The EcoCharge MacEwan project aims to install fast-charging electric vehicle stations powered by solar energy and battery storage on a bustling university campus in downtown Edmonton. By addressing the increasing demand for electric vehicles and reducing emissions, the project directly tackles the transition to zero-emission transportation. Key objectives include deploying state-of-the-art chargers, integrating advanced battery storage and maximizing the use of solar power. Benefits include enhanced urban mobility, reduced carbon footprint and lower electricity bills through peak load shaving. The project also emphasizes community engagement and scalability, seeking financial support for implementation and aiming for completion within a two-year timeline.

MacEwan University

Passive House Alberta Foundation proposes to develop a package of generic high-performance, low-carbon, missing middle and affordable housing designs appropriate for the Alberta Climate. They will partner with the Cities of Calgary and Edmonton, not-for-profit housing organizations, design professionals, energy advisors, multifamily builders and low-carbon materials suppliers. Through collaboration and integrated design processes, their goal will be to deliver innovative low-carbon plans that can be replicated throughout Alberta. In addition, a reference catalogue of low-carbon materials and assemblies that are readily available in Alberta will be produced.

Passive House Alberta Foundation

Generic Low Embodied Carbon (GLEC) Missing Middle MURB design

Elements is committed to empowering Albertans with the knowledge and tools to protect and sustain their natural surroundings. Last year, its environmental education programs had a direct environmental impact, with participants reducing emissions, land-use requirements and water usage by 8,607kg CO2eq, 27,236.31 m2, and 1,778,536 L, respectively. 

To expand its program reach and impact throughout Alberta, they will use the Springboard Grant to hire a fundraising professional in January 2025, whose expertise will support the development of a robust fundraising strategy that diversifies revenue opportunities and increases its financial sustainability. The fundraiser will collaborate with its team to develop innovative campaigns, cultivate relationships and explore long-term grant opportunities, enabling us to extend our educational reach leading to direct environmental improvements in emissions, land and water usage. This strategic hire is essential for the long-term growth of the organization and for strengthening its capacity to engage youth and community members to achieve environmental goals.

Elements Society for Environmental Education and Leadership (Elements)

The Oldman Watershed Council (OWC) will build a Fund Development Plan to launch the next phase of its future success. The Council will hire an experienced professional to lead the development of the plan in collaboration with its Board of Directors and staff in the fall and winter of 2024. 

The plan will lay the foundations for long-term stability through diversification of revenue streams, increasing OWC's donor base and enhancing investments in essential programs. Implementing a strategic fund development plan will allow OWC to scale up its effective nature-based programs that are improving the resilience of southwest Alberta to climate extremes. 

Oldman Watershed Council

Building a fund development plan for long-term success

IslamicFamily is committed to advancing affordable housing solutions by leveraging the innovative findings from the Affordable Housing Solutions Lab. Between April and September 2025, they will collaborate with housing experts Shafraaz Kaba and Anna Bubel to deliver specialized training for its staff. These experts bring a wealth of experience in sustainable building practices and community-centred housing development. The training program will focus on the practical implementation of the 16 solutions identified by the lab, including innovative financing models, energy-efficient building techniques and community engagement strategies. Conducted in Edmonton, the workshops will offer a blend of theoretical learning and practical application, allowing its team to work directly with local housing providers like Civida. This approach ensures that its staff not only understand the solutions but are also equipped to apply them effectively in real-world scenarios. 

By enhancing internal capacity, this project aims to bridge the gap between research and practice, empowering IslamicFamily to contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable housing landscape. Through this initiative, they seek to foster a collaborative environment that encourages knowledge-sharing and innovative problem-solving, ultimately leading to more accessible and affordable housing options for Edmonton's diverse communities.

Islamic Family and Social Services Association

Building capacity for affordable housing: Implementing innovative solutions

The Women in Need Society (WINS) empowers vulnerable women and their families by providing essential resources to help them thrive and achieve financial stability. WINS is also committed to environmental sustainability, diverting over six million pounds of items from Calgary landfills last year alone. Calgarians donate clothing, housewares and furniture, which are either sold in its thrift stores or given to clients through the House to Home Program. Unsellable clothing is sent to a third-party recycler, generating revenue that supports its programs, with 88% of proceeds going directly to its initiatives. 

To further its impact, the Springboard Grant will add a second baler at its Donation Centre. This will enhance its ability to manage recyclable donations efficiently, reduce waste and support a circular economy. The additional baler will also generate more revenue from recycled materials, helping to sustain our long-term programs. Moreover, it will provide valuable training for its Warehouse Ready Participants, improving their employment prospects in the warehouse industry. 

Women in Need Society

Bragg Creek Wild, a dynamic grassroots organization founded in Bragg Creek, Alberta, in 2020, addresses the surge in human-wildlife conflicts due to escalating development and visitation. Their mission focuses on advocating for wildlife protection through preserving habitat connectivity, educating the community to reduce human-wildlife conflicts and working with local government on sustainable land management. With the Springboard Grant and complimentary capacity-building support, they will undertake essential activities such as governance training, strategic planning and upgrades to their not-for-profit management software and website. These improvements will help build on their early achievements and manage growth effectively, enhancing their ability to tackle local human-wildlife conflict issues. This grant will significantly bolster Bragg Creek Wild's capacity for long-term impact, enabling them to strengthen their organization and prioritize their initiatives more effectively for a positive human-wildlife future. 

