Nature-Based Climate Action Funding

Application Guidelines

Please note, applications are now closed. 

• Funding Overview

  The goal of this funding call is to help address the impacts of climate change in the capital region through community-led nature-based initiatives. Funding will support eligible organizations that have a primary purpose related to environment and climate action and are focused on nature-based solutions to this global crisis, such as ecological restoration, land conservation, biodiversity and species at risk work. This includes terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems. In other words, this kind of work is in the organization’s “DNA”, and at the core of everything they do.

  There are two funding areas:

  1. Support initiatives for the protection, restoration and management of terrestrial, freshwater and/or marine ecosystems within the capital region.
  2. Build capacity for land trusts and other organizations that protect, restore and/or steward natural areas.

  Recognizing the power of natural areas to heal, connect and empower, we encourage applications to support nature-based community action from Indigenous organizations.

  We seek to empower this work through a low-barrier opportunity for funding nature-based solutions to climate action. Based on trust-based principles, the application process will promote equity, center relationships and accommodate alternative application formats if needed. We recognize the historical and systemic barriers to funding for some communities and encourage applications from environmental organizations that are led by or working with equity-deserving groups.

  Eligible organizations and local Nations are invited to apply for up to $50,000. We anticipate receiving between 30-50 requests for this $550,000 funding call. We encourage you to apply for the amount appropriate to your organization/ project’s needs.

• Who Do We Fund?

  This funding call is focused on supporting the environmental sector and local Nations. Specifically, it is intended to support registered charities, local Nations and other qualified donees working within the capital region (see map HERE) that meet the following criteria: 

  • Organizations that have a primary purpose related to environment and climate action and are focused on nature-based solutions to this global crisis, such as ecological restoration, land conservation, biodiversity and species at risk work in terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems 
  • Organizations whose core mission aligns with nature-based climate solutions.  
  • Local Nations leading projects or initiatives for nature-based climate solutions on their traditional territory, such as ecological restoration, land conservation, biodiversity and species at risk work in terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems. 

  Please note organizations without core mission alignment with nature-based climate solutions are NOT eligible to apply. This includes: 

  • Those who are integrating environmental activities into their programs. 
  • public sector/local government 
  • faith-based organizations 
  • health and social service organizations 
  • school district and education-based organizations 

  You may apply to this program even if you have a current grant with the Victoria Foundation. 

  Registered charities working with non-qualified donees in an intermediary relationship are welcome to apply but please reach out by email ahead of the application deadline to discuss. 

  If you have questions about your eligibility to apply, please contact the program lead Jenna Falk at grants@victoriafoundation.bc.ca before applying. 

• What is Eligible for Funding?

  The following expense types are eligible as they directly relate to and support your nature-based climate action activities: 

  • General operating costs  
  • Staffing costs 
  • Projects, programs or initiatives 
  • Organizational capacity building (e.g., staff/leadership training, strategic planning, mentorship)  
  • Modest capital costs such as IT, safety equipment, etc. 
  • Costs associated with land acquisition (e.g., surveys, environmental assessments, appraisals, conveyancing) 
• Examples of Eligible Requests
  • Support initiatives for the protection, restoration and management of terrestrial, freshwater and/or marine ecosystems within the capital region. 
  • Example: Bull kelp habitat restoration to support carbon capture and biodiversity 
  • Example: Native tree planting in ecologically appropriate areas 
  • Build capacity for land trusts and other organizations that protect, restore and/or steward natural areas.  
  • Examples: Equipment and training, general operating costs, and staffing. 
  • Support nature-based initiatives for community climate action by local Nations. This kind of community-based work recognizes the power of natural areas to heal, connect and empower. 
  • Example: An inter-generational restoration project led by a local Nation that supports ecosystem adaptation and resilience to climate change while connecting people with the land. 
• What is Ineligible for Funding?
  • Purchase of land or buildings 
  • Political activities that are prohibited by the Canada Revenue Agency 
  • Retroactive requests (any expenses incurred before September 1, 2023) 
  • Requests without specific benefit to the environment of the Capital Region 
  • Projects or activities that are NOT nature-based 
• How Can I Apply?

