BMO, in collaboration with Deloitte Canada, has announced the continuation of its BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program, an initiative dedicated to supporting real financial progress for women-owned businesses.

BMO is pledging a total of $100,000 for ten women-owned businesses that can demonstrate how they are addressing at least two of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG). Each grant recipient will be awarded $10,000, receive support from a BMO business advisor, and have access to additional resources to support their business' financial progress. This includes BMO for Women workshops, seminars and events, potential membership in select organizations and/or advisory boards, a profile on www.bmo.com/women, and a BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program recipient social badge.

Applications are open from April 30 to May 14, 2024. Grant recipients will be announced in the fall of 2024.

"Women-owned businesses are a cornerstone in a thriving economy and the drivers of real change as challengers of the status quo, innovators and leaders for the next generation," said Sharon Haward-Laird, BMO General Counsel and Executive Sponsor of BMO for Women. "Time and again, research shows that women-owned and women-led businesses adopt innovations and sustainability initiatives more readily, play a significant role in job creation, and boost GDP. The BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program is another way our bank is working to empower women-owned businesses in Canada as they make measurable, long-lasting impacts."

"Empowering women-owned businesses is essential to driving innovation and economic growth. By investing in these entrepreneurs and providing critical access to capital, we are securing the prosperity of their businesses and bolstering our global competitiveness," said Emmy Babalola, Partner, Deloitte Canada.

Inspired by BMO's Purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life, and the bank's commitment to double support for women-owned businesses, the BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program was created in 2020. Within four years, the program has expanded to reach a diverse range of sectors and industries. It has supported 56 women-owned businesses across North America, providing over $500,000 to the program's grant recipients and connecting them to business advisors and a vibrant professional network.

BMO has a longstanding commitment to breaking down barriers to advance women's empowerment, advocate for their growth, and foster inclusivity within the market by meeting their unique needs. Notable initiatives include:

A commitment to increase the number of women-owned businesses supported across the bank's Canadian footprint. As of 2023, BMO supported more than 146,000 women-owned businesses in Canada, with more than $10 billion in loans. Established customer programs including BMO for Women, which focus on advancing gender parity for the bank's clients, supporting the growth of women-owned businesses, and empowering women to feel confident about their finances and financial futures.

A partnership with 1871, which has led to the development of the WMN FINtech program. Since its inception in 2018, over 15 per cent of all women fintech founders in North America have come through this initiative. Proudly supporting The Carol Shields Prize for Fiction, the largest English-language literary award in the world for women and non-binary writers. The award celebrates creativity and excellence in fiction in Canada and the United States, while aiming to help address inequalities in literary reviewing, reading and prize culture.

For the fourth consecutive year, BMO has been recognized in the 2024 Report on Business, Women Lead Here list – an annual benchmark recognizing Canadian businesses with the highest achievement for executive gender diversity.