Climate Change

We support initiatives that: 

• Deliver renewable energy solutions and other low-carbon technology
• Develop, incubate, implement, and scale technologies which reduce emissions, especially from high-emitting industries

We support initiatives that: 

• Decarbonize Canada’s agriculture and forestry sectors through implementation of regenerative agriculture techniques and sustainable forestry practices
• Invest in land and ecosystem interventions that drive significant, measurable climate impact

  We support initiatives that enable: 

• Adopt and scale the use of low-carbon construction practices, including development of green building technologies and materials
• Implement retrofits and energy efficiency measures for the existing built environment
• Develop the green workforce, specifically training green building skills

We support initiatives focused on: 

• Align with key objectives of Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy, increasing adaptive capacity of communities

We support initiatives that:

• Drive adoption of practices and initiatives which reduce emissions from the hospital sector

To be eligible to apply for funding, your organization must: 

• Employ at least one paid staff member 
• Have completed a tax return or financial audit for the previous fiscal year 
• Wait at least 12 months after an unsuccessful Expression of Interest or Full Application before reapplying 

We do not accept applications for individuals, scholarships, capital campaigns, endowments, fundraising events, emergency relief efforts, government services, grantmaking intermediaries, or any activity outside of Canada.

The Peter Gilgan Foundation accepts applications for three types of grants: 

• Project grants – Typically awarded for a single year, act as the primary entry point for first-time applicants and support specific programs or activities 
• Capacity-building grants – May be available to repeat grantees, helping organizations strengthen their internal skills, resources, or systems 
• General operating grants – May be available to repeat grantees whose mission and primary programs align with our strategy, to help cover core operating costs 

The process begins with a short Expression of Interest (EOI) submitted through our online portal. If invited to proceed, you will be asked to complete a Full Application.

There are no deadlines for the Climate Change program. W accept EOIs on a rolling basis. All applications are considered equally regardless of what time of year they’re submitted.

Our climate change grants typically range between $30,000 – $150,000 per year. If you have a bigger project that meets our funding priorities, submit an Expression of Interest and if our committee is interested in learning more, we will be in touch.

You can submit a new Expression of Interest through our online application portal once you have provided the Final Report for your current grant. 

If you already have a sense of the direct or scalable emissions reduction potential of your project, please feel free to provide the assumptions and calculations in your Expression of Interest. 

Otherwise, our in-house climate change experts calculate each project’s emissions reduction potential following our GHG Measurement Strategy. We base our analysis on the project activity details you provide in your application form, combined with in-house research on local contexts and opportunities. As part of our analysis, we may reach out to you to clarify assumptions or to request further details to support our calculations. 

Pick the priority that you think is best aligned, and feel free to explain the co-benefits in your application. Please note that our Climate Change grant program only funds work delivered in Canada.