Environmental Impact Grant
Expression of interest for the 2024 grant stream is now closed. Application dates for the 2025 grant stream will be announced in December, 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 GuidelinesWe recorded short videos to explain the Environmental Impact Grant Program focus areas, challenge statements and application process.
Watch the videosThese videos shed more light on the challenge statements in our Focus Areas and highlight the type of initiatives that we support through this program.
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.
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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.
Click to watch the video on climate resilience and emissions reductions focus area
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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 include on the ground projects that accelerate the transition to a circular economy.
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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.
Click to watch the video on nature-based solutions focus area
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Overarching or Foundational
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.
Click to watch the video on overarching and foundational focus area
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.
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.
Environmental Impact Grant Timeline
Expressions of Interest (EOI) will open 9:00 am MST Monday December 4, 2023 to 5pm MST Monday January 22, 2024.
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December 4, 2023 - January 22, 2024: Submit your Expression of Interest
Submit your Expression of Interest through our application portal. The grant portal will open at 9:00 am MST December 4th, 2023. EOIs must be submitted by 5:00 pm MST January 22nd, 2024.
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 organization 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 relationship with applicants and work to improve the quality of applications.
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January 23-February 2, 2024: Expression of Interest Screen
Our team will review all Expressions of Interest, utilizing the evaluative criteria detailed in the Application Scorecard.
We’ll invite a short list of applicants to submit full proposals.
We’ll offer direct feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
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February 6-March 5, 2024: 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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March/April 2024: Application Review and Decision Making
Our Environmental Advisory 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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May 2024: Award
Successful applicants are notified, and Contribution Agreements must be signed within three months of notification.
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June 2024: Feedback for Applicants
All unsuccessful applicants will be offered feedback regarding the decision and their initiative from AEF staff.
Resources for Applicants
Application Scorecard
View ResourceExpression of Interest questions
View ResourceProgram Guidelines
View Resource
Frequently Asked Questions
Projects we've funded
See our showcase of projects that we have funded.
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