Opportunity Information: Apply for PD FY25 CANADA AWE
The 2025 Academy for Women Entrepreneurs Canada (AWE) is a U.S. Embassy Ottawa funding opportunity seeking one organization to design and run a women-entrepreneur training cohort in Montreal, Quebec, in fall 2025. AWE is a U.S. Department of State initiative launched in 2019 to help women gain the practical skills, knowledge, networks, and confidence needed to start or grow successful businesses. The selected implementer will deliver a hybrid program (online learning plus in-person support) for a cohort of about 30 women business owners from under-represented backgrounds in Montreal and the wider province of Quebec, with programming delivered in English or French.
A central feature of the program is the use of established, no-cost online entrepreneurship curricula developed through partnerships with Arizona State University (ASU), particularly the Thunderbird School of Global Management. Applicants are expected to build the training around DreamBuilder and/or Thunderbird's Najafi 100 Million Learners Global Initiative. DreamBuilder, used by AWE since 2019 and developed with partners including Freeport-McMoRan, covers small-business fundamentals from a U.S. perspective and includes modules on topics like marketing, pricing, and bookkeeping, along with a built-in business plan generator. The Najafi 100 Million Learners curriculum is positioned as a more advanced option and may be used alongside DreamBuilder or as a substitute, depending on the design of the cohort.
Beyond online coursework, proposals should emphasize localized facilitation, mentorship, and convening. The cohort model is meant to combine self-paced learning with guided discussions led by local facilitators and engagement with business leaders, mentors, and especially U.S. exchange alumni. A priority is leveraging alumni of U.S. government-funded exchange programs and/or existing alumni networks in Canada to provide mentorship, connections, and follow-on support that can help participants strengthen their businesses after the formal training ends.
The program objectives are focused on both business capability and ecosystem-building. Key aims include training 30 participants in foundational business skills such as strategic planning, marketing, and finance; helping entrepreneurs develop scalable business models; broadening participants understanding of social enterprise approaches; increasing womens economic opportunities and supporting the growth of women-led businesses in Canada; and building a durable network of female entrepreneurs and investors that can support partnerships and continued growth. The opportunity also highlights alumni engagement and follow-on activities as an expected component, suggesting that implementers should plan for post-program networking, mentorship continuation, and community-building activities.
This is a discretionary grant under a cooperative agreement, meaning the U.S. government typically expects a more collaborative relationship with the awardee than in a standard grant, often involving coordination, review, or shared planning during implementation. The funding opportunity number is PD FY25 CANADA AWE, the CFDA number listed is 19.022, and the agency is the U.S. Mission to Canada. The award ceiling is $35,000 CAD (as stated in the opportunity data), with one expected award.
Eligibility is limited to non-profit and educational entities and other qualifying non-commercial groups. Eligible applicants include U.S. and Canadian registered not-for-profit organizations (such as think tanks, community associations, and civil society/NGOs with relevant programming experience), alumni of U.S. government-funded or sponsored exchange programs in Canada, non-profit media organizations, professional trade organizations, non-profit or governmental educational institutions, and private educational institutions. For-profit or commercial entities are explicitly not eligible to apply.
Applications must be submitted by email to Ottawa-PA@state.gov. The original closing date for submissions is January 15, 2025, and the opportunity was created on December 16, 2024.Apply for PD FY25 CANADA AWE
- The U.S. Mission to Canada in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2025 Academy for Women Entrepreneurs Canada (AWE)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.022.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-12-16.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-15. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $35,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): 2025 Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Canada - Montreal Cohort
1) What is the 2025 Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Canada opportunity?
The 2025 Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Canada is a U.S. Embassy Ottawa funding opportunity to select one organization to design and run a women-entrepreneur training cohort in Montreal, Quebec, in fall 2025.
2) Who is the funding agency?
The agency is the U.S. Mission to Canada (U.S. Embassy Ottawa).
3) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is PD FY25 CANADA AWE.
4) What CFDA number is listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 19.022.
5) How many awards are expected?
One award is expected.
6) What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $35,000 CAD (as stated in the opportunity data).
7) What type of award is this?
This is a discretionary grant under a cooperative agreement. This generally indicates a more collaborative relationship with the U.S. government than a standard grant, often involving coordination, review, or shared planning during implementation.
8) What is AWE, and when was it launched?
AWE is a U.S. Department of State initiative launched in 2019 to help women gain practical skills, knowledge, networks, and confidence to start or grow successful businesses.
9) What is the program location?
The cohort will be based in Montreal, Quebec, and is intended to serve participants from Montreal and the wider province of Quebec.
10) When will the cohort take place?
The training cohort is planned for fall 2025.
11) Who is the program intended to serve?
The program is intended to serve a cohort of about 30 women business owners from under-represented backgrounds in Montreal and the wider province of Quebec.
12) How many participants are expected in the cohort?
About 30 women business owners are expected to participate.
13) In what language(s) will the program be delivered?
Programming may be delivered in English or French.
14) What does "hybrid program" mean in this opportunity?
The implementer is expected to deliver a hybrid program that combines online learning with in-person support.
15) What online curricula are expected to be used?
Applicants are expected to build the training around established, no-cost online entrepreneurship curricula developed through partnerships with Arizona State University (ASU), particularly the Thunderbird School of Global Management. The opportunity specifically highlights DreamBuilder and/or Thunderbird's Najafi 100 Million Learners Global Initiative.
16) What is DreamBuilder, and how is it used in AWE?
DreamBuilder is an established, no-cost online entrepreneurship curriculum used by AWE since 2019. It covers small-business fundamentals from a U.S. perspective and includes modules on topics like marketing, pricing, and bookkeeping. It also includes a built-in business plan generator.
17) What is the Najafi 100 Million Learners curriculum, and how might it fit into the cohort?
The Najafi 100 Million Learners curriculum is described as a more advanced option. It may be used alongside DreamBuilder or as a substitute, depending on the proposed cohort design.
18) Beyond online coursework, what kinds of activities should proposals include?
Proposals are expected to emphasize localized facilitation, mentorship, and convening. The cohort model is intended to blend self-paced learning with guided discussions led by local facilitators and engagement with business leaders and mentors.
19) What role do local facilitators play in the program model?
Local facilitators are expected to support guided discussions and help connect self-paced online learning with locally relevant coaching and cohort engagement.
20) Is alumni engagement part of the expected design?
Yes. A priority is leveraging alumni of U.S. government-funded exchange programs and/or existing alumni networks in Canada to provide mentorship, connections, and follow-on support.
21) What kinds of alumni are specifically prioritized for engagement?
The opportunity prioritizes engagement with alumni of U.S. government-funded exchange programs and/or existing alumni networks in Canada, including using them for mentorship and connections.
22) What are the core objectives of the AWE cohort?
The objectives include: training 30 participants in foundational business skills (including strategic planning, marketing, and finance); helping entrepreneurs develop scalable business models; broadening participants' understanding of social enterprise approaches; increasing women's economic opportunities and supporting the growth of women-led businesses in Canada; and building a durable network of female entrepreneurs and investors to support partnerships and continued growth.
23) Does the opportunity include a focus on social enterprise?
Yes. One of the stated aims is to broaden participants' understanding of social enterprise approaches.
24) Is post-program support expected?
Yes. The opportunity indicates that alumni engagement and follow-on activities are an expected component, with implementers suggested to plan for post-program networking, mentorship continuation, and community-building activities after the formal training ends.
25) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to non-profit and educational entities and other qualifying non-commercial groups. Eligible applicants include U.S. and Canadian registered not-for-profit organizations (such as think tanks, community associations, and civil society/NGOs with relevant programming experience), alumni of U.S. government-funded or sponsored exchange programs in Canada, non-profit media organizations, professional trade organizations, non-profit or governmental educational institutions, and private educational institutions.
26) Are for-profit businesses allowed to apply?
No. For-profit or commercial entities are explicitly not eligible to apply.
27) How must the application be submitted?
Applications must be submitted by email to Ottawa-PA@state.gov.
28) What is the application deadline?
The closing date for submissions is January 15, 2025.
29) When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on December 16, 2024.
30) What is the main deliverable expected from the selected organization?
The selected organization is expected to design and run the AWE cohort in Montreal, delivering a hybrid program for approximately 30 women business owners from under-represented backgrounds, using DreamBuilder and/or the Najafi 100 Million Learners curriculum, and incorporating localized facilitation, mentorship, convening, and follow-on network-building activities.
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