Funded by the Government of Canada, the Investment Readiness Program (IRP) has supported social purpose organizations as they contribute to solving pressing social, cultural, and environmental challenges from coast to coast to coast.

Community Foundations of Canada, followed up with  Hello Hair, Cowichan Valley Co-operative Marketplace and BUILD Inc, IRP funding recipients, to hear about their social finance journey and to learn the impact of the funding in growing their social purpose organization.

Hello Hair – Hamilton, ON

Hello Hair is on a mission to celebrate the Black hair experience, encouraging young girls to love their natural hair. Anita Grant, Founder, shares that the vision is ‘to build confidence in young girls and women…. to change the way that we feel in our perspective of Black hair’

This Hamilton-based social purpose organization is on a mission to positively impact lives.

Cowichan Valley Co-operative Marketplace – Duncan, BC

Improving food access in local communities in Canada is not only about ensuring everyone has enough to eat but also about fostering comprehensive community well-being and resilience.

Cowichan Valley Co-operative Marketplace’s mission is to facilitate real connections between local farmers and consumers through a co-operative, centralized food hub. As demand for high-quality local foods grows, Cow-Op boosts the local economy and enhances the sustainability of farms on Vancouver Island.

BUILD Inc – Winnipeg, MB

BUILD Inc. is an Indigenous social enterprise non-profit contractor and a training program that hires, trains, empowers, and launches individuals facing barriers into long, meaningful careers. 

Through its social enterprise arm, BUILD Inc. offers in-class training and on-the-job mentorship, supporting individuals facing barriers to employment.

BUILD Inc. is also one of many projects that received multiple rounds of funding through the investment readiness program.