We have a simple and pure mission: to be a catalyst in the protection of the environment and promotion of biodiversity. We support land and ocean conservation, scientific research on nature and the environment, education on the importance of a healthy environment, and public policy on ways to preserve and protect our environment.
At present, we are a grant-making foundation, not an operating foundation. We do not give money away, we invest it, and we carefully monitor our investments to ensure they meet our return expectations.We invest in four broad areas that help fulfil our mission: Aquatic and Terrestrial Conservation, Scientific Research, Public Engagement, and Canadian Environmental Policy.
The Sitka Foundation is a Canadian family foundation. Founded by Ross and Trisha Beaty in 2007, it has evolved in size and scope over the past decade. We began by supporting organizations close to our hearts and communities here in the Pacific Northwest, but have since become active both nationally and globally.
The Sitka Foundation supports environmental changemakers in our communities who preserve biodiversity and protect the environment. We do this through our strategic granting program to qualified donees, who are part of the greater landscape of environmental changemakers leading our country and environment to positive change. Positive change itself is accomplished through a myriad of ways. The Sitka Foundation granting program aims to support the following 4 key areas:
We seek out impactful investment opportunities, meaningful relationships with conservation experts, and creative collaboration opportunities involving many stakeholders that result in positive change for our environment. We are only focussed on the Pacific Northwest at this time.
The Sitka Foundation is based in Vancouver, British Columbia.
At present, we are a grant-making foundation, not an operating foundation. As a grant-making foundation, we do not just give money away, we invest it, and we carefully monitor our investments to ensure they meet our return expectations.
In the past 8 years we have invested in more than 60 distinct groups in amounts ranging from $5,000 to $1,000,000 per grant. We fund long term projects with some large and established environmental groups, but we also like making many short-term grants to small community groups. We only fund qualified donees as outlined by our charitable rules and regulations (see CRA guidelines).
We invest in four broad areas that help fulfil our mission:
We also hope that the Sitka Foundation will be a model for other people and groups interested in taking direct and immediate action to tackle current issues affecting nature and the environment. We see global warming, ocean acidification, species extinction, excessive non-renewable resource consumption, unsustainable economic growth, population growth and irreversible soil and groundwater loss (to name a few) as major issues confronting human society. More funding, more effort and more voices need to take action to reverse the most drastic damage being done to our earth, to make it more livable and sustainable for all future generations – humans and all other species on our planet.
Process:
The Sitka Foundation only grants to qualified Canadian donees. To begin the application process, please use this form. After a follow-up conversation by phone or in person, applicants may receive an invitation to complete an application form which will be sent to them electronically. Please note that an invitation to apply does not guarantee funding. Please do not submit a full proposal without contacting the Sitka Foundation for a preliminary conversation.
Timing:
The Sitka Foundation reviews all complete and qualified applications on an ongoing basis with approximately four grant review meetings taking place per year. Due to calendar fluctuations a specific date cannot be provided to applicants. The Sitka Foundation does not have a large staff and appreciates your patience and understanding around our process.
Themes:
Successful applications have highlighted high needs, clear objectives, thoughtful planning, and passionate implementation that further environmental conservation in Canada. It is also important that applicants outline how they will evaluate and report on the success of their initiative or project. Collaborative projects and those demonstrating sustainability of funding are encouraged. Please refer to our philosophy to ensure your organization fits in our mandate.
Budget and Multi-Year Requests
Please discuss these topics during your initial conversation with the Sitka Foundation. Multi-year grants are funded at the invitation of the Sitka Foundation after a successful one year grant cycle. At all times they will be considered equally with one-year grants. Likewise, we recognize that budgets vary greatly according to scope and size of the applicant. The Sitka Foundation expects that applicants will tailor their requests as most appropriate to the size and needs of their organization.
