CFPs: ACA Conservation, Community and Education Grant Program (Canada)

The program also encourages hunting, fishing, trapping, and outdoor activities and conservation education in Alberta.

The ACA Conservation, Community, and Education Grants aim is to aid Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) in the delivery of its mission. Grants made to partners are intended to enhance and supplement ACA activities.

ACA Conservation, Community, and Education Grants fund conservation activities by individuals (with appropriate insurance coverage), organizations, and communities that contribute to healthy fish and wildlife populations, to a healthy environment for fish and wildlife in Alberta, and to the understanding, appreciation, and use of that environment. This grant program also funds projects which increase the level of attendance and awareness of outdoor opportunities, while developing knowledge and respect for conservation.

Funding Priorities

• All applicants to the ACA CCEG should be aware that these grants are fully funded by the hunters and anglers of Alberta. All proposals should be able to demonstrate how the proposed project will aid ACA in meeting its mission of conserving, protecting, and enhancing wildlife, fish, and habitat for all Albertans to enjoy, value, and use. To help direct potential applicants the following list of priority areas has been developed. While the ACA CCEG will accept applications that do not relate to these suggested areas, projects that address one or more of these priority areas will have a higher probability of being funded than those that do not:
  • Habitat enhancement activities specifically listed on provincial recovery plans for Alberta’s Endangered species.
  • Site-specific enhancements of habitat, structures, and facilities aimed at increasing recreational angling or hunting opportunities, improving habitat or increasing wildlife/fish productivity on the site (i.e., planting/seeding vegetation, development of new fisheries access sites, nest box initiatives, food plot trials and cover plot trials, spawning bed enhancement, culvert removals, fishing docks, etc.). Stewardship Initiatives (e.g., ongoing maintenance of conservation sites or fisheries access sites, adopt a fence, property inspections for invasive weeds, manual weed control, and
    grass mowing).
  • Fisheries development, including initial evaluation of water quality aspects of existing ponds to determine their suitability for fish stocking; purchase of equipment required to ensure suitable water quality for fish stocking (e.g., aeration equipment); fish stocking in public ponds; and promotion of rural and urban fisheries (including natural waterbodies).
  • Impacts of non-native species on the persistence of native species.
  • Projects related to the retention, recruitment, and education of hunters, anglers, or trappers (including attracting new mentors, training mentors, and providing mentors for new hunters/anglers/trappers; sharing information in schools and with the public about the link between conservation and hunters/anglers/trappers; this category also includes educating new hunters/anglers/trappers; fishing and archery events for kids). Generate awareness of the hunting/angling/trapping opportunities available to the public.
  • Projects related to outdoor conservation education.

Project Duration

• Project activities must occur between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026.

Eligible Activities

• Grants are available for:
  • Projects that meet and further ACA’s mission:
    • ACA conserves, protects and enhances fish and wildlife populations and their habitats for Albertans to enjoy, value, and use.
  • Projects that contribute to the priorities as outlined in the funding priorities section.
  • Priority is given to projects that demonstrate a “self-help” attitude, i.e., partner contributions, matched funding dollars, and public involvement.

Ineligible Activities

• ACA CCEG does not provide funding for:
  • Projects outside of Alberta.
  • ACA and federal and provincial government staff projects.
  • Research projects (Applications for research projects may go to one of the two ACA grant programs supporting research, either ACA Research Grants or the ACA Grants in Biodiversity for graduate student projects. Minister’s Special Licence Resident Draw Grants also accepts research applications on specific topics.)
  • Grants are not normally offered towards profit-making activities.
  • Overhead costs.
  • Emergency funds or deficit financing.
  • Travel to conferences and seminars, unless part of a larger project supported by ACA.
  • General fundraising.
  • Land acquisition.

Eligibility Criteria

• Any legally-recognized organization or individual (with appropriate liability insurance and WCB coverage) can apply if they have a suitable project, with the exception of a federal or provincial government staff and ACA staff.

Ineligibility Criteria

• ACA does not fund applications where the federal or provincial government employee is the principal applicant (Principal applicant is considered the lead on a project) or the principal applicant is a federal or provincial ministry. Federal or provincial government employees may be part of the project but must not be responsible for the majority of the project.

For more information, visit Alberta Conservation Association.