A strong non-profit sector is an essential part of a healthy democracy. Nowhere is this more important than the environmental sector, where grassroots organizations play a fundamental role in defining whether and how governments and industry protect the integrity of the environment on which all life depends.

As a grantmaker, Alberta Ecotrust has a vested interest in the capacity of the very organizations we support. Our 2004 "Maximizing Effectiveness" report clearly indicates that grassroots and environmental organizations face challenges, especially access to adequate funding, effectively recruiting and managing volunteers (including board members), and organizational communications and promotions. Alberta Ecotrust's Capacity Building Program helps environmental non-profits to address these issues and increase their ability to achieve sustained progress towards their priorities. We see our role as a catalyst in both stimulating and strengthening the capacity of non-profit groups to build healthy communities. Working with a mix of local and national experts, we have expanded our mandate to include a Capacity Building Program as a way to leverage the impact of our Environmental Grant Program.

Our Capacity Building Program:

1. Supports and facilitates environmental groups to utilize resources
   that build their capacity and maximize their effectiveness.
2. Integrates capacity building into the Alberta Ecotrust Grant Program.
3. Builds knowledge and develops specialized resources in the environmental sector that increases the effectiveness of voluntary organizations working for sustainable environmental benefits.

Beyond funding, the following capacity building activities add significant value to the work of environmental non-profits:

• Travel and event subsidies
• Free webcasts on priority environmental issues
• Workshops, trainings and conferences on key capacity topics
• Sector mapping
• Convening and facilitating
• Grantmaker training
• Advocating for voluntary sector investment
• Promoting environmental philanthropy

For more information on Alberta Ecotrust's Capacity Building Program, please contact us.