SickKidsWomenPowered

How the program works

Who moves the dial? Who creates impact? What inclusive, unstoppable, half-the-universe group is capable of real change through philanthropy? Women.

SickKidsWomenPowered is an innovative, philanthropic approach where members pool their collective donations into a donor-advised fund, then proactively choose where a portion of the money they’ve donated goes.

Members of SickKidsWomenPowered determine where they want to create impact by selecting community charities that also work toward children’s health and wellbeing. On a yearly basis, 75% of the funds support the highest priority needs at SickKids, giving the hospital the flexibility to allocate funds swiftly and strategically, addressing urgent needs as they arise. The remaining 25% are donor-advised. It’s a collaborative and holistic approach that allows for breadth of impact in creating a future of healthier children.

Now open: 2026 grant applications

From November 3, 2025 to January 20, 2026, we are accepting applications for the 2026 SickKidsWomenPowered Grant Cycle. If you are an organization working to improve children’s health and well-being in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), we invite you to apply to receive up to $25,000 in funding.

To be eligible, organizations must:

Be a registered charity with a valid CRA number
Have an annual revenue under $7 million
Demonstrate local impact benefitting children and families within the GTA
Focus on improving children’s health, wellness, or overall well-being

Applications will be evaluated based on the initiative’s impact and its alignment with SickKids mission to advance holistic care for children in our community.

Apply Now: Online Application Portal

WHY SICKKIDS

Since 1875, SickKids has been creating the future of kids’ health. It was then that Elizabeth McMaster, alongside a group of equally forward-thinking women, founded the hospital with the aim of making health care accessible to all children. Since then, SickKids has had a long history of collaborating with the community to ensure children and families get the best care possible. It’s a commitment shared by SickKidsWomenPowered, as we enable choice to make an impact within SickKids and beyond.

SICKKIDSWOMENPOWERED IS A DIFFERENT WAY TO DO PHILANTHROPY

Contributing to a donor-advised fund is a holistic, collective, and empowering way to make the impacts you want to see. The power of women from all walks of life coming together to share, learn, and inspire each other under the banner of SickKids – the leading changemaker in children’s health – is unstoppable.

THE OPPORTUNITIES

Choose from two membership options to join SickKidsWomenPowered. General members invest a minimum of $2,500 annually for two years, while members of the Elizabeth McMaster circle commit to a minimum of $25,000 annually for two years. Download the pledge forms below to learn more about each tier and the benefits it offers.