**The MWE Grant & Mentorship Fall 2023 application window is now closed. Everyone who already submitted an application will be contacted with results in due course. If you didn't get a chance to apply this time around, please keep an eye out for future opportunities.**

The details below are for informational purposes only.

Métis Women Entrepreneurship (MWE) Grant & Mentorship Program

Time Frame

Successful applicants will be required to complete a 6-month, 1v1 partnership with a pre-selected partner; Mentees will be new or up-and-coming female Métis business owners, and we require Mentors be established Woman Entrepreneurs with 5+ years in business. The upcoming cohort will run from September 2023 until February 2024.

What's in it for me?

Mentees will receive a $3,000 grant for participating; $1,500 will be direct deposited at the start of the program and the remaining $1,500 will be paid out upon completion. Mentees will also receive a Certificate upon completion, in addition to invaluable 1v1 business coaching.

Mentors will receive a $1,000 honorarium; $500 will be direct deposited at the start of the program and the remaining $500 will be paid out upon completion. Mentors will also receive a Certificate of Mentorship, and importantly gain the satisfaction of having had an positive impact on our community by sharing knowledge with someone eager to learn from a Mentor.

Commitment

Confidentiality

• Applications will remain confidential and offer the selection committee insight into entrepreneurial goals, values, and expectations, to create strong matches. Once the submission period has ended, all applicants will be contacted in August 2023 to confirm if they have been selected for the September 2023 to February 2024 cohort. All information collected as part of the program will remain confidential unless explicit sharing permissions (e.g. a public testimonial) are provided by both the Mentee and Mentor.

Self-led Partnerships

• Selected applicants will meet their Mentor/tee at an LRCC initiated virtual introduction; immediately after the meeting, a formal agreement will be signed by both parties to confirm enrollment and direct deposit information will be collected to enable payments. Thereafter, the meeting scheduling, format (e.g. in-person or Zoom), and discussion topics will be self-led by each unique partnership, driven by the growth areas identified by the new entrepreneur; hour-long monthly meetings, at the very minimum, are required.

Coordinator Support

• Resources to guide the pairing will be provided once the Mentorship Agreement has been finalized, including a Mentorship Guidebook that further details roles and responsibilities, with a Tracker to document meetings. Throughout the 6-months the program coordinator will be in touch via email for routine check-ins to ensure the commitments are being met and that both parties are satisfied with the progress and results. Both parties will also be required to complete a feedback survey upon completion of the term to provide value for future cohorts.