Deadline: 15-Sep-22
The Metcalf Foundation is inviting applications for the Carbon Landscapes to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss with integrated solutions.
The Foundation support efforts to protect and conserve three ecosystems rich in biodiversity and carbon: peatlands, grasslands, and old growth forests. These ecosystems provide countless social, cultural, and environmental benefits to the many communities for whom these regions are home.
Collectively, they have an opportunity to reimagine how conservation is done in this country. As Canada strives to achieve its global commitment to protect and conserve 30% of lands and waters by 2030 (30×30), a central focus of this effort must be support for Indigenous-led conservation. Their approach is:
- Grounded in respect for Indigenous rights, culture, and traditions
- Prioritizing Indigenous-led conservation
- Informed by community knowledge and cutting-edge research
- Strengthened by philanthropic partnerships and cross-sector collaboration
- Agile by design
Focus Areas
They focus their efforts on three areas:
- supporting long-term strategies that create sustainable economic opportunities for low-income people and communities in Toronto;
- working at the intersection of climate, biodiversity, and sustainable livelihoods; and
- supporting individual leadership and organizational innovation in the performing arts
Two-Track Funding Strategy
- Research, Convening, and Outreach
- Under this track they are funding research, convening, and outreach activities in support of:
- Indigenous-led conservation,
- Efforts to protect and conserve peatlands, grasslands, and old growth forests, or
- Strategies to achieve 30×30.
- Funding is geared toward efforts at a federal, provincial, and/or territorial scale, rather than on-the-ground, locally-specific work. Examples of the type of work supported under this strategy include a mix of complementary and often combined activities, such as:
- Research: Producing timely, well-researched, and accessible reports to inform the design of new strategies, policies, and programs.
- Convening: Bringing together community leaders, non-governmental organizations, academics, industry, and government representatives to better link, coordinate, and advance cross-sector efforts.
- Outreach: Communications efforts that strengthen public awareness, understanding, and support for specific policy goals or actions.
- Under this track they are funding research, convening, and outreach activities in support of:
- On-the-Ground Leadership
- At present, their funding for on-the-ground leadership activities is largely focused on efforts to plan and establish Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas in two major peatland regions: Hudson Bay Lowlands and the Mackenzie River Basin.
They encourage success by
- supporting dynamic leadership — celebrating, developing, and strengthening leaders who are contributing to positive change;
- nurturing new ideas and practices — exploring and developing innovative approaches to tackling tough problems and seizing opportunities; and
- fostering integrated thinking — creating opportunities for ongoing dialogue, collaborative learning, and reflection to build new knowledge and inform action.
Eligibility Criteria
Organizations may apply individually or in collaboration with others. Lead applicants must have a current, valid charitable registration from the Canada Revenue Agency.
For more information, visit https://metcalffoundation.com/programs/environment/