Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa’s Growth and Resilience Supported Thanks to $284,000 in OTF Funding from Ontario Government
May 27, 2025
Ottawa, ON – On Tuesday, team at the Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa (E Fry Ottawa) gathered for a virtual recognition event to celebrate $284,000 in funding they received through two Resilient Communities Fund grants from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The grants have supported the organization in strengthening its fundraising capacity and enhance organizational sustainability to better serve women and gender-diverse people in the Ottawa area who have been impacted by the criminal justice system.
“The work being done by the Elizabeth Fry Society to support women and gender diverse people who have been, or may become, criminalized is incredibly valuable to our community in Ottawa Centre. I am excited to see that that work has been able to continue and expand, with the support of OTF,” said Catherine McKenney, MPP for Ottawa Centre.
“These grants from OTF have had an incredible impact on our work,” said Betsy Chaly, Executive Director of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa. “They allowed us to think long-term, build sustainable systems, and position our organization to better support some of the most marginalized members of our community. We’re so grateful for this support, which came at a crucial time.”
In March 2023, the organization was awarded a $190,300 Resilient Communities Fund grant which enabled the organization to recover and build resilience from the impacts of COVID-19. With this support, E Fry Ottawa developed a new strategic plan and a new fundraising plan and established the foundation to build a strong fundraising practice, including implementing a donor management system and stewardship tools and developing template proposals for future funding requests to support programs focused on the prevention of criminalization.
A second Resilient Communities Fund grant of $93,700 grant was awarded in January 2024 supported critical improvements to internal systems, including upgrading IT infrastructure to strengthen vital organizational processes and service delivery and training staff to enhance client support.
The Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa advocates for and supports women and gender-diverse people in Ottawa who have been or may become criminalized. Through an array of programming, diversion alternatives, and residential services, E Fry Ottawa supports women and gender-diverse people to avoid criminalization and incarceration, stabilize following incarceration, begin to address the trauma of their experiences in the criminal justice system, and develop life skills and structural supports that can reduce the likelihood of recidivism. Founded in 1951, E Fry Ottawa is the only organization in Ottawa providing a feminist, intersectional lens on criminalized women and gender-diverse people.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested nearly $105M into 732 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca to learn more.