  Applications were accepted between August 16 and September 22, 2023, at 4:30pm PST. 

  The application has been kept intentionally brief to save you time. Applicants with eligible proposals that strongly fit the criteria will be contacted for a follow-up conversation by phone or video call.  The intention of this follow-up is to learn more about the organization’s work and to clarify any application details. Follow-up calls will be booked on a rolling basis as applications are submitted and will take place until early October.  

• Can I Apply More Than Once?

  Organizations may apply to this program once. Exceptions may be made when a charity is working in partnership with a non-qualified donee that is representing an equity-deserving group. This is in recognition that there are systemic barriers to funding for some communities. If you are a registered charity that is working with and would like to support a non-qualified donee to apply to the Nature-Based Climate Action Fund in an intermediary relationship, please reach out by email ahead of the application deadline to discuss.  

  You may apply to this program even if you have a current grant with the Victoria Foundation. 

• How is the Nature-Based Climate Action Fund Call Being Funded?

  The Nature-based Climate Action Funding is made possible thanks to a donor and has been funded through a legacy gift that was left to the Victoria Foundation specifically for environmental causes. The size of this gift has made it possible for the Foundation to offer a separate and independent funding call outside of the Community Grants Program. In recognition that environmental organizations are traditionally underfunded across Canada, a core intention of holding a separate funding call is to give environmental organizations working on community-based climate action an additional opportunity for support. 

• What Are My Chances of Being Funded?

  There is a total of $550,000 available through this funding call. While this call has a very specific scope, there are a large number of organizations in the capital region working in the areas of environmental restoration, stewardship, land conservation, and climate action. We anticipate receiving between 30-50 requests for this funding call. We encourage you to apply for the amount appropriate to your organization/ project’s needs. 

• How are Applications Assessed?

  After an application is submitted, the granting staff will complete their assessment of each request based on these specific criteria, in order of priority:  

  • Environmental impact of request 
  • Community integration (I.e., collaboration, demographics benefiting and involved) 
  • Financial need of organization 
  • Organization governance and resilience 

  Aligning with a trust-based philanthropic approach, the Victoria Foundation tries to fully fund requests whenever possible. This is balanced with a goal of reaching the sector in different ways and supporting a variety of organizations across our funding geography.  

• Reporting and Stewardship

  All successful applicants will be required to share the results of the grant (via simple report, phone call, or visit) upon fully spending the funds. Funds are intended to be spent within 12-14 months of grant approval. 

• Questions and Support

  If after reading the application guidelines you have remaining questions or concerns, please contact Jenna Falk at grants@victoriafoundation.bc.ca. Please contact us for support throughout the application process or if you have accessibility needs. We are here to help. 

• Application Questions

  1. Applicant Contact Information 

  • Organization legal name 
  • Organization operating name (if different than the legal name) 
  • Organization address 

  2. Applicant Primary Contact 

  • Full name 
  • Position/Title 
  • Email 
  • Phone number 

  3. Intermediary Organization and Primary Contact (if applicable – if a charity is working with a non-qualified done, fill out this section with the charity’s contact information.

  • Full name
  • Position/Title
  • Email
  • Phone number

  4. Grant Request Title

  5. Grant Request Amount ($)

  6. Please describe your grant request. How will this grant support your nature-based work?  (Suggested length 50-100 words) 

  7. Environmental Impact: Please share how your nature-based work contributes to climate mitigation and/or adaptation.   (Suggested length 100-200 words) 

  8. Community Integration: Please share how your nature-based climate action work is led by and/or reflects the priorities and values of the community that you serve.  (Suggested length 50-100 words)

  9. Community Collaboration: Who are you working with to achieve your goals? What specifically is your role with these collaborators/partners? (Suggested length 50-100 words) 

  Budget:

  10. Please describe how you plan to spend this funding.   (Suggested length 20-50 words)

  11. Please describe your organization’s need for this funding. How will this funding impact your organization?  (Suggested length 20-50 words)

  12. When do you plan to spend the funding by?  (Date, no later than Dec 31, 2024)