The "Saddle Lake Solar Installation Training" project took place on Saddle Lake 125 Reserve in August of 2024. Its goal was to train 20 community members from Saddle Lake Cree Nation in the installation and maintenance of both residential and commercial solar PV systems. The training involved instruction from experienced Relay Education solar installation instructors in the assembly of solar PV systems, the acquisition of safety certifications from industry-recognized organizations and coaching in maintaining healthy habits while working in a physically demanding industry from a local solar installer and owner of Tribe Solar, Cameron Shirt.

TREC Charitable Foundation

The leadership of Woodland Cree First Nation is committed to preserving and conserving the substantial areas of muskeg that defines it traditional land-use boundaries. Accordingly, the Nation is undertaking an aggressive three-pronged initiative that will achieve the following before the end of calendar year 2030: (i) complete a detailed and robust State of the Wetland inventory and classication of the muskeg as per Alberta's Wetland Classification System; (ii) develop and implement a thorough Muskeg Management Program that recognizes traditional knowledge and wisdom; and move forward in having the extant muskeg recognized formally as a natural carbon sequestration site.

Woodland Cree First Nation

Restoration and Reconciliation: Protecting the Woodland Cree Muskeg - A Three-Pronged Approach

In Alberta, vast portions of the Eastern Slopes lack permanent, legislated protection. Canada has committed to protecting 30% of lands by 2030, with new protections achieved in partnership with Indigenous governments and communities. This provides a critical opportunity to centre Indigenous voices, advance self-identified land-relation priorities of Indigenous groups and build and strengthen relations between Indigenous people and the conservation sector in Alberta. In this second phase, we will continue to support Blackfoot Confederacy and Stoney Nakoda Nations conservation initiatives while engaging with allies/partners on decisions that threaten the region's ecological integrity, “advancing community-led conservation of Alberta's source waters, habitat connectivity, and biodiversity."

Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative Foundation

Supporting the establishment of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas in Alberta

Through this project, Piikani Nation will change the narrative about its organic waste and introduce the concept of a circular economy to its membership. By strategically diverting organic waste away from landfills, they will be taking control over an untapped local resource to, in turn, generate a valuable resource that supports the community’s needs in multiple ways and further develops autonomy, resilience and self-determination. This project, therefore, is best thought of as an “on-the-ground project” that has the co-benefits of strengthening Piikani’s capacity and furthering locally identified biodiversity and land stewardship goals.

Piikani Nation Lands Department

Composting Towards a Circular Economy in the Piikani Nation

Water has significant importance to Indigenous communities. The Nakoda name for Morley is Mînî Thnî - “Cold Water.” The Bow River Basin Council, the Elbow River Watershed Partnership, and the Nakoda Youth Council are collaborating to secure water testing equipment for the youth council to monitor water quality in Mînî Thnî. Scientific equipment, regular training and monitoring will empower these youth to be scientists and science communicators, while supporting Indigenous data sovereignty. Scientific equipment is integral to measuring aquatic health but can also be a tool that inspires stewardship. When paired with Indigenous knowledge, it further enhances our understanding.

Bow River Basin Council Society

Empowering Water Stewards with the Nakoda Youth Council

Living Lakes Canada (LLC) is establishing a framework for community-focused groundwater monitoring in Alberta. Living Lakes will identify risks to key aquifers and prioritize monitoring methods to address community concerns and fill existing groundwater data gaps. This project will use the Oldman River Watershed as a pilot area, with the intention of expanding into the Bow River Basin and the rest of Alberta in the future. Public engagement and surrounding groundwater awareness will be organized to increase freshwater literacy, discuss best practices and identify local groundwater concerns.

Living Lakes Canada Society

Establishing a Framework for Groundwater Monitoring in Alberta

The Ghost Watershed Alliance Society (GWAS) is a watershed stewardship group working collaboratively to improve watershed health. High sediment run-off rates from a large network of roads and trails and a loss of riparian vegetation due to the many stream crossings are major issues impacting the Ghost watershed. To prevent sediment from reaching streams, GWAS will be restoring riparian areas using bio-engineering techniques and engaging volunteers. The project goal is to reduce the number of sites in need of restoration. This project will be carried out in partnership with Trout Unlimited Canada, Cows and Fish and involving recreational user groups.

Ghost Watershed Alliance Society

The CIPHER project will rehabilitate degraded Westslope Cutthroat Trout habitat in the Porcupine Hills. One major technique that Trout Unlimited Canada and partners will utilize to accomplish this is low-tech process-based restoration; this is a low-cost technique that will restore streams and surrounding riparian habitat by slowing the flow of water, reconnecting floodplains and keeping water on the landscape longer. These installations will increase local water storage capacity, improve ecosystem health and biodiversity, and help to recover local Westslope Cutthroat Trout populations. Critically, they will also help buffer the impacts of flood, drought and fire in streams throughout Alberta.

Trout Unlimited Canada

Cutthroat in Porcupine Hills Ecological Restoration (CIPHER)

The Project Forest Siksika Nation Community Shelterbelt Program is designed to harness the power of shelterbelts as "a proven nature-based solution" to mitigate the impacts of climate change, sequester carbon and take meaningful steps towards equitably distributing trees and their associated ecosystem services to the people living on Siksika Nation. Shelterbelts will provide Siksika Nation with long-term environmental resilience to the effects of climate change, including mitigating extreme wind, trapping moisture, regulating temperatures, reducing the loss of topsoil, cleaning the air and water, creating habitat for wildlife, decreasing noise and increasing privacy from passing highway traffic and providing spaces for traditional land-use activities.

Project Forest Ltd.

Project Forest Siksika Nation Community Shelterbelt Program

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 open!

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

Saddle Lake Solar Installation Training

Circular Economy

Restoration and Reconciliation: Protecting the Woodland Cree Muskeg - A Three-Pronged Approach

Nature based Solutions and Conservation

Supporting the establishment of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas in Alberta

Nature based Solutions and Conservation

Composting Towards a Circular Economy in the Piikani Nation

Circular Economy

Empowering Water Stewards with the Nakoda Youth Council

Overarching

Establishing a Framework for Groundwater Monitoring in Alberta

Overarching

Bio-engineering in the Ghost Watershed

Nature based Solutions and Conservation

Cutthroat in Porcupine Hills Ecological Restoration (CIPHER)

Nature based Solutions and Conservation

Project Forest Siksika Nation Community Shelterbelt Program

Nature based Solutions and Conservation