Canadian Charitable program-related expenses: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ $922,284 society. Through our work, Canada will reach its true potential as women and girls reach theirs. Charitable ratio: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 78% Initiatives funded: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 73 major initiatives and 451 small grants to shelters Provinces and Territories served: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ all Organizations we worked with: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ over 700 Donors who invested in women and girls through CWF: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 3,501 Volunteers who supported CWF: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 333 2 | 06-07 ANNUAL REPORT CANADIAN WOMEN’S FOUNDATION FUNDING THE BEST INITIATIVES CWF-supported initiatives go through a rigorous grant selection process which is informed by a national strategic framework on each issue we fund. Applications are screened by a national panel of experts and community leaders, and initiatives that promise the greatest long-term impact are selected. Last year, CWF awarded $2,311,245 in grants to 73 such programs (in addition to 451 small grants awarded to shelters). Canadian Women’s Foundation ensures your contributions fund the initiatives that make the most difference in the lives of women and girls in Canada. Below are Actua Girls’ Club participants examples of the ground-breaking work property of Actua, 2007 you have helped us to fund. ACTUA, NATIONAL GIRLS’ PROGRAM PEOPLE FOR A HEALTHY COMMUNITY NANAIMO FOODSHARE SOCIETY Girls’ Clubs: $50,000 over two years ON GABRIOLA SOCIETY (PHC) Nanaimo, British Columbia: $235,200 Gabriola Island, British Columbia: over five years Actua offers excellent programs in $20,000 science and technology to children. The WE FEAST (Women’s Entrepreneurship, National Girls’ Program gives girls the Gabriola Island is a semi-isolated, rural Food Enterprise and Skill Training opportunity to experience the wonders of community off the coast of mainland BC. Program) is a self-employment training science, engineering and technology in a Through the “Violence Prevention and program for unemployed or under- positive, all-girls environment, through Response Team” PHC provides crisis employed women. Participants learn how summer camps, girls’ clubs and response and safety initiatives for women to develop sustainable, food-related workshops. Girls learn more about the at risk of experiencing violence. The businesses and products that can be world around them, increase their skills program aims to increase access to marketed at farmers’ markets, craft fairs, and confidence, and meet new friends. services for those at risk, raise community or other public events. This grant will strengthen and expand awareness of violence against women, Girls’ Clubs at three sites in Halifax, NS; and develop strategies to help women “Developing an idea into a successful Saskatoon, SK; and Victoria, BC. rebuild their lives after experiencing program is like making an amazing violence. CWF’s grant will help PHC meal: first, the right ingredients must be “We know from experience that the most increase the capacity of their drop-in present. Canadian Women’s Foundation effective approach to supporting girls women’s centre and develop a has provided us with the key and nurturing their potential is to comprehensive crisis response plan. This ingredients: funding, support, provide ongoing positive activities in program is expected to serve 50 to 100 encouragement and most importantly, safe, all-girls environments. We are women. belief in our organization. In turn, we thrilled to have established a partnership have been able to provide women with with Canadian Women’s Foundation “Demand for services on the island has the tools and support needed to make and are grateful for the investment they been overwhelming the capacity of many positive changes in their lives. have made to provide girls across organizations, including ours, to meet Canada with hands-on experiences in needs. This grant will help coordinate a “The multi-year funding from CWF has science and technology.” more formal framework of support assisted Nanaimo Foodshare to grow Jennifer Flanagan services for women & children in our from a fledging non-profit society to a President and CEO, Actua community, allowing us to be more vibrant social and community efficient, focused and cost-effective.” development organization!” Deborah Ferens Jessica Chenery PHC Board Member WE FEAST Coordinator, Nanaimo Foodshare CANADIAN WOMEN’S FOUNDATION 06-07 ANNUAL REPORT | 3 MEDICINE HAT GIRLS INC. OF YORK REGION LA PASSERELLE WOMEN’S SHELTER SOCIETY Aurora, Ontario: $50,000 over two years Drummondville, Québec: $20,000 Medicine Hat, Alberta: $20,000 Girls Inc. of York Region is dedicated to “Mission Possible” is a sexual assault “Musasa House Second Stage Program” inspiring all girls to be strong smart and prevention program for girls, aged 14 to works with women and children to help bold, and offers a range of programs at 15, in the area of Nicolet-Yamaska, a them understand the causes of family sites throughout York Region. CWF’s grant community where no sexual assault violence, heal from abuse and make supports SMART Girls, a program focused centres exist. Participants work on positive changes in their lives. This two- on science, math and technology, which building self-esteem and critical thinking phase, intensive support program also integrates leadership, economic skills to prevent sexual assault and includes services such as legal counsel, literacy and physical activity. ultimately, become agents of social transportation, education, parenting and change in their community around the skill development. Support and “The grant from Canadian Women’s issue. Up to 40 girls are expected to be counselling is available for children to Foundation allows Girls Inc. of York involved. CWF’s funding is being used to teach them healthy ways to deal with Region to go into communities that have support a project coordinator. anger and anxiety, inform them about no access to services, and deliver quality safety planning, and help them to resolve programs to young girls who need them.” behavioural problems resulting from Sarah Breese MAKING WAVES/ exposure to violence.