Grant and Funding Programs Offered by BC Naturalists’ Foundation

The BC Naturalists’ Foundation is an independent charitable foundation created by members of the Federation of BC Naturalists (now BC Nature) in 1990. Its core role is to build and manage a capital endowment whose investment income is used to finance conservation, environmental education and nature research projects throughout British Columbia. Although closely linked to BC Nature through shared goals and board appointments, the Foundation operates as a separate entity dedicated to long‑term financial support for the naturalist community.

The Foundation’s funds are disbursed primarily as grants to BC Nature and to federated local naturalist clubs across the province. Through the Club Support Grants program, it helps clubs undertake local projects such as habitat restoration, species monitoring, environmental education materials, citizen‑science events and community engagement initiatives. A published list of grants dating back to 1991 shows support for projects in many regions of B.C., reflecting both geographic and thematic diversity.

Investment earnings from the endowment are allocated each year to several types of support. A major stream consists of club support grants, administered in partnership with BC Nature, with clear criteria such as eligibility restricted to federated clubs, a maximum grant amount per project and limits on multi‑year funding. Recent examples include projects on bird monitoring, turtle nesting surveys, invasive species control, nature interpretation infrastructure, and outreach materials.

In addition to club projects, the Foundation contributes to BC Nature scholarships that encourage post‑secondary and graduate studies in fields related to ecology, conservation biology, restoration and environmental stewardship. Annual reports and financial statements outline how endowment growth and donations translate into increased disbursements for scholarships and conservation initiatives.

The Foundation serves a broad network of more than 50 naturalist clubs affiliated with BC Nature, as well as students and early‑career researchers who receive scholarship support. By focusing all of its grants within British Columbia and channelling funds through local organizations, it ensures that donations and bequests directly benefit on‑the‑ground projects in communities across the province. Since the early 1990s, the Foundation has disbursed hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants and scholarships, helping to preserve natural habitats, advance research and nurture public appreciation of nature for future generations.