Our Work

Most funding for environmental organizations is from private foundations and government, and consequently, it tends to be directed towards larger well-known organizations. By building the first public charitable foundation for the environment, independent of government and private foundations, the NET is designed to directly meet the needs of Canadian environmental organizations.

The vision, structure and operations of the NET have been carefully built over the last several years, through talking to environmental groups all across the country. We have listened, and in response to their needs we built the NET. We enjoy the support of a majority of groups across the country, advised by a high-profile Advisory Committee with representatives from across the country. Our operating principles include inclusivity, transparency, partnership, coordination and cooperation, diversity and walking our talk.

Learn more about our projects

Our Goals

Public Accountability

Working Documents

• Board Roles
• Bylaws
• Fundraising
• Operating Principles

Building Capacity

The NET is an innovative strategy for developing a sustainable environmental movement in Canada. While there is funding available from government sources, public and private foundations as well as corporations to finance environmental initiatives, that funding is almost exclusively large project-based and goes to already well-established organizations. Therefore, under this traditional format, underlying organizational weaknesses are not addressed. The NET’s concept of targeting the core capacity and operational level for funding aims to restore environmental organizations’ long-term capacity for strategic planning and maintaining long-term effective communication and public education programs, also highlighting the latest science and research.

Working Locally and Nationally

Much of the funding available is regional, which cannot meet many of Canada’s national environmental needs and objectives. For example, large keystone species and their conservation transcend human-made political boundaries, requiring unprecedented cooperation and collaboration at all levels. The NET is unique in fostering collaboration with groups locally, regionally and nationally.

Catalyzing Partnerships and Collaboration

The NET also models an unusual organizational structure, one that puts primacy on relationships, partnerships and coordinated joint actions. The NET is committed to remaining a virtual-based organization, and will not central hard infrastructure. Rather, it reaches into communities through existing networks and innovative partnerships – both with traditional and non-traditional allies of the environment, working through others, while retaining a small central core. This unique administrative structure allows the NET to minimize its administrative costs, and, as an operating principle, we commit to taking no more than 10% of monies generated for administration.

Past Projects

• Climate Change EcoSavers Coupon Book: The NET developed this educational and awareness tool to educates the public around issues of climate change, raise awareness about how consumer behaviour impacts on climate change, provide a fundraising tool for both the NET and community NGOs, and promote the use of environmentally-friendly products.
• Paving the Yellow Brick Road Loonie Drive (correct title?): add content

Endowment Fund

The NET is continuing to build its endowment fund slowly over the years, and has yet to secure a national distribution system for collecting a loonie from every Canadian. We are the first not for profit environmental trust in Canada. Our goal is to keep building a long-term trust fund for grassroots environmental initiatives aimed at raising public awareness, education and conservation on the ground. We ask that you join in the movement and help ensure a clean, healthy future for our children’s children, one loonie at a time, by contributing to the NET.

The NET has broadened its mandate, however, from building critical infrastructure capacity in the environmental movement to now include engaging Canadians in the imperative conversations around critical social issues affecting the movement. This includes new funding models for non-government organizations in the social sector to climate change adaptation and mitigation and biodiversity conservation.

*Please note the NET is currently building its’ trust fund and is not yet in a position to disburse funding.

Infrastructure Project