Philanthropic Foundations and Albertan Environmentalism

William Walter Kay, Ecofascