The Federation's three main goals were to coordinate and bring into communication the various provincial women's organizations throughout the Dominion, with the object of promoting educational, moral, social and civic measures; to be a central agency both for institutional activities, and for the collection and distribution of information; to draft and encourage nation-wide campaigns, such as homemaking, child welfare, educational and other community efforts intended to benefit all people.

As part of her work with the Federation, Emily Murphy campaigned to establish community centres in rural districts. As a result of these efforts, thousands of Women's Institute rest rooms, community halls, parks, and playgrounds were created. The goal of these centres was to promote non-partisan and non-sectarian community activity, where both foreign and Canadian-born people were to meet on an equal footing.