Bragg Creek Wild

Investing in Bragg Creek Wild: Capacity-building to increase & strengthen organizational growth and development

This grant will build capacity within the Waterton Biosphere Reserve (WBR) by strengthening communications and outreach work. Visual communication tools are foundational in social media, printed materials, advertising and educational presentations. 

Images serve as the first and most effective point of entry to stories, articles, educational material, event promotion and conservation activity documentation. By presenting WBR with effective visual tools, they can engage stakeholders effectively and efficiently. Professional quality imagery instills a sense of authority, authenticity, relevance and urgency. 

Stakeholder buy-in is crucial to WBR's endeavours across programs. Compelling imagery evokes intellectual and emotional responses in people, helping them imagine what the future could look like and what their role might be in this future. 

Relevant, timely, high-quality imagery will enhance its membership, volunteer recruitment, project uptake and youth education. These efforts, by extension, will improve the adoption of nature-based solutions, support species at risk, reduce conflicts with wildlife and foster appreciation for sustainable development within the WBR. 

This funding will support image acquisition, databasing, related planning/training time, travel expenses and stock collection by communications staff. This effort may also feature a public imagery component where stakeholders can contribute their own photos and videos via contests and visual creator profiles. 

Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association

Building capacity for public outreach and education through development of visual resources within the Waterton Biosphere Region

Since Fish Creek Provincial Park opened, Calgary's population has more than tripled, and the natural ecology of the park has suffered. The park spans 13.48 square kilometres and hosts four million annual visitations. The Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society (The Friends) works to conserve and protect Fish Creek as its health is critical in supporting the Bow River Watershed. 

The Friends are working towards creating a State of the Watershed (SOW) report for Fish Creek, which will develop into a Watershed Management Plan. Historically, the Friends have not been able to perform any in-stream work due to lack of capacity, lack of baseline water quality data on Fish Creek and the high time requirement associated with applying for provincial Water Act permits. In 2021, the Friends began collecting watershed data, including performing trout redd surveys, installing data loggers and performing bi-weekly water sampling. The next step is to get trained in the CABIN sampling protocol, which will give a more complete picture of the health of the creek. Once they understand the state of the watershed, we can create a Watershed Management Plan for Fish Creek and begin to perform in-stream restoration activities aimed at restoring fish and wildlife habitat.

Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society

Watershed management in Fish Creek Provincial Park

The City of Edmonton, with support from Alberta Ecotrust, are partnering to deliver research grants to help advance knowledge about how Edmonton can become an energy sustainable and climate resilient city.

Cities IPCC Legacy Research Grant | Alberta Ecotrust

This program is now complete. Read on to learn about the research results.

We know that Calgary and Edmonton need support to effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions. That is why we offer funding to a variety of organizations for local low-carbon solutions.

Climate Innovation Fund Grant Program | Alberta Ecotrust Foundation

The application portal for the 2025 Climate Innovation Grant is now open!

Through our Climate Innovation Fund, Alberta Ecotrust led and co-funded a pilot project with the Alberta Real Estate Foundation to explore the potential of digital home energy labels using Lightspark technology.

Digital Home Energy Labels | Alberta Ecotrust Foundation

Alberta Ecotrust is supporting innovation in digital home energy labels to accelerate the home energy revolution.

The City of Edmonton, with support from Alberta Ecotrust, are partnering to deliver grants to  invest in citizen-led urban solutions to climate change. This grant is no longer available.

EcoCity Edmonton Grant | Alberta Ecotrust

This program is now complete

Up to $50,000. Funding initiatives across all Alberta in support of our charitable purpose and vision of healthy ecosystems for all Albertans. Focus areas: Climate resilience and emissions reductions, circular economy, and nature-based solutions and conservation

Environmental Impact Grant | Alberta Ecotrust

The application portal for the 2025 Environmental Impact Grant is now closed.

Alberta Ecotrust Foundation offers up to $10,000 for organizational capacity-building. The 2024 intake for our Springboard Grant opens on July 15 and will accept applications until Sept. 3, 2024.

2024 Springboard Grant | Alberta Ecotrust

Our Springboard Grant application intake is closed for 2024.  Please check back in June 2025 for 2025 program information.

See the stories from projects funded by our grant programs.

Supported Projects

Projects supported by our grant programs

EcoCharge MacEwan

Edmonton

Generic Low Embodied Carbon (GLEC) Missing Middle MURB design

Calgary & Edmonton

Funding the future

Overarching

Building a fund development plan for long-term success

Overarching

Building capacity for affordable housing: Implementing innovative solutions

Overarching

Vertical baler for donations

Calgary

Circular Economy

Investing in Bragg Creek Wild: Capacity-building to increase & strengthen organizational growth and development

Bragg Creek

Nature based Solutions and Conservation

Building capacity for public outreach and education through development of visual resources within the Waterton Biosphere Region

Waterton

Nature based Solutions and Conservation

Watershed management in Fish Creek Provincial Park

Nature based Solutions and Conservation