Inclusion Canada Named Winner of 2025 Amazon Web Services Canada IMAGINE Grant for Nonprofits

Inclusion Canada will work with Amazon’s cloud computing arm to transform access to inclusive education for children with intellectual disabilities.

October 1, 2025

Toronto, ON – Inclusion Canada today announced it has been selected as a winner of the 2025 Amazon Web Services (AWS) Canada IMAGINE Grant, a public grant opportunity open to registered nonprofit organizations in Canada who are using technology to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. The grant will support Inclusion Canada’s efforts to launch a groundbreaking national initiative that combines human expertise with AI technology to deliver timely information and support to families of children with intellectual disabilities, helping them advocate effectively for quality inclusive education.

“This project represents a transformative step forward in ensuring every child can participate fully in their local school with the supports they need,” said Krista Carr, CEO of Inclusion Canada. “By combining expertise with innovative technology, we are empowering families to navigate complex systems and driving long-term change in inclusive education across Canada.”

The AWS Canada IMAGINE Grant program provides vital resources to nonprofit organizations looking to deploy cloud technology as a central tool to achieve mission goals. As part of the program, AWS seeks proposals for big ideas on how to leverage technology in new and innovative ways to accelerate impact in local and global communities.

Inclusion Canada was named a winner in the Go Further, Faster category which recognizes highly innovative projects using advanced cloud services. Inclusion Canada will receive $75,000 USD in unrestricted funding, $25,000 USD in AWS Promotional Credits, and engagement with AWS technical specialists. Proposals were judged on several factors including the innovative and unique nature of the project, impact on mission-critical goals, and clearly defined outcomes and milestones.

“Navigating the education system can feel impossible,” said Moira Wilson, President of Inclusion Canada and parent of a child with an intellectual disability. “This new resource will provide families with the guidance and information often urgently needed, ensuring children’s rights are respected and that no child is left behind.”

Since the launch of the IMAGINE Grant program in 2018, AWS has awarded over $14M in unrestricted funds, AWS Promotional Credits, and AWS training support to 130 nonprofit organizations in support of their technology-driven goals. Previous winners are currently using AWS services to tackle critical challenges such as eliminating barriers to food security, improving maternal health outcomes, helping millions access clean and safe drinking water globally, tackling rare disease research, and more.

"At AWS, we are deeply motivated by the nonprofit sector's unwavering dedication to tackling society's most pressing challenges," stated Allyson Fryhoff, managing director of nonprofit and nonprofit health at AWS. "Our Imagine Grant winners are taking innovative, groundbreaking approaches to scale their mission impact through the use of technology. We are excited to work closely with these organizations, helping them leverage the power of cloud technology to further their transformative efforts, which are benefiting communities worldwide."

Over 85,000 nonprofit organizations worldwide use AWS to increase their impact and advance mission goals. Through multiple programs tailored specifically to the nonprofit community, AWS can enable nonprofits of all sizes to overcome barriers to technology adoption, while enhancing the scale, performance, and capabilities of mission operations.

For more information on the AWS IMAGINE Grant, visit the AWS Canada Imagine Grant website.

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For Media Inquiries, please contact:

Jeff Ferguson, Executive Director, Knowledge Mobilization & Transformation, Inclusion Canada

jferguson@inclusioncanada.ca

Inclusion Canada is the national federation of 13 provincial/territorial member organizations and over 300 local associations working to advance the full inclusion and human rights of people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Inclusion Canada drives social change by strengthening families, defending rights, and transforming communities into places where everyone belongs.