Project Grants

The Fund invests in projects conserving priority land and freshwater areas in BC.

Funding Streams

Now accepting Expressions of Interest for Stream 1.

The Conservation Fund plans to have three funding streams:

Stream 1: Area-Based Conservation Initiatives

Phase 1 – Securing a Community Mandate
Phase 2 – Conservation Planning and Agreements
Phase 3 – Long-term Stewardship and Restoration of New Conservation Areas

The investment sub-stream 'Identifying Biodiverse Areas' has been paused while we refine the program design. Intake of new EOIs is on hold until further notice.

Stream 2: Innovation

Stream 3: Education and Working Together

Stream 1 Funding Priorities

We are now welcoming Expressions of Interest for Stream 1, Area-Based Conservation Initiatives. There are 3 phases flowing along a pathway, as outlined below. Each phase has its own unique set of desired results/impacts, criteria to evaluate projects, funding priorities, and eligible activities. Applicants can submit a proposal at any phase that aligns with their current efforts—there is no need to start at a specific phase.

Stream 1 Expressions of Interest will be accepted on a rolling basis, with the first review in the fall, 2024.

While this call for EOI will be ongoing, we encourage submissions by September 30th, 2024 to participate in the first round of reviews. Submissions by this date may advance to a full application process this winter. In exceptional circumstances, projects that are time-sensitive, meet all criteria, and have a provincially significant impact on biodiversity conservation and Fund leverage may be fast-tracked for full applications and investment.

Phase 1 – Securing a Community Mandate

Focus is on projects that are building a community vision, mandate, capacity and partnerships to conserve areas, and who are not yet in formal government to government planning discussions with the province.

Phase 2 – Conservation Planning and Agreements

Focus is on funding projects that have secured an internal mandate, capacity and partnerships to advance conservation, and that are ready or have entered into government-to-government planning or other conservation agreements.

Phase 3 – Long-term Stewardship and Restoration of New Conservation Areas

Focus is on funding projects in areas that have recently been designated for conservation, and that are ready to be stewarded and restored (where required) over the long-term. This phase includes sustainable economic opportunities that are in line with conservation.

Identifying Biodiverse Areas

This sub-stream was established to support the identification and conservation of BC’s most biodiverse ecosystems at a provincial scale. We have looked to do this by working together with applicants to maximize our learning and collective impact. Drawing on insights from our initial intakes, we are pausing our call for new Expressions of Interest to access Biodiverse Area Identification grants while we refine the program’s design.

Guide for Applicants

Before you apply, please check out our Guide to BC Conservation Funding for Stream 1 – Area-Based Conservation Initiatives.

This includes important information on our funding priorities, desired results, eligible activities, and the criteria and key considerations we will use to assess grant applications. You can find out about a few key items in the tabs on the right.

Prior to developing an application, please ensure your project/initiative and your organization is eligible for funding. If you have any questions regarding eligibility, please contact us at info@bcconservationfund.ca.

I am ready to submit a project I want to support projects

Applicant Eligibility

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Grant applicants must be a qualified donee. As such, grants will be open to any non-profit organization or community contribution company (C3) working on conservation or land/water use issues in BC. For BC Conservation Fund purposes, qualified donees may include:

First Nations
Charities and societies
Non-government organization (NGOs)
Universities and colleges
Trade associations
Local and Regional Governments

If you are not a qualified donee and interested in applying for a Phase 1-3 grant, particularly a First Nation applicant, please contact us for assistance at info@bcconservationfund.ca.

If you are not a qualified donee and interested in applying for a Biodiverse Area Identification grant, we encourage you to partner with a qualified donee, which includes post-secondary institutions.
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We encourage and will prioritize applications from First Nations or delegated organizations in phases 1-3. Non-Indigenous organizations can apply where First Nation support is demonstrated (i.e. through a letter or other form of support from the Nation), or in the case of a Biodiverse Area Identification project. We will not accept applications from individuals or for-profit companies in this stream.

The investment sub-stream 'Identifying Biodiverse Areas' has been paused while we refine the program design. Intake of new EOIs is on hold until further notice.

Submitting an Expression of Interest (EoI)

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Before being invited to complete a full funding application for review, an expression of interest must be completed and reviewed by the BC Conservation Fund. This will help applicants avoid spending unnecessary time on applications. The Fund will advise EoI applicants if they are welcome to submit a full application. Please visit the 'Apply' page to continue.

Submitting a Complete Funding Application

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Application templates will be made available once an Expression of Interest (EOI) has been reviewed and the proponent has been invited to complete the full application. These templates are tailored to the specific phase you are applying for and will build upon your EOI submission. You may be asked to provide additional details, such as more comprehensive work plans and budget information.
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We welcome the opportunity to work with proponents who are invited to complete their applications.

Application Deadlines

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There are two Stream 1 intakes in 2025:

‍Intake 1:

Expressions of Interest deadline: February 5, 2025 [Extension: Feb 14, 2025].
Invitation to apply: Early April.
Full application deadline: End of May.

‍Intake 2:

Expressions of Interest deadline: July 4, 2025.
Invitation to apply: Early September.
Full application deadline: End of October.

Grant Amounts

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Investments will be awarded for a wide range of projects and therefore the amount of funding given will vary depending on the funding stream (and phase), the type of work/activities, the project location and size, and the number of partners and funders involved.
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We anticipate that for the identification of provincial-scale biodiversity needs and priority areas and smaller, more community-based initiatives, grants will tend to range up to $100K, while more complex, multi-year projects and initiatives will likely range up to $250K. Larger investments will be considered for projects based on the magnitude of the impact or contribution to the Fund goals, objectives and desired outcomes.

The investment sub-stream 'Identifying Biodiverse Areas' has been paused while we refine the program design. Intake of new EOIs is on hold until further notice.

Funding Decisions

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Projects will be reviewed by an independent committee using consistent criteria.

Project Reporting for Approved Projects

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All projects will be asked to meet accountability requirements and provide regular reporting on outcomes.