HCTF is pleased to announce a new funding opportunity beginning in the 2026-27 grant year, “Raptors of the Fraser Valley Lowlands.” This opportunity stems from a collaboration between HCTF, the B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, and the Hancock Wildlife Foundation.

HCTF has a long history of investing in projects that restore, conserve, or enhance fish and wildlife populations and habitats, including avian raptor populations at risk. This new fund will support prioritized activities that improve outcomes for raptors (eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, etc.) of the Fraser Valley Lowlands (FVL) of B.C. (Hope to Richmond/Delta). These outcomes include both direct and indirect improvements to populations or habitat for these birds.

Photo by Laura Thede

The Fraser Valley is recognized as one of the most ecologically significant areas in B.C. for raptor populations. Its unique geography, climate, and historic land use patterns have created ideal conditions for a wide variety of raptor species throughout the year. The habitat mosaic of wetlands, estuaries, riparian corridors, agricultural fields, and forested areas supports foraging, nesting, and roosting for over 20 species of raptors.

Priority outcomes for the new fund are to focus on those species and habitats most at risk that represent the unique characteristics of the Fraser Valley Lowlands and prioritize those species that serve as ‘umbrellas’ where their conservation indirectly protects many other species that share their habitat. The three major goals of the fund are:

• Protect and/or restore lowland grasslands, agricultural areas and wetlands for raptor breeding and/or foraging in the FVL;
• Improve our understanding of the use and dependence by FVL raptors of remaining lowland grasslands, agricultural areas and wetlands for breeding and foraging; and,
• Establish clear, flexible and realistic raptor breeding and foraging habitat supply objectives for the FVL.

A workshop is scheduled for mid-October to further refine the priorities and associated actions for this fund in order to achieve the best possible outcomes for these raptors. Additional guidance may be provided at that time via updates on this post. Applicants are encouraged to begin working on proposals in advance, utilizing the Word worksheet provided on the HCTF Resources tab, and to check back for more guidance before submitting their proposal.

Photo by Allan Farrant

Applying for Funding

This funding is currently available under HCTF’s existing Fish & Wildlife granting program, which is now open receive proposals until November 7, 2025, at 4:30pm (PST). To apply under the current intake, review the guidance document and additional information on the Apply tab. If you believe that your project would be a good fit for this funding, please add the acronym “FVL” at the beginning of your project title in your Survey Apply application.

We will provide additional guidance in 2026 if the funding expands to other programs, such as Action Grants or scholarships.

This will be a long-term program with available funding for at least the next 5 years, so applicants are welcome to submit multi-year proposals (note: the maximum duration of a continuing Fish & Wildlife proposal is 3 years). It is estimated that approximately $200,000 will be available each year. There is no minimum or maximum amount that one project can apply for, but the intention is to fund multiple projects per year, so applicants are encouraged to budget accordingly. There is no leveraging (match-funding) requirement, but additional partnership or in-kind funding will be viewed as a strength to an application.

If you have any questions, please contact grants@hctf.ca.