Requests That Will Not Be Funded:
Requests that generally will not be funded could be for:
Our granting program data for the most recent five years is available below:
| BC Spaces for Nature Society | Howe Sound Preservation Project | $50,000 |
| Be the Change Earth Alliance Society | Climate Change Curriculum | $15,000 |
| British Columbia Conservation Foundation | Biony Penn Book Tour | $10,000 |
| Canadian Environmental Grantmakers' Network | Environmental Grants Database and Membership | $10,000 |
| Canadian Environmental Grantmakers' Network | Our Living Waters Forum April 2016 | $5,000 |
| Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society | BC Chapter - Establishing Marine Protected Areas in Southern BC (multi-year) | $87,570 |
| Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society | Alberta Chapter - Northern Alberta Caribou Conservation Program | $29,771 |
| Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society | Newfoundland Chapter - Special Marine Areas | $15,000 |
| Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources | Brokenhead Wetland Restoration Project | $17,185 |
| Clean Economy Canada | Core Funding and Pooled Fund | $100,000 |
| Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners | Research for Columbia Wetlands Ecology | $21,480 |
| Conservation Council of New Brunswick Inc. | Acadian Forest Report Card | $10,000 |
| Cowichan Community Land Trust Society | Fairy Slipper Forest Nature Reserve Acquisition | $50,000 |
| Credit Valley Conservation Foundation | Wetlands Land Conservation Project | $26,500 |
| Ducks Unlimited Canada | Project Webfoot | $10,000 |
| Earthroots Fund | Ontario Eco Leaders | $15,000 |
| Ecojustice Canada Society | Legal Protections for BC's Aquatic Ecosystems (multi-year) | $100,000 |
| Evergreen | Green Bloc Neighbourhoods Vancouver | $30,000 |
| EYA Environmental Youth Alliance | Pollinator Trail and Community Hive Project (multi-year) | $25,000 |
| Fraser Basin Council Society | Salmon Safe BC | $30,000 |
| Fraser Riverkeeper Society | Watermark Project | $20,000 |
| Fresh Air Learning Society | Outdoor Learning | $8,655 |
| Georgia Strait Alliance | Investing in Species Protection in the Strait of Georgia (multi-year) | $50,000 |
| GOERT - Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team Society | Translocation of Bluebirds in Cowichan Valley | $20,000 |
| Green Teams of Canada | Data Base Management and Clean Up Sessions | $42,000 |
| Hope Mountain Centre for Outdoor Learning Society | World Rivers Day (multi-year) | $7,500 |
| Kawartha Region Conservation Authority | Blue Canoe Program | $10,000 |
| Kootenay Wildlife Heritage Fund Society | Preservation of Armstrong Property and Annual Calendar | $10,000 |
| Lake Ontario Waterkeeper | Core Funding | $3,000 |
| Lake Winnipeg Foundation Inc. | A Rising Tide | $15,000 |
| Langley Environmental Partners Society | Green Shores - Stewardship Centre for BC (multi-year) | $30,000 |
| MERS Marine Education and Research Society | How to Save a Whale | $15,000 |
| Nature Canada | Nature Hood | $20,000 |
| Pacific Salmon Foundation | Salish Sea Marine Survival Project and Water Sustainability in BC (multi-year) | $225,000 |
| Pacific Wildlife Foundation | Mapping Howe Sound Marine Birds and Mammals | $23,000 |
| Panthera | Jaguar Program (multi-year) | $500,000 |
| Raincoast Research Society | Salmon Coast Field Station Society | $10,000 |
| Simon Fraser University, Centre for Dialogue | Renewable Cities (multi-year) | $150,000 |
| Simon Fraser University, Centre for Dialogue | Clean Energy Canada (multi-year) | $75,000 |
| The Bruce Trail Conservancy | Lower Valley Road Nature Reserve | $35,000 |
| The David Suzuki Foundation | Conserving BC's Coastlines Partnership (multi-year) | $500,000 |
| The David Suzuki Foundation | Public Engagement | $10,000 |
| The Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy Inc. | Escarpment Land Acquisitions | $20,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy of Canada | Luxor Linkage | $50,000 |
| The Nature Trust of British Columbia | 45th Anniversary Land Acquisition Project | $50,000 |
| The Nature Trust of New Brunswick Inc. | Middle Island Conservation Acquisition | $29,319 |
| The Pembina Foundation for Environmental Research and Education | Strathmere Group (multi-year) | $20,000 |
| The Pembina Foundation for Environmental Research and Education | Building a Strong Climate Legacy (multi-year) | $150,000 |
