Equality Fund CONNECT Grants 2026: Up to CAD $1 Million
Join Our WhatsApp Channel for Latest UpdatesEquality Fund CONNECT Grants 2026: Up to CAD $1 Million for Feminist Movement Collaborations
Apply for the Equality Fund CONNECT Grants 2026, a major funding opportunity designed to support collaborations that bring together feminist actors and allied movements to build collective power. Total funding of CAD $4 million per year will be distributed among approximately five to seven selected collaborations, with individual grants ranging from CAD $500,000 to CAD $1,000,000 per year.
Join a global organization working to sustainably resource women's rights organizations and feminist movements through global grantmaking, gender-lens investing, policy advocacy, and feminist philanthropy.
Quick Highlights
| Opportunity Name | Equality Fund CONNECT Grants 2026 |
|---|---|
| Organization | Equality Fund |
| Funding Stream | CONNECT |
| Total Funding | CAD $4 Million Per Year |
| Expected Grants | 5–7 Collaborations |
| Grant Size | CAD $500,000–$1,000,000 Per Year |
| Initial Duration | 2 Years |
| Start Date | 1 February 2027 |
| EoI Deadline | 16 September 2026 (17:00 EDT) |
Opportunity Overview
| Host Organisation | Equality Fund |
|---|---|
| Funding Stream | CONNECT |
| Grant Type | Movement Collaboration Grant |
| Total Annual Funding | CAD $4,000,000 |
| Grant Range | CAD $500,000–$1,000,000 Per Year |
| Expected Collaborations | 5–7 |
| Initial Duration | 2 Years |
| Start Date | 1 February 2027 |
| Application Stage | Expression of Interest (EoI) |
| EoI Deadline | 16 September 2026 |
About the Equality Fund
The Equality Fund is a global organization working to sustainably resource women's rights organizations and feminist movements through:
Global grantmaking
Gender-lens investing
Policy advocacy
Feminist philanthropy
Key Facts:
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Launched | 2019 |
| Disbursed | $125M+ to 1,800+ organizations |
| Countries | 100+ countries |
| Focus | Feminist organizations, funds, and movements |
Four Funding Programmes:
| Programme | Focus |
|---|---|
| Catalyze | Individual women's rights and feminist organizations |
| Activate | Feminist Funds |
| Prepare, Respond & Care | Organizations in challenging political, humanitarian, conflict, and post-conflict contexts |
| CONNECT | Relationships, infrastructure, and collective capacity for feminist and allied liberatory movements |
What Is the CONNECT Funding Stream?
CONNECT is a pilot funding stream developed in response to:
Research on movement needs
The growing need for collective action
Context:
Anti-rights, anti-democracy, anti-gender, and authoritarian movements have become increasingly coordinated
Challenges affect interconnected political, economic, and social systems
No single movement can address their full scale alone
CONNECT Addresses:
Fragmentation created by traditional funding silos
Collaborations between movements that may not have historically worked together
Focus Areas:
| Area | Description |
|---|---|
| Relationships | Strengthening relationships between movements |
| Infrastructure | Building shared infrastructure |
| Trust | Developing trust between movements |
| Collective Capacity | Strengthening collective capacity |
| Shared Strategies | Developing shared strategies |
| Collaboration | Collaboration across issues, geographies, and constituencies |
Funding Details
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Per Year | CAD $4,000,000 |
| Expected Collaborations | 5–7 |
| Grant Range | CAD $500,000–$1,000,000 Per Year |
| Determinants | Proposal specifics, financial management experience of lead organization |
| Initial Duration | 2 Years |
| Additional Years | Possible |
| Start Date | 1 February 2027 |
Who Can Apply?
Eligible Collaborations:
Collaborations that bring together:
Feminist actors
Women's rights movements
Allied social justice movements
Other relevant allies working towards shared goals
Lead Organization Structures:
| Structure | Description |
|---|---|
| Single Lead | One organization serves as sole lead (programmatic + financial) |
| Separate Leads | Programmatic Lead + Financial Lead (fiscal sponsor possible) |
Priority:
Collaborations whose lead organization is based in the Global South or East
Not Eligible:
| Entity | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Political parties | ✗ |
| Government bodies | ✗ |
| For-profit organizations | ✗ |
| Individuals | ✗ |
Application Process
Two-Stage Process:
| Stage | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Expression of Interest (EoI) | Initial submission for consideration |
| 2. Advanced Application | For shortlisted collaborations |
EoI Timeline:
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| EoI Opens | 31 August 2026 |
| EoI Deadline | 16 September 2026 (17:00 EDT / UTC-4) |
Important Dates / Timeline
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| EoI Opens | 31 August 2026 |
| EoI Deadline | 16 September 2026 (17:00 EDT) |
| Grant Start | 1 February 2027 |
Important Links
| Description | Official Link |
|---|---|
| CONNECT Guidelines | |
| Equality Fund |
FAQs
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the funding stream? | CONNECT |
| How much funding is available? | CAD $4M per year |
| What is the grant size? | $500K–$1M per year |
| How many grants? | 5–7 collaborations |
| What is the duration? | 2 years initial |
| When does it start? | 1 February 2027 |
| Who can apply? | Feminist and allied movement collaborations |
| What is the priority? | Lead organization in Global South or East |
| What is the deadline? | 16 September 2026 (17:00 EDT) |
| Is this for individuals? | No |
CareerFlora Expert Insight
The Equality Fund CONNECT Grants offer a transformative funding opportunity for feminist and allied movement collaborations. The substantial funding—up to CAD $1 million per year per collaboration—reflects the Equality Fund's commitment to resourcing collective action and movement-building infrastructure.
The priority for lead organizations based in the Global South or East addresses historical imbalances in global funding access. The two-stage application process (EoI followed by Advanced Application) allows collaborations to articulate their work before committing to a full proposal.
For feminist organizations and allied movements seeking to build collective power across issues, geographies, and constituencies, CONNECT provides an opportunity to secure multi-year, flexible funding for collaborative work.
Best Opportunity For
| Category | Suitable |
|---|---|
| Feminist Organizations | ✓ |
| Women's Rights Movements | ✓ |
| Allied Social Justice Movements | ✓ |
| Collaborations | ✓ |
| Global South/East Organizations | ✓ |
| Movement Infrastructure | ✓ |
Competition Level
| Category | Level |
|---|---|
| Overall Competition | Very High |
| Selection Difficulty | Very High |
| Application Complexity | High |
CareerFlora Recommendation
| Recommendation Area | Details |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★★ |
| Funding Value | Excellent |
| Movement Impact | Excellent |
| Application Difficulty | High |
| Global South Priority | Yes |
| Duration | 2+ Years |
This opportunity is highly recommended for feminist and allied movement collaborations seeking substantial funding for collective action and movement-building infrastructure. The Global South/East priority makes this particularly relevant for organizations in those regions.
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Final Call-to-Action
Review the official CONNECT Expression of Interest guidelines and submit your application before the 16 September 2026 (17:00 EDT) deadline. Ensure your collaboration structure and leadership arrangements are clearly defined.
🔗 Apply Now: https://assets.equalityfund.ca/files/v49loltj/production/2da5e755f25f075fa94b3e280c4736b124918821.pdf
🏛️ Organisation Website: https://equalityfund.ca
