Alberta Ecotrust Foundation announces 13 organizations will receive a combined $115,052 for capacity-building through its 2026 Springboard Grant. The funding helps non-profits implement projects that strengthen their organizations so that they can deliver environmental outcomes across Alberta.

This is the last round of grantees under the Springboard Grant, as Alberta Ecotrust is combining all its grants under the Alberta Ecotrust Grant Program. This year’s selected projects include wildlife-monitoring infrastructure, native plant salvage training, conservation detection dogs, Indigenous-informed curriculum review, textile and bicycle diversion tracking, leadership succession and regional emissions inventories.

"Capacity-building is some of the hardest work for non-profits to fund, yet it's what allows them to grow their impact over the long term. This final round of Springboard grants supports 13 organizations investing in the systems, skills and partnerships behind their environmental work, and we're proud that this support will continue through the Capacity Building Stream of the Alberta Ecotrust Grant Program," says Lori Rissling Wynn, Director of Grants and Initiatives, Alberta Ecotrust Foundation.

Continue reading to learn more about our final Springboard Grantees.

Nature-based Solutions & Conservation

Exposed Wildlife Conservancy | Strengthening Digital Conservation Education Capacity

A dedicated workstation and expanded cloud storage will help the Conservancy manage trail-camera imagery and turn field data into public education, starting with its Trail Camera Program and Bow Valley work.

Freshwater Conservation Canada | Optimizing Offsetting for Greater Environmental Gain

A new tool will define, prioritize and inventory conservation projects that can meet industry offsetting requirements while aligning with provincial conservation priorities.

Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society | Expanding Plant Salvage Capacity for Restoration Projects in Fish Creek Provincial Park

Ten volunteers and junior staff will take an immersive plant identification course in June 2027, so larger crews can rescue native plants from development sites and replant them in the park with partner Alberta Native Plant Rescue Foundation.

Miistakis Institute | Building Conservation Detection Dog Capacity for Biodiversity Monitoring

Miistakis will develop and test protocols for using trained dogs to detect hard-to-find amphibians, working with partners including Blood Tribe Land Management, Waterton Lakes National Park and Wilder Institute.

Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association | Building Leadership Capacity Through Executive Director Transition and Knowledge Transfer

A structured overlap, mentorship and knowledge-transfer process will prepare an incoming Executive Director as the association's long-serving leader retires.

Circular Economy

Dopamine Dresser | Completing the Garment Journal: An Item-Level Impact-Measurement System for Textile Diversion

The Edmonton non-profit will finish its item-level inventory and impact system, add direct weight measurement and publish an open methodology, moving from estimated to audited textile-diversion figures.

Elements Society | Advancing Indigenous-Informed Environmental Education

Working with Relentless Indigenous Woman, an Alberta-based Indigenous consulting practice, Elements will review its EcoCooks school program to strengthen Indigenous perspectives and ways of knowing.

Two Wheel View | Two Wheel View Inventory Management System

Barcode and QR-code tracking will follow each donated bicycle from intake through repair, youth programming, resale, redistribution or recycling, helping recover more bikes and parts and measure diversion from Calgary landfills.

Sahan Heritage Foundation | Newcomer Peer Eco-Leadership Certification Program

Green Calgary will train up to 20 newcomer volunteers on Calgary's waste and energy systems, so certified Peer Eco Leaders can teach households in their own languages.

Climate Resilience & Emissions Reductions

Métis Capital Housing Corporation | Miyo Pimatisiwin Wîkiwan Project

MCHC will build its planning, design and delivery capacity to provide healthy, energy-efficient, durable homes for the Indigenous communities it serves across Alberta.

Tourism Canmore Kananaskis | Sustainability Workshops

With Synergy Enterprises, the team will build a picture of tourism-related emissions in Canmore, laying the groundwork for a data-based regional climate action plan.

Overarching & Foundational

Living Lakes Canada | Building Resilient Watersheds: Data Repository & Capacity Building for the Oldman Watershed Groundwater Program

A dedicated role in the Oldman Watershed Groundwater Program will support site visits, well-network expansion, data collection, quality assurance, and relationship-building with Indigenous Nations, landowners, municipalities, local communities, and project partners. This role will build on-the-ground capacity across both watersheds while ensuring data is consistently managed, interpreted, and shared.

Oldman Watershed Council | Organizational Infrastructure Modernization

An experienced professional will help staff and board assess current tools and implement one integrated platform for grants, restoration tracking, finances and interest-holder engagement.

The first intake for the new Alberta Ecotrust Grant Program will run from Dec. 1, 2026 to Jan. 11, 2027. The program will provide non-profits working in nature-based solutions and conservation, climate resilience and emissions reductions, and circular economy with up to $10,000 for capacity-building support or up to $150,000 for project support.