| Tides Canada Foundation | BC Freshwater Legacy Fund and Initiative | $100,000 |
| Tides Canada Foundation | Our Living Waters Forum | $40,000 |
| Tides Canada Foundation | BC Waterfunders Collaborative | $20,000 |
| Tides Canada Initiatives Society | GBEAR - Great Bear Education and Research | $20,000 |
| TNC Canada | SEAS - Supporting Emerging Aboriginal Stewards (multi-year) | $50,000 |
| University of Victoria | Environmental Law Centre for Healthy Watersheds (multi-year) | $50,000 |
| Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre | Coastal Ocean Research Institute (multi-year) | $250,000 |
| Wild Neighbours Society | BioBlitz Program (multi-year) | $7,500 |
| Wildlife Preservation Canada | Fraser Valley Wetlands Wildlife Program (multi-year) | $40,000 |
| WildResearch Society | Iona Island Bird Observatory (multi-year) | $20,000 |
| Wildsight | Living Lakes Canada | $24,500 |
| Wildsight | Science to Action: Mapping Ecological Values | $14,165 |
| Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative Foundation | Securing Protection for the Big Horn | $15,000 |
| Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative Foundation | COMPASS - American Congress for Conservation Biology | $10,000 |
| A Rocha Canada | Wonderfully Wild: Environmental Education Program | $40,000 |
| Aga Khan Foundation Canada | Environmental Reporting Program of the Aga Khan University GSMC | $1,000,000 |
| Boat Basin Foundation | Cougar Annie's Garden | $2,000 |
| Canadian Coastal Research Society | Clear the Coast 2016 Project | $20,000 |
| Canadian Environmental Grantmakers' Network | 2015 Membership | $1,500 |
| Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, National and Newfoundland chapters | Save Gros Morne National Park campaign | $14,925 |
| Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Newfoundland chapter | Protection of Seabirds and Habitats in Newfoundland | $16,980 |
| Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Northern Alberta chapter | Caribou Planning project | $10,000 |
| Central Westcoast Forest Society | Kennedy Watershed Restoration Program | $20,000 |
| Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network | Wild Voices for Kids Project | $16,000 |
| Dream Rider Theatre Society | Zero Heroes Academy Theatre Project | $7,500 |
| Earth Rangers Foundation | Bring Back the Wild - Screech Owl educational program (multi-year) | $25,000 |
| Earth Rangers Foundation | Bring Back the Wild - Grizzly educational program (multi-year) | $25,000 |
| Ecojustice Canada Society | Chemical Reaction Project | $75,000 |
| Ecology Action Centre | Water in the City Project | $20,000 |
| Edmonton and Area Land Trust | Pollinator Protection and Public Education program | $15,250 |
| Evergreen | Seeding Health Communities (multi-year) | $40,000 |
| Federation of Ontario Naturalists (Ontario Nature) | Ontario Community Conservation leadership program | $25,000 |
| Fraser Basin Council Society | Salmon Safe Project | $33,500 |
| Friends Uniting for Nature Society | FUN camps and FUN champs program | $15,000 |
| Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team Society | Bringing Back the Bluebird education and conservation program | $20,000 |
| Georgia Strait Alliance | Ocean Literacy program | $10,000 |
| Georgia Strait Alliance | Building Vancouver's Thriving Shoreline project | $5,000 |
| Kootenay Wildlife Heritage Fund Society | Big Horn Sheep conservation and education project | $1,500 |
| Mahone Islands Conservation Association | Squid Island, Nova Scotia, conservation project | $10,000 |
| Pacific Salmon Foundation | Salish Sea Marine Survival Project (multi-year) | $150,000 |
| Pacific Salmon Foundation | Core fundraising | $2,000 |
| Saskachewan Natural History Society | Stewards of Saskatchewan Database project | $17,000 |
| Sierra Club of British Columbia Foundation | Conserving Coastal Forests campaign | $15,000 |
| Sierra Club of Canada Foundation | Blue Whale Project (Atlantic Canada) | $14,913 |
| Simon Fraser University, Centre for Dialogue | Renewable Cities Program (multi-year) | $150,000 |
| Squamish River Watershed Society | Blue Carbon Project | $15,000 |
| The Bruce Trail Conservancy | Fossil Glen Nature Reserve land conservation project | $32,500 |
| The Clean Nova Scotia Foundation | 2016 Freshwater Restoration and Assessment project | $15,000 |
| The David Suzuki Foundation | Partnership for Transformative Change project (multi-year) | $800,000 |
| The Pembina Institute For Environmental Research and Education | Climate Leadership Plan | $150,000 |
| The Pembina Institute For Environmental Research and Education | Strathmere Group | $20,000 |
| The Pembina Institute For Environmental Research and Education | Pathways for Change conference support by CANSEE | $5,000 |
| Tides Canada Foundation | Great Bear Rainforest Capacity for Conservation (multi-year) | $100,000 |
| Tides Canada Foundation | Water Leaders' Group (multi-year) | $25,000 |
| Tides Canada Initiatives Society | Our Living Waters | $50,000 |
| University of Victoria | Preservation of the Ian McTaggart Cowan Collection | $30,000 |
| University of Winnipeg | Beyond Climate Film | $25,000 |
| Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre | Coastal Ocean Research Institute (multi-year) | $250,600 |
| WildResearch Society | Iona Bird Banding Program | $22,580 |
| Wildsight | Moving Mountains: Protecting the Purcells Past and Present" project | $12,000 |
| Wildsight | Citizen Science Series: Lake Health Workshop | $10,000 |
| Young Naturalists Club (Nova Scotia) | Nova Scotia core programming | $5,750 |
| Young Naturalists' Club of British Columbia Society | Vancouver Chapter core programming | $10,000 |
| Atlantic Coastal Action Program, Saint John | A New Horizon: Celebrating New Brunswick's Water Future Project | $10,000 |
| Bird Studies Canada | Bird Atlas Canada | $75,000 |
| Burns Bog Conservation Society | Burns Bog Peatland Education program | $49,794 |
| Canadian Environmental Grantmakers' Network | 2014 Membership | $1,500 |
| Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society | Peel Planning Speaker Series | $15,000 |
| Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society | Marine Protected Areas: Bay of Fundy, Salish Sea "Dare to be Deep" | $60,000 |
| Canadian Society Promoting Environmental Conservation | Sustainable City Field School Program (multi-year) | $20,000 |
| Central Westcoast Forest Society | Kennedy Watershed Restoration Project | $20,000 |
| Environmental Youth Alliance | Nectar Trail and Community Hive program (multi-year) | $25,000 |
| Evergreen | Seeding Healthy Communities (multi-year) | $30,000 |
| Fraser Riverkeeper Society | The Big Chop: Engaging Paddlers and Swimmers on Stormwater Solutions | $12,170 |
| Green Teams of Canada | Victoria Area Green Team (multi-year) | $31,000 |
| Land Stewardship Centre of Canada | Green Shores pilot project | $20,000 |
| Mahone Islands Conservation Association | Bella Island, Nova Scotia, conservation project | $5,000 |
| Raincoast Research Society | Coastal Salmon population analysis and ecosystem research project | $25,000 |
| Simon Fraser University Vancouver, Centre for Dialogue | Renewable Cities Global Learning Forum | $25,000 |
| Simon Fraser University Vancouver, Centre for Dialogue | Steady State Economy Leader's Workshop (multi-year) | $32,828 |
| Simon Fraser University Vancouver, Centre for Dialogue | Renewable Cities Program (multi-year) | $95,000 |
| The David Suzuki Foundation | Partnership for Transformative Change project (multi-year) | $800,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy of Canada | Napier Lake Ranch: Heritage Grasslands conservation project | $100,000 |
| The Nature Trust of British Columbia | Antelope-Brush Phase II conservation project | $68,027 |
| The Nature Trust of British Columbia | Elk Valley conservation project | $54,000 |
| Tides Canada Foundation | BC Freshwater Fund for Water Leaders (multi-year) | $5,000 |
| Universite D'Ottawa | Sustainable Prosperity | $50,000 |
| Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre | Coastal Ocean Research Institute (multi-year) | $250,000 |
| Vancouver International Open Spaces Sculpture Biennale | Projecting Change Film Festival and Eco Fashion Week | $5,000 |
| Wild Neighbours Society | BioBlitz Program (multi-year) | $10,000 |
| Wildlife Preservation Canada | Fraser Valley Wetlands Wildlife Program (multi-year) | $40,000 |
| Wildsight | Science to Action Living Lakes | $10,000 |
| Canadian Environmental Grantmakers' Network | 2013 Membership | $1,500 |
| Environmental Youth Alliance | Nectar Trail and Community Hive program (multi-year) | $40,000 |
| Evergreen | Seeding Healthy Communities (multi-year) | $30,000 |
| Federation of British Columbia | Wild Research Iona Island Bird Observatory (multi-year) | $12,480 |
| Raincoast Education Society | Community Eelgrass Mapping project | $9,400 |
| Simon Fraser University Vancouver, Centre for Dialogue | Steady State Economy Leader's Workshop (multi-year) | $33,825 |
| The David Suzuki Foundation | Partnership for Transformative Change project (multi-year) | $800,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy of Canada | Elkin South Block conservation project | $150,000 |
| The Nature Trust of British Columbia | Wild About Nature | $8,500 |
| Tides Canada Foundation | Great Bear Rainforest Capacity for Conservation (multi-year) | $218,000 |
| Tides Canada Foundation | Patagonia National Park operations | $102,100 |
| Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre | Counting on Howe Sound educational program (multi-year) | $92,950 |
| Wild Neighbours Society | BioBlitz Program (multi-year) | $10,000 |
| Wildlife Preservation Canada | Oregon Spotted Frog program (multi-year) | $10,000 |
| Canadian Environmental Grantmakers' Network | 2012 Membership | $1,000 |
| Canadian Parks and Wilderness | Marine Protected Areas Atlantic Canada "Dare to be Deep" | $25,000 |
| Check Your Head: The Youth Global Education Network | Youth Environmental Workshops | $25,000 |
| International Conservation Fund of Canada | Parque La Colorada | $10,150 |
| Kingsburg Coastal Conservancy | West Ironbound Island, Nova Scotia conservation project | $100,000 |
| Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance | Capacity Building for Conservation | $7,160 |
| Pacific Parklands Foundation | Lower Mainland Green Team | $20,000 |
| Raincoast Conservation Foundation | Artists in Conservation Great Bear Rainforest Book | $50,000 |
| Science World Society | Capital Campaign | $100,000 |
| Sierra Club of British Columbia Foundation | Nature and Climate program | $50,000 |
| St. Clair Region Conservation Authority | Tallgrass Prairie Stewardship | $9,500 |
| The David Suzuki Foundation | Big On Nature (multi-year) | $398,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy of Canada | Sage and Sparrow Conservation Project | $130,000 |
| The Nature Trust of British Columbia | Kootenay Land Acquisition Project | $10,675 |
| Trans Canada Trail Foundation | Trans Canada Trail | $500,000 |
| Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre | Counting on Howe Sound educational program (multi-year) | $43,200 |
| Wild Neighbours Society | BioBlitz Program (multi-year) | $10,000 |
| Wildlife Preservation Canada | Oregon Spotted Frog program (multi-year) | $10,000 |
| World Wildlife Fund Canada | The Great Bear Coast Tour | $8,000 |
The Sitka spruce, Picea sitchensis, is an iconic tree to the West Coast of North America and the fourth largest tree species in the world. The tallest tree in Canada is a Sitka spruce in Carmanah Forest on Vancouver Island. This gigantic tree's bioregion stretches from northern California to Alaska. Mostly recognized for growing to be the tallest and largest spruce, the Sitka has also been an icon in historical and popular culture. It has played a spiritual role, as seen in the mythical Golden spruce of Haida Gwaii and in indigenous culture, but is also a very useful tree in the timber industry. Prized for its strength and straight, often flawless grain, the Sitka has been used in shipbuilding industries and early aeroplane construction and is also a prized wood for musical instruments. The Sitka spruce is also the star character of the children's book, Maxine's Tree, by Diane Carmel Léger. The Sitka spruce was chosen as the symbol and namesake of the Sitka Foundation because of its beauty, its dominance in the rainforest and coastal forests, and its iconic status as a natural symbol to be revered. It has also been extensively logged and exists in a small fraction of the territory it once inhabited. It is an important symbol to many in the Pacific Northwest.
Just as environmental projects that succeed, take root, and spread across the land in the form of community engagement, so the Sitka spruce has been transplanted across the world from its native region to areas such as Denmark, Norway, Great Britain and New Zealand. It is hoped that the ideas, mission, projects and partnerships of the Sitka Foundation also spread from community to community.
The second part of Sitka's logo is a roughly painted circle which can be interpreted as an encapsulation of the earth and a realization of the circularity of life.
