With the welcoming of Spring Equinox, Niagara Community Foundation (NCF) is pleased to announce it has awarded close to a quarter million to Niagara charities through the 2025 Environmental Grant program.
From tree planting in Niagara Falls, to wetland restoration in Welland; youth engagement campaigns in West Lincoln, to feasibility studies in Pelham, NCF's Environmental Grants have invested over $246,000 in the Region in 2025.
“The Environmental projects this year show the passion and dedication of Niagara’s charity partners to preserve and protect our natural resources,” says NCF’s Executive Director, Bryan Rose. “The grant recipients demonstrate a commitment to working in partnership with one another to tackle complex environmental challenges and NCF is so honoured to be able to support these incredible projects.”
In 2022, NCF received a significant boost to the Environmental Grant program, through the Dorothea Thomas Foundation at the Niagara Community Foundation; a $5M gift that provided extra capacity to approve more projects within the environmental sector.
Below is a list of the 2025 Environmental Grant Recipients:
Organization Name | Grant | Project Summary |
| Cairn Christian School | $20,000.00 | Support restoration of the school yard that will enhance biodiversity on the property and to increase curiosity and a passion for environmental stewardship among the students and community. |
| City of Niagara Falls | $6,554.00 | Support the Garner Neighbourhood Trail tree canopy along a well utilized commuter trail that leads in between neighbourhoods and local high school. |
| City of St. Catharines (Hair Neighbours) | $3,900.00 | ArborSTC will canvass residences in the Facer neighbourhood of St. Catharines to offer native species trees and/or tree planting services to property owners and tenants at no cost. |
| City of Welland | $14,300.00 | Support tree canopy replacement project along the Kingsway/Canal Lands is a proactive step toward environmental responsibility and community improvement, representing phase 2 of a multiphase project. |
| Hamilton Naturalists' Club | $13,600.00 | Enhance one of the six ponds found at the Grimsby Wetlands by increasing the depth of half of the pond to improve biodiversity. |
| Heartland Forest Nature Experience | $33,000.00 | Monitor and restore slough forest habitat for species at risk including three endangered bat species and create programming that will include nature exploration opportunities, citizen science workshops and interactive indoor/outdoor exhibits. |
| Links for Greener Learning | $8,944.00 | Empower newcomer youth in Niagara to transform local urban spaces into thriving, sustainable green areas, fostering a deeper connection to nature, by focusing on environmental education, protecting & restoring environmental integrity. |
| Niagara Peninsula Conservation Foundation | $50,000.00 | Restore 1 ha of wetland habitat and enhance 0.9 ha of associated upland habitat within St. George Park in Welland which will include wetland excavation, managing invasive species, and planting of native trees/plants. |
| Ontario Nature | $9,706.00 | Support work to combat the infestation of hemlock woolly adelgid at Harold Mitchell Nature Reserve, expanding protection of the locally rare mature hemlock forest. |
| Swim Drink Fish | $20,000.00 | Monitor water quality and nuisance algae at underserved beaches and shorelines in the Niagara region and promote water literacy and restoration through community engagement and advocacy work. |
| The Niagara Foundation | $20,000.00 | Support rehabilitation of The Wilderness lands and building with Phase 1 (Natural Environment) which focuses on health of, and public access to, One Mile Creek and the extensive Carolinian forest/significant horticultural plantings on the grounds. |
| The Niagara Parks Foundation | $20,000.00 | Restore up to one hectare of habitat along the Niagara Falls Moraine through the removal of invasive species and the planting of over 7,500 native plants. |
| Town of Pelham (Land Care Niagara) | $20,000.00 | In partnership with Land Care Niagara, undertake a feasibility study to restore Niagara’s unique population of Native Brook Trout in the Upper Twelve Mile Creek watershed. |
| Town of Pelham | $6,800.00 | Establish a connected trail network between Marlene Stewart Streit Park (MSSP) and the Nature Conservancy of Canada property and include educational opportunities on the benefits of conserving Carolinian forests and outdoor recreation. |
TOTAL | $246,804 |
Founded in 2000, Niagara Community Foundation has raised over $91.5 million in permanent endowment funds and has granted in excess of $31 million to charities working in the arts, heritage, environment, social services, health, education and community development sectors. NCF connects donor to causes and communities to resources, turning intent into impact.
