The Opportunity Fund’s purpose is to support opportunities to protect biodiversity in the Islands Trust Area in a timely way.
Created in 2005, the fund enables the Islands Trust Conservancy Board to act quickly to provide small sums of supportive funding to groups working on land protection projects when new conservation opportunities arise.
These small grants support those initial, hard-to-fundraise costs for land protection projects and help leverage increased donations for an acquisition.
The Opportunity Fund makes a significant difference to conservation. Donors to the Opportunity Fund have helped create a $69,000,000 conservation legacy on the islands in the Salish Sea. Small grants totaling $183,000 were delivered to Islands Trust Conservancy partners at critical times.
If you would like to donate to the Opportunity Fund, please visit Islands Trust Conservancy’s donation page or contact Islands Trust Conservancy’s Strategic Fund Development Specialist.
Granting Principles
When evaluating requests the Islands Trust Conservancy Board considers:
- The urgency of the request
- Potential for protection of Islands Trust Conservancy biodiversity priorities and long-term conservation goals as identified in the Regional Conservation Plan
- Capacity of Islands Trust Conservancy to manage the project effectively
- Likelihood of project success
Funding Guidelines
Read a full description of the Opportunity Fund Guidelines. The Opportunity Fund Guidelines are in the process of being updated and will be available online in 2026.
Use of Funds
The Opportunity Fund is used to support land protection projects that meet the conservation goals of the Regional Conservation Plan, as well as conservation initiatives led by or involving the Islands Trust Conservancy. In general the Islands Trust Conservancy will consider the funding of:
- Acquisition and covenant costs (e.g., baseline, survey, appraisal, legal)
- Land purchase costs, particularly if the grant funds will be used to match donations 1:1
Other types of projects may also be considered at the Islands Trust Conservancy Board’s discretion.
Applicant Eligibility
Opportunity Funds are given to registered charities and qualified donees working in the Islands Trust Area to protect natural ecosystems and habitats.
Funding Exemptions
The Board will not provide funding towards:
- Purchase of land for more than the appraised value
- Acquisition of properties involved in a development application
- Costs associated with the ongoing management of a protected area
- Costs associated with any organization’s operating costs
Application Process
To apply for an Opportunity Fund grant, submit a letter with the following information:
- Applicant organization (annual budget, staff/volunteers, track record)
- Project history
- Project objectives
- Project partners
- Project timelines
- Project budget and revenues (committed and pending)
- Amount of request
- Which biodiversity priorities the project will benefit and how (identified in the Regional Conservation Plan)
- Project map (if applicable)
- Photos should be included with the letter showing the ecological significance of the property.
Opportunity Fund applications may be submitted by email or by mail to:
Islands Trust Conservancy
200-1627 Fort Street
Victoria, BC V8R 1H8
Application Deadline
The Islands Trust Conservancy Board considers Opportunity Fund requests at their Spring and Fall board meetings.
Applications must be received in writing up to two months before the meeting date. Requests of an urgent nature may be considered at other times during the year. Please contact Islands Trust Conservancy’s Strategic Fund Development Specialist early for details.