Small Change Fund is a Canadian registered charity that acts as a national platform and fiscal sponsor for community-led initiatives. Created in 2009 to support small grassroots groups that struggled to access traditional funding, it now helps hundreds of projects across Canada raise money and gain the strategic support they need to “punch above their weight”.
Role of Small Change Fund in the funding ecosystem
The organization combines an award‑winning crowdfunding and donor management platform with hands‑on project support. Partners — including non‑profits, grassroots groups, individuals and other charities — submit project ideas through an intake process. Eligible projects must align with Small Change Fund’s charitable purposes and are approved by its Board. Once accepted, each project receives a dedicated donation page where supporters can give by card, PayPal, EFT, cheque or securities and receive official charitable tax receipts.
Small Change Fund holds the funds raised in trust and disburses them to pay the costs of running each project, such as staff time, campaign materials, research, legal fees or media buys. In some cases, hosted initiatives also provide direct grants or awards, for example bursaries for students in clean energy fields. The charity charges a percentage of donations to cover its operating costs but does not levy upfront fees for projects to participate.
Focus areas and types of supported projects
The fund concentrates on five main themes: tackling climate change and its impacts; protecting nature, clean water and farmlands; making cities more sustainable; honouring and standing with Indigenous Peoples; and fighting poverty and strengthening social equity. Within these areas it supports dozens of people‑led projects, from local campaigns to protect specific landscapes, to national advocacy efforts, educational programs, documentary films and legal challenges.
Project examples include land and water protection campaigns, youth‑led climate action, housing and homelessness initiatives, environmental justice research collaborations, Indigenous‑led conservation and skills training, and community organizing to influence public policy. Small Change Fund also designs and runs its own flagship projects such as the Hot Globe climate comedy series, the Get On The Bus youth transit initiative, the Public Voice Fund for environmental groups, and the Greenbelt Champions campaign.
Services offered to funded partners
Beyond channeling donations, Small Change Fund provides extensive in‑kind support that would otherwise be out of reach for many grassroots groups. Services include campaign and advocacy strategy, community organizing, fundraising strategy and donor management, grant application support, government relations coaching, digital strategy and content, communications and media relations, financial and administrative systems, research assistance and basic HR support. These services are typically offered at no additional charge, aligning the organization’s success with the success of each project.
Publics served and overall impact
Working in both official languages and several Indigenous languages, the charity partners with community organizations, informal coalitions and concerned residents across Canada. Its model enables small, locally grounded initiatives to access national‑level fundraising tools and professional expertise, while giving donors a trusted intermediary that vets projects and ensures compliance with Canada Revenue Agency rules. Through this combination of financial intermediation and strategic support, Small Change Fund amplifies grassroots efforts to protect the environment, advance reconciliation and reduce poverty nationwide.
