Environmental Impact Grant

Expression of Interest intake for the 2024 grant stream will open from 9 a.m. MST December 4, 2023 until 5 p.m. MST January 22, 2024.

The Environmental Impact Grant program criteria are available on this page, or you can download a PDF copy of the grant program guidelines.

Download Program Guidelines

We hosted a webinar June 2022 to help understand our Grant Program goals, processes and to ask questions. The webinar highlighted 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

Icon of a pencil writing on a clipboard.

Focus Areas and Challenge Statements

Initiatives for the Environmental Impact Grant must align with a Challenge Statement in one of our four focus areas and must take place in Alberta.

1
Nature-based Solutions & Conservation
- Initiatives that deploy Nature-based solutions for the purposes of measurable and attributable carbon sequestration, biodiversity, or ecosystem services.
- Initiatives that advance scalable, collaborative projects that harness Nature-based solutions to safeguard vital ecosystems.
- Initiatives that not only enhance the understanding of agriculture’s role in Nature-based solutions and decarbonization pathways, but also foster ongoing learning and innovation in this critical domain.
- Acknowledging the crucial role of Indigenous communities in conservation efforts, initiatives that foster and empower Indigenous-led conservation approaches, ensuring the preservation of both cultural heritage and biodiversity.
2
Climate Resilience & Emissions Reductions
- Initiatives that investigate and adopt integrated, scalable approaches to reducing community GHG emissions.
- Initiatives that focus on adapting to climate change and improving resilience while also enabling emission reductions.
3
Circular Economy
- Initiatives that enhance the knowledge and understanding, or ability for communities to engage in circular economy activities.
- Initiatives that include on the ground projects that accelerate the transition to a circular economy.
4
Overarching or Foundational
Justice/equity
- Initiatives that yield positive environmental benefits while addressing environmental justice and/or lack of access for marginalized or underrepresented groups.
- Initiatives that undertake and improve monitoring, measurement, and reporting plans.
- Initiatives that explore financial mechanisms that unlock the economic value of ecosystem benefits and/or provide essential funding to support a diverse range of projects, ultimately advancing our focus areas of NbS Solutions & Conservation, Climate Resilience & Emissions Reductions, or Circular Economy.

Get up to $50,000

We support a diverse range of activities related to our focus areas. For the Environmental Impact Grant, you can request up to $50,000 in funding.

Alberta Ecotrust Foundation would consider disbursing up to $100,000 to multiple groups in equal partnership on a high impact initiative. Please indicate through the EOI if you want to explore this additional funding, and clearly outline your concept, approach, and partners. We highly encourage you to contact one of our Program Specialists in advance of your EOI to discuss this option (book a 30-minute call with Lori or Diana).

If you apply as a high impact initiative, your application will not be considered at the $50,000 amount. Only one high impact grant will be awarded per grant cycle.

Icon of arrows moving up to the right in a wave shape.

Are you eligible?

Organisations are able to submit more than one initiative at the EOI 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 Organisations 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 at grants@albertaecotrust.com if you are unsure if you can apply.