Environmental Grant Programs
Expressions of Interest for our Environmental Impact Grant are now closed for 2022. Applications for our Springboard Grant will open in Fall 2022.
Are you an environmental nonprofit making a lasting impact for our environment?
Our Springboard Grant Program will open in Fall 2022.
Refreshed Environmental Grant Programs.
Our 2022 Environmental Grant Programs reflect the recent refreshing of Alberta Ecotrust Foundation’s integrated program framework and responding to the urgency of both the biodiversity and climate crises as well as advancing the circular economy. It is because of these challenges that we offer funding to a variety of organisations so you can take your remarkable initiative from idea to reality.
With our 2022 round of grantmaking, we are excited to introduce our renewed grant program streams: our Environmental Impact Grant (launching mid June 2022) and our Springboard Grant Program (launching September 2022). Details on the Springboard Grants will be available later this summer.
Environmental Impact Grants
All program criteria are available on this page, or you can download a PDF of the Environmental Impact Grant Guidelines.
Download Program GuidelinesWe hosted a webinar June 7th to help you learn about our Grant Program goals, processes and to ask questions. The webinar highlights the types of initiatives that will be supported in our four focus areas and challenges statements, as well as program details like eligibility requirements, evaluation criteria, and reporting.
View the Webinar Recording | View the Webinar Slides
Focus Areas and Challenge Statements
Initiatives are eligible for funding if they align with a Challenge Statement in one of our four focus areas. Funding is available for initiatives where project activities are undertaken in the province of Alberta.
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Nature-based Solutions & Conservation
Initiatives deploying Nature-based solutions (NbS) for the purposes of measurable and attributable carbon sequestration and ecosystem services.
Initiatives that advance community led climate, water quality/conservation and biodiversity solutions that protect key ecosystems.
Initiatives that improve understanding of agriculture’s role in NbS and decarbonization pathways.
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Climate Resilience & Emissions Reductions
Initiatives that advance emission reduction strategies that can be attributed to municipal or community GHG emissions including Nature-based solutions.
Initiatives that advance low carbon resilience - resulting in emission reductions while also adapting to climate change and improving community resilience.
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Circular Economy
Initiatives that enhance the knowledge and understanding, or ability for communities to engage in circular economy activities.
Initiatives that accelerate the transition to a circular economy.
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Overarching or Foundational
Justice/equity
Initiatives that address environmental justice and its role in achieving environmental outcomes.
Initiatives that address the lack of access for marginalised, under-represented groups in achieving environmental outcomes.
Monitoring
Initiatives that strengthen the overall capacity of land and water leaders and stewards.
Initiatives to undertake and improve monitoring, measurement, and reporting plans (e.g. water or biodiversity monitoring).
Financial
Initiatives that value ecosystem services and the monetization of environmental attributes.
Initiatives that facilitate sustainable conservation financing to sustain Indigenous stewardship of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) through research, policy and capacity building.
Initiatives that explore financing mechanisms for Nature-based Solutions.
Are you eligible?
Organizations are able to submit more than one initiative at the Expression of Interest stage, but only one full application will be accepted per grant round.
The following organisations are eligible to apply:
Nonprofit and Qualified Canadian Donees (charitable) organisations
Band Councils; Tribal Councils, Tribal Associations or Tribal Governments; and Organizations of Indigenous communities across Alberta
Municipalities, the Government of Alberta and provincial agencies, academia, for-profit and private sector entities can be eligible provided they partner with a charitable and/or non-profit organization who acts as the lead proponent for the initiative
Contact our grant teams if you are unsure if you can apply.
Program Timeline
We strongly encourage you to meet with our program team to discuss your initiative prior to submitting an Expression of Interest.
During the call, staff will:
Endeavour to understand the organisation and initiative objectives and work directly with applicants to ensure the initiative fits within the focus areas and priorities.
Strive to connect initiatives with additional resources and partners if applicable.
Build relationships with applicants and work to improve the quality of applications.
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June 20 - July 22: Submit your Expression of Interest
The application portal will open June 20, 2022 at 9:00 AM MST. Expressions of Interest must be submitted by July 22, 2022 by 5:00 pm MST.
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July 25-29: Expression of Interest Review
Our team will review screen all Expressions of Interest, utilizing the evaluative criteria detailed in the Application Scorecard.
Then we will invite a short list of applicants to submit full proposals.
We’ll offer direct feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
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August 1-31: Full Applications
Our team will work closely with those invited to apply. We will assist you in technical and financial due diligence, providing feedback and direction from the Expression of Interest stage.
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September: Decision-Making
Our Environmental Grant Review Committee will decide which initiatives to fund. Whether or not you are successful, we will reach out to you to confirm and discuss.
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Late September: Award
Successful applicants are notified and Contribution Agreements must be signed within three months of notification.
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October: Feedback for Applicants
All unsuccessful applicants will be offered feedback regarding the decision and their initiative from Alberta Ecotrust staff.
Want to talk it through? You can book a 30 minute call with our team, and get specialised assistance.
Meet Lori
Lori Rissling Wynn is one of our Program Specialists, and is here to help you with your application.
Meet Diana
Diana Chrapko is one of our Program Specialists, and is here to help you with your application.
Resources for Applicants
Download the Expression of Interest questions
View ResourceDownload the Program Guidelines
Download FileReview the Application Scorecard
Download File
Frequently Asked Questions
Resources for Current Grantees
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).
Alberta Ecotrust Logo Guidelines
Download FileAlberta Ecotrust Primary Logo
Download FileElectronic Fund Transfer Form for Grantees
Download File
When it comes to teaching about complex sustainability topics like climate change, teachers are largely left to their own devices. Thanks to support from Alberta Ecotrust, we've been able to address this important gap through innovative programs such as a three-day summer institute on climate education and a national environmental and sustainability education e-course for teachers-in-training.
Projects we've funded
See our showcase of projects that we have funded.
View all projects
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