Bold ideas.
Transformative impact.
Behind every statistic is a story. A mother who survived childbirth to care for her family. A child who gained access to education. A community transformed by clean energy. Young people accessing mental health supports so that they can feel well and thrive.
At Grand Challenges Canada, we don’t just fund ideas—we catalyze breakthroughs that create lasting, measurable impact.
Proven Results,
Ambitious Goals
Through the innovations and initiatives in our portfolio, we’ve achieved far-reaching impact:
Reached more than
85 million people
with life-saving and life-improving innovations
Invested in more than
1500 unique innovations
in over 100 countries
Delivered returns of over
$7 billion
increasing the lifetime earnings of people we reach by over 25%, helping to keep families alive and staving off financial catastrophe
$2.42 leveraged
for every $1 invested by our anchor funder, the Government of Canada
Improved
28 million lives
through access to innovative products and services
Saved
120,000+ lives
through access to innovation
Created
51,000 jobs
in low- and middle-income countries
Funded over
700+ innovations
led by women and gender-diverse individuals
The innovations we support are
66% locally led
by leaders in low- and middle-income countries
Measuring success
For families, the early childhood innovations we support can increase school attendance by 2.4 years, leading to a 26-33% increase in lifetime earnings. Our sanitation work has saved an estimated 20 million people 2.5 full days per year, in addition to supporting dignity and reducing air pollution. Innovations have supported 43 million women to receive essential care through their pregnancies, preventing up to $3 billion in catastrophic expenses associated with negative outcomes.
