Five women’s charities advocating for gender equality
Every day, women and girls face disproportionate challenges, from lower pay to increased risk of gender-based violence. These inequalities were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, and they still persist today.
Nonprofits and other organizations across Canada are taking action to help address gender inequality and support marginalized groups. Read on to find out how you can help and learn more about the charities fighting for gender equality.
Why women’s charities matter and why you should help
Women’s charities and nonprofit organizations operate vital support services and fight for equality under the law, reproductive rights, education and support for the BIPOC community.
The need for such services was driven home during the COVID-19 pandemic. A national survey by Women’s Shelters Canada stated that 52 percent of their shelters reported seeing clients who experienced either somewhat or much more severe violence during the period of consistent lockdowns.
Statistics Canada also reported that police-reported intimate partner violence increased for the seventh consecutive year in 2021. Organizations like Women’s Shelter Canada are in critical need of financial support to continue to keep women and children safe.
How you can help
There are a number of ways to get involved in national and local women’s charities and advocate for women and girls.
Volunteer with women’s charities
Give the gift of your time, and use your skills to benefit a women’s charity. For example, with Shelter Movers, you can support with operations, web development, marketing communications and much more. And at Girls Who Code you can start your own club to help close the gender gap in technology.
Fundraise for charities
Raise money and get the word out about your favorite women’s charity. In just minutes, you can start a GoFundMe for a certified charity or a women’s cause close to your heart. Here are five Canadian charities you can consider supporting:
- Canadian Women’s Foundation: Canada’s public foundation for diverse women and girls. It funds programs across Canada, prioritizing communities where the need is greatest. These programs address four urgent issues: gender-based violence, economic security, girls’ empowerment, and inclusive leadership.
- Native Women’s Association of Canada: The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) is founded on the collective goal to enhance, promote, and foster the social, economic, cultural and political well-being of First Nations, Métis and Inuit women. NWAC is an aggregate of thirteen Native women’s organizations from across Canada and was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1974.
- Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women’s Empowerment: The Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women’s Empowerment is committed to building the self-esteem and self-worth of young women and girls by positively influencing their outlook on life, broadening their horizons, and helping them to empower themselves.
- Women’s Shelters Canada provides a strong, unified, pan-Canadian voice on the issue of violence against women. It helps increase awareness to ensure that policies, legislation and regulations are informed by the experiences and insights of its members, the provincial and territorial shelter networks. The charity created ShelterSafe, an online resource for women and children seeking safety from violence.
- Black Women in Motion is a Toronto-based, youth-led organization that empowers and supports the advancement of black womxn and survivors of sexual violence. It works within an anti-racist, intersectional feminist, trauma-informed and survivor-centered framework to create culturally-relevant content, educational tools, healing spaces and economic opportunities for black womxn.
Participate in International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day is an annual global event that takes place on March 8th. It’s an inclusive event that encourages all people to come together to celebrate and advocate for women’s rights.
The event is usually themed in some way – for example, International Women’s Day 2024 was focused on the theme Inspire Inclusion: “When we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world. Collectively, let’s forge a more inclusive world for women.”
Regardless of the theme, the day provides an opportunity to advocate for women’s rights, whether that’s supporting gender equality in the workplace or driving positive change in your personal life.
Support women’s rights today
Fundraise for a Canadian women’s charity and help raise awareness against bias and inequality. Join the over 10,000 people starting a GoFundMe a day to make a difference in someone’s life, support vulnerable communities, or change a nation.