The Springboard Grant is a capacity building grant to support your organisational development to develop competencies, work on new strategies, or improve processes/systems, resulting in greater impact and improving your ability to achieve an environmental outcome. It is an opportunity to invest in your organisation.
Download Springboard Grant GuidelinesThe Springboard Grant program criteria are available on this page, or you can download a PDF of the Springboard Grant Guidelines.
The guidelines are intended to make the program parameters clear and assist applicants in ensuring their initiative will be a good fit for a grant. Small capacity building grants are very competitive, and the Foundation receives many more requests than it can fund. Applications with the best chance of being funded clearly state the need, readiness and commitment to increasing your capacity in our Focus Areas. Applications not for capacity building will not be considered.
Focus Areas
Our 2022 Springboard Grant reflects the recent refreshing of Alberta Ecotrust Foundation’s integrated program framework and responds 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 organizations doing this important work in Alberta.
The Springboard Grant is intended to increase the capacity of Alberta organisations to complete good projects which contribute to our Focus Areas:
- 1
Nature-based Solutions & Conservation
Alberta values, develops and fully integrates Nature-based Solutions to achieve environmental, economic and social objectives. Alberta Ecotrust supports Indigenous-led efforts and implementation of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs).
- 2
Climate Resilience & Emissions Reductions
Alberta achieves the vision of carbon neutrality and resilient communities by mid century. Alberta Ecotrust supports projects and initiatives that have the potential to scale to achieve this vision within this timeframe.
- 3
Circular Economy
Alberta has a circular economy that preserves the value of energy, labour, and materials. Alberta Ecotrust supports projects and initiatives that promote durability, reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling to keep products, components, and materials circulating in the economy.
- 4
Overarching/Foundational
Initiatives in this Focus Area will address justice and equity, improving environmental monitoring, or explore financial aspects of Nature-based Solutions & Conservation, Climate Resilience & Emissions Reductions, and Circular Economy.
Get up to $10,000
In 2022, a total funding envelope of $100,000 is available. Applicants can request between $1,000 to $10,000 in funding.
Are you eligible?
Organisations are able to submit only one application per funding round.
The following organisations are eligible to apply:
Nonprofit organisations
Band Councils; Tribal Councils, Tribal Associations or Tribal Governments; and Organisations of Indigenous communities across Alberta
Contact our grant teams if you are unsure if you can apply.
Springboard Grant Timeline
- 1
October 1 -31: Submit your Application
AEF Staff will provide guidance as requested and as capacity allows, however there will be no formal Interview process prior to the Application deadline.
- 2
November: Decision Making
AEF Staff make funding decisions.
- 3
December: Award
Successful applicants are notified and Contribution Agreements must be signed within three months of notification.
Resources for Applicants
Contact our Program Specialists
View ResourceDownload the Application Questions
Download FileDownload the Program Guidelines
Download File
Frequently Asked Questions
Projects we've funded
See our showcase of projects that we have funded.
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