Alberta Ecotrust supports environmental projects undertaken by non-profit organizations (and youth age 16-26) working in Alberta.

Please note:  Alberta Ecotrust funds environmental projects in the province of Alberta only.  We do not fund projects in other provinces or countries.

Organizations eligible for funding

Most organizations registered as a non-profit society or non-profit corporation in Alberta or registered as a charity and operating in Alberta are eligible to apply for a grant. However, Alberta Ecotrust will give preference to supporting community- and grassroots-oriented projects and organizations. 

In general, eligible organizations include:  

• Environmental groups
• Community groups 
• Aboriginal groups and First Nations councils 
• Service clubs and associations 
• Youth and seniors' organizations

Please note that the following organizations are not eligible for grant funding from Alberta Ecotrust:

• Private sector organizations
• Educational institutions 
• Municipal, provincial/territorial and federal governments 
• Government agencies or quasi-governmental organizations
• Businesses
• Cooperatives
• Individuals (except in the case of youth age 16 to 26 who are applying to the Youth Environmental Stewardship Grant Program)
• Political parties
• Scoundrels

Individuals (age 16 to 26) eligible for funding

The Youth Environmental Stewardship (YES) Grant Program was created to help Alberta's young environmental leaders (age 16 to 26) turn their dreams for a cleaner, healthier future into reality. YES grants provide up to $5,000 to a single project undertaken by an individual or group of youth. Applicants who have already received a YES grant are not eligible to receive a second one.

Eligible projects for YES Grants will satisfy the following requirements:

1. The project activities are primarily undertaken by or coordinated by the youth proposing the project.
2. The project must be undertaken within the local community of the applying youth.
3. The project's objective is to achieve a demonstrable benefit for the environment.

A maximum of $5,000 will be awarded to any single project. If three youth collaborate on a project at their school, they would only be eligible to receive a total of $5,000. In a case like this, the applicants should submit a single application as a team.

Please note the following activities will not be eligible for funding:

• Projects initiated or mandated by any order of government.
• Political lobbying
• Litigation
• Initiatives that slander or impugn the reputation of any individual, organization, or sector.
• Any individual or program that previously received funding from the YES Grant program

It is not the intention of the YES Grant Program to fund on-going school-based initiatives. While Alberta Ecotrust recognizes the positive inpact a school-based initiative can have on the community, on-going school-based initiatives are not the priority of the YES Grant Program. if you are considering submitting an application for a school-based program, please contact Alberta Ecotrust.

Download these complete application guidelines for more information.

Projects eligible for funding

Should your application be successful, project start dates are often 2 months after the deadline (i.e June 15 or December 15). Costs incurred before your project start date are not eligible for funding. For example, if you are applying in the spring grant round to host a conference, the conference date must fall after June 15 and any costs incurred before June 15 cannot be paid with Ecotrust funds.

Recognizing the diversity of expertise and experience in the voluntary sector, we expect to see a range of proposals that include a variety of strategies:

• Engaging local citizens through direct hands-on involvement

• Demonstrating or implementing sustainable practices 

• Applied research that could result in development or analysis of public policy 

• Developing and implementing environmental education programming for youth tied to school curriculum 

• Educating and increasing environmental awareness of the public in all sectors.

Proposals should focus on addressing one or more of our environmental priorities.

We are unlikely to fund:

• waste recycling projects
• projects that are mandated by any level of government
• conferences - we are not interested in "sponsoring" conferences, though we would fund the coordinating activities, or development of any resources that may arise through those conferences 

Please note that we will not fund the following activities:

• Projects initiated or mandated by any order of government. 

• Political lobbying 

• Litigation

Alberta Ecotrust recognizes that advocacy is an important mandate of the voluntary sector and supports activities focused on the good of the public and commons. However, we will not support or fund an initiative that targets or impugns the reputation of any individual, organization, or sector.

Eligible Costs

Grant funds can be used for any costs deemed reasonable and directly related to the project. This includes:

• Portion of salaries for project management and administration
• Contractor wages
• Travel and accommodations

• Existing programs that address the three environmental priorities of protecting air, land and water

• Publications
• Website development
• Supplies and materials
• Portion of rent, telephone, etc.
• Project-specific training