Alberta Ecotrust Foundation
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Climate Innovation Grant Program

Expression of interest intake for the 2024 grant stream is now closed. The next round will open early 2025. Join our mailing list to keep up to date and hear when the grant program opens.

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About the Climate Innovation Grant

This page contains all program criteria, and you can also download a PDF of the grant program guidelines.

Download Grant Guidelines

We want your groundbreaking, innovative, and low-emissions projects. 

Calgary and Edmonton need support to effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions, so we offer funding through this Climate Innovation Grant to various organizations for local low-carbon solutions. With this grant, you can take your remarkable emission-reducing project from idea to reality.

From technology demonstration to collective impact and policy advancement, we support various projects that inspire innovation and create tangible community benefits.

Most importantly, we want to support and strengthen those working on groundbreaking solutions to the climate emergency.  We also only support solutions that can be scaled up and have the potential to make a meaningful difference over the long haul.

Contact our Program Specialists before your Expression of Interest (EOI) to discuss project fit (book a 30-minute call with Stefanie or Adil).

Get up to $100,000

We support a diverse range of activities in both Calgary and Edmonton. You can request up to $100,000 in funding.

  1. 1

    Calgary

    $525,000 is available for projects that benefit Calgary.

  2. 2

    Edmonton

    $400,000 is available for projects that benefit Edmonton.

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Are you eligible?

Projects are eligible for funding if they fit into these organizations and align with a Challenge Statement in one of our four Focus Areas.

The following organizations are eligible to apply for the Climate Innovation Grant Program:

  • Nonprofit and Qualified Canadian Donees (charitable) organizations can apply for projects based in Calgary or Edmonton.

  • The Cities of Edmonton and Calgary.

Organizations can submit multiple projects at the Expression of Interest stage, but only one full application will be accepted per City and grant round.

Focus Area Challenge Statements

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Helpful Videos

We recorded short videos to explain the Climate Innovation Grant Program focus areas, challenge statements and application process.

Watch the Climate Innovation grant program videos

These videos shed more light on the challenge statements in our Focus Areas and highlight the type of initiatives that we support through this program.

What our grantees are saying...

  • “We need to better understand the materials and technologies we are utilizing in the housing economy to reduce our footprint. We will research the potential emissions savings from building new homes using 3D printed concrete technology vs. traditional methods and materials. The project also has significant co-benefits as we demonstrate this technology in a Veterans Village in the neighbourhood of Evansdale to provide economical, efficient pocket homes in an infill neighborhood that can help our veterans transition to permanent housing and live in harmony within our neighbourhoods again.”
    Yasushi Ohki, Executive Director, Green Violin Development Company
  • “The Climate Innovation Grant from Alberta Ecotrust provides us with seed funding that allows the Institute to start engagement of private and public sector partners, collaboratively design the demonstration project in a manner that is equitable and allows various stakeholders to gain valuable lessons, as well as share the learnings widely through Calgary and beyond. Enabling EV charging in apartments allows more Albertans to literally bring home the important energy transition that is happening around the world.”
    Binnu Jeyakumar, Director, Clean Energy, Pembina Institute
  • “We need to better understand the materials and technologies we are utilizing in the housing economy to reduce our footprint. We will research the potential emissions savings from building new homes using 3D printed concrete technology vs. traditional methods and materials. The project also has significant co-benefits as we demonstrate this technology in a Veterans Village in the neighbourhood of Evansdale to provide economical, efficient pocket homes in an infill neighborhood that can help our veterans transition to permanent housing and live in harmony within our neighbourhoods again.”
    Yasushi Ohki, Executive Director, Green Violin Development Company
  • “The Climate Innovation Grant from Alberta Ecotrust provides us with seed funding that allows the Institute to start engagement of private and public sector partners, collaboratively design the demonstration project in a manner that is equitable and allows various stakeholders to gain valuable lessons, as well as share the learnings widely through Calgary and beyond. Enabling EV charging in apartments allows more Albertans to literally bring home the important energy transition that is happening around the world.”
    Binnu Jeyakumar, Director, Clean Energy, Pembina Institute

Contact our grant team if you are unsure if you can apply

Book a call with a Program Specialist

Program Timeline

Projects we've funded

See all grant project success stories
  • Landscape shot of Edmonton downtown

    Policy Tools for Low-Energy and Emission Buildings

    Community Energy Association is exploring regulatory and incentive structures the City of Edmonton can use to reduce emissions in new construction.

    Learn more
  • Machine 3D printing a home.

    3D Printed Homes to Reduce GHG Emissions

    Green Violin’s is aiming to use low carbon in their 3D Concrete Printed House technology to bring affordable and efficient homes to Edmonton.

    Learn more

Frequently Asked Questions

Resources for Applicants

Resources for Grantees

Contact

Contact our grant team if you have further questions: grants@albertaecotrust.com or by calling 403-209-2245, or 1-800-465-2147 (outside of Calgary).

About the Climate Innovation Fund

This program is funded through the Climate Innovation Fund which aims to accelerate urban climate solutions in Calgary and Edmonton.

Learn more
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This grant program is co-funded by:

Related projects

Explore a showcase of projects that we've funded.

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Priming the Pump for DSM

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Engaging Tenants in Apartment Retrofits Resource Guide

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Common Ground - Mobilizing School Jurisdictions as Active Transportation Leaders

Edmonton

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2022-08-25