Non-profits receive new CIRO funding to expand support for vulnerable and underserved Canadian investors
More than $1.5m in funding is being distributed to seven not-for-profit organizations across Canada, targeting financial literacy, investor protection, and support for vulnerable investors.
The Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) is providing $1.55m sourced from monetary sanctions collected through enforcement proceedings.
The funding is directed to initiatives that align with CIRO’s mandate, including educational programs, research projects, and investor protection efforts that benefit Canadians and the capital markets .
The grant recipients are:
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Momentum (Alberta): Assists low-income Albertans with disabilities in accessing financial benefits, particularly the Disability Tax Credit and Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSPs). The program also works to strengthen the capacity of social service agencies to support investment readiness for these individuals.
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SEED Winnipeg (Manitoba): Delivers financial education for Indigenous youth and adults, with a focus on both urban and rural Métis, Inuit, and First Nations communities.
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Launch Okanagan (British Columbia): Provides financial empowerment through education, mentorship, and community support for low-income individuals, newcomers, single parents, and people in recovery.
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Osgoode Investor Protection Clinic & Living Lab, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University (Ontario): Offers pro-bono legal services to investors filing complaints and seeking redress for financial harm, collects real-time data to inform research and regulatory initiatives, and engages in investor education.
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FAIR Canada (National): Focuses on advocacy, research, and education to empower retail investors and advance regulatory reform.
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National Institute on Ageing, Toronto Metropolitan University (Ontario): Launches a free, publicly available Cost of Ageing Calculator to improve retirement financial literacy and planning nationwide, alongside research and policy initiatives for older adults.
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Junior Achievement of Canada (Ontario): Delivers hands-on programs to inspire and prepare youth for success in a global economy, emphasizing entrepreneurial skills, financial literacy, and career readiness.
CIRO’s Office of the Investor initiated a call for grant applications in January for organizations and projects advancing investor education and protection.
The Office’s mandate is to understand and inform investors and elevate their voice at CIRO.
CIRO is the national self-regulatory organization overseeing all investment dealers, mutual fund dealers, and trading activity on Canada’s debt and equity marketplaces.
Its mandate includes investor protection, efficient and consistent regulation, and building trust in financial regulation and those managing investments.
