Canada Soccer Foundation is proud to announce a $1.5 million community investment from ScotiaRISE, Scotiabank’s community investment initiative focused on breaking down barriers and increasing access to […]
Canada Soccer Foundation is proud to announce a $1.5 million community investment from ScotiaRISE, Scotiabank’s community investment initiative focused on breaking down barriers and increasing access to economic resilience. The funding will be used by Canada Soccer Foundation to support the continued impact and long-term sustainability of three Canada Soccer programs focused on supporting the growth and excellence of women in Canadian soccer.
ScotiaRISE’s community investment will enhance Canada Soccer Foundation’s support for AccelerateHER, CoachCare, and a paid National Internship Program – three initiatives aiming to remove long-standing financial, structural, and caregiving barriers that limit women’s participation and progression in coaching and high-performance sport. Together, the programs will support hundreds of women nationwide, strengthening leadership pathways and building a more inclusive and sustainable soccer ecosystem across Canada.
“Sport philanthropy gives us the ability to continue to think bigger and build for the long term. We’re incredibly grateful to ScotiaRISE for this commitment to the Canada Soccer Foundation, as it allows us to invest in women at every stage of their journey, and strengthening a national leadership pipeline that positively impacts Canadian soccer today and for generations to come.”
- Samantha Rogers, VP, Philanthropy
The grant further helps Canada Soccer Foundation to advance Canada Soccer’s Women and Girls Strategy, launched in Fall 2025, which commits the organization to closing the gap in participation, representation, and leadership across the game. By strengthening coaching pathways, retaining women in high-performance environments, and creating paid entry points into the sport system, these programs address critical points of attrition where women are most often lost.
“Our support of the Canada Soccer Foundation will connect women to important financial and childcare support, and provide mentorship opportunities, that will help women build and advance their professional careers. Through ScotiaRISE, we are proud to partner with organizations like the Canada Soccer Foundation who break down barriers and help foster a more resilient future for women.”
-Meigan Terry, Executive Vice President and & Chief Global Corporate and Public Affairs Officer at Scotiabank
AccelerateHER supports women coaches pursuing Canada Soccer’s Advanced Coach Education Diplomas by providing financial assistance, mentorship, and access to all-women learning environments. The program removes barriers such as cost, travel, childcare, and lack of professional networks, enabling women to progress into advanced credentials and paid coaching roles.
The CoachCare Program addresses one of the most significant drop-off points in the high-performance coaching pathway: when women take on caregiving responsibilities. Through childcare subsidies and travel support, CoachCare enables mothers and primary caregivers within Canada Soccer to continue participating in national team camps, advanced education, and elite coaching assignments—ensuring Canada retains experienced and diverse coaching talent at the highest levels of the game.
The paid Internship Program will create structured, national entry points into the sport system for young women. Interns will gain hands-on experience, professional certifications, and mentorship through placements with various functional work areas within Canada Soccer. The program will focus on helping candidates achieve successful long-term employment outcomes in sport.
Canada Soccer Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Canada Soccer, dedicated to raising funds to advance the growth, accessibility, and excellence of the game across the country. Through strategic investment in youth development, coaching, leadership, and national teams, the Foundation works to ensure soccer remains a powerful force for excellence, inclusion, and opportunity in Canada.
ScotiaRISE is Scotiabank’s $500 million community investment initiative aimed at helping remove barriers and increasing access to a more resilient future for individuals, families and communities across our footprint. Through strategic community partnerships, ScotiaRISE invests in three focus areas: improving high school and post-secondary participation, removing career barriers, and supporting newcomer economic inclusion. ScotiaRISE also invests in programs that address reclamation of Indigenous language and culture as well as urgent and basic needs, such as improving access to basic supports like food, water and shelter. Since its launch in 2021, ScotiaRISE has invested over $150 million and partnered with over 300 organizations worldwide to provide the tools people need to reach their full potential.
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