Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Cataraqui Conservation Foundation (CCF)

The Cataraqui Conservation Foundation is a registered charitable foundation created in 1965 to act as the fundraising arm of Cataraqui Conservation (formerly the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority). Its core role is to generate financial and in-kind resources and channel them to Cataraqui Conservation so that environmental education programs and conservation lands across the Cataraqui Region can be created, maintained and enhanced.

Through special events, annual fundraising campaigns such as the “Partners in Education” initiative, individual and corporate donations, and partnerships with other charitable organizations, the Foundation aggregates contributions from the community. These funds are then directed to support curriculum-based conservation education for students of all ages, broader wildlife and nature education programming, and the stewardship of key conservation areas and trails.

The Foundation focuses its support on several main themes: conservation education, youth and school programming, and the protection and enhancement of environmentally significant lands. Resources raised by the Foundation help Cataraqui Conservation operate and improve sites such as the Cataraqui Trail, Lemoine Point, Parrott’s Bay, Lyn Valley, Gould Lake, Little Cataraqui Creek, Marble Rock, Owl Woods, and the Mac Johnson Wildlife Area. Funding contributes to both recreational access and the protection of sensitive ecosystems and wildlife habitat.

Beyond direct financial contributions, the Foundation also leverages its platform to raise public awareness of environmental conservation and the impacts of human-driven climate change. This advocacy dimension helps build broader support for conservation projects and encourages additional giving.

The Foundation’s work benefits residents, schools, and visitors who live, work, and play within the Cataraqui watershed. It actively cultivates relationships with individual donors, families, businesses, municipalities, other foundations and aligned environmental organizations, recognizing that strong partnerships increase the scale and stability of funding available for conservation projects.

A volunteer board of directors oversees the Foundation, with an emphasis on responsible stewardship and transparency. Audited year-end financial statements are published to demonstrate how donated funds are managed and allocated. The organization is also focused on its own sustainability, continually recruiting volunteers and board members with skills in fundraising, administration, outreach and volunteer management to ensure long-term support for Cataraqui Conservation’s programs and properties.