Capacity

The deadline for Capacity Grants is May 1st

Capacity Grants provide funding to support and develop strategies, abilities and processes to initiate actions to benefit of fish, wildlife, and habitat conservation. The focus of the grant is to build and strengthen capability and capacity of organizations to successfully design and deliver conservation projects aligned to the objectives of HCTF. Capacity grants assist with the first steps in identifying, exploring, and undertaking actions to solve a local conservation challenge.

Goals of the Grant:

• Advances conservation planning (assessing capacity)
• Engages organizations and communities (developing capacity)
• Developing skills and abilities (building capabilities)

In support of our strategic plan, our grant will emphasize the following:

• Climate change adaptation, mitigation, and cumulative effects on fish, wildlife, and their habitats
• Indigenous community-led fish, wildlife, and habitats conservation
• Broad and diverse participation in HCTF programs and projects

• How much funding can we apply for?

  Eligible expenses up to $25,000. Grant completion must be within 2 years of approval. 80% of grant will be issued up front and 20% once completed and final summary of work is submitted.

• Eligibility

  Applications must be made by an individual with the lead organization. The Project Lead is the individual with the authority and ability to administer the grant and fulfill the obligations to conduct the grant activities, deliver value for money, manage risk and financial controls while fulfilling other the terms and conditions of the grant.

  Eligible activities and items this grant supports:

  1. Advances conservation or restoration planning (assessing capacity)

  • Pilot projects, surveys, test field methods, scoping or feasibility studies
    including desk-top research, mapping, literature review, discussions with regional
    and or biology experts, Indigenous knowledge systems and methodologies,
    and best practices review.

  2. Strengthening organizational and community (developing capacity)

  • Partnerships or networking meetings, planning workshops; focus groups;
    sharing knowledge, collecting community input.
  • Field equipment needed to undertake planning or preliminary
    field-work, with a maximum request of up to $10K.

  3. Developing skills and abilities (building capabilities)

  • Hiring a consultant, short-term salary or facilitation fees to lead or do planning, training and advising including honoraria or salary for field-based mentors, trainers, advisors.
  • Specialized training courses such as guardians or keepers training
    (e.g., Streamkeepers, Wetlandkeepers etc.); technical and scientific application training (e.g., GPS, mapping, data, testing equipment); sampling and surveying techniques, monitoring and cameras, remote sensing or vegetation monitoring, or for development of a conservation leader(s) in Indigenous communities by supporting post-secondary training (1 or 2 year certificate/diploma).

  Sample Projects

  • Feasibility study to pilot stream mapping on a small scale to determine if it can be expanded to the entire watershed.
  • Conducting a desktop mapping exercise to identify sites for potential road restoration and ground truthing.
  • Developing the goals and approach for a new Guardian program.
  • Holding meetings with potential partners to identify the expertise and sampling design needed to assess local Mule deer numbers.
  • Hiring a consultant biologist or regional expert to help map out key restoration objectives for caribou habitat enhancement and engage with community members on overall goals and objectives.

  Ineligible items:

  • Administration costs such as office space, admin fees, furniture and office equipment and supplies.
  • Standard Safety and survival training, smalloperator training or certifications
    e.g., boat, atv, firearms, chainsaw, etc.
  • Purchase of vehicles, boats, atv’s, quads, trailers, skidoos, building infrastructure, computers, phones, or cameras.
  • Salaries for employees including government.
  • Costs for legal fees or lobbying activities.
  • Media production and communications.
  • Purchase of land, tenure, lease, or licenses.

• Capacity Grant Application Cycle

  1. 1. 1. Annual Application Deadline is May 15th
           
        2. Proposal Review & Funding Decisions (mid-May to mid-June)
           Submitted Community Grant proposals are reviewed in May and final decisions made at the HCTF Board of Directors meeting in June. Applicants will be notified by early July.
        3. Notifications & Approval letters
           Notification emails will be sent in June to inform applicants about whether or not their Community Grant application was approved for funding. An applicant may be funded for less than the amount requested, or there may be additional conditions to satisfy before the funds are released.
        4. Approval Letters
           Successful applicants will be sent a cheque and a letter of approval to the address listed on the Community Grant application. It is suggested that the cheque be deposited in a separate bank account under the name of your Club or Organization (if applicable) in order to facilitate accurate and uncomplicated bookkeeping. Note that an independent audit may be undertaken at the discretion of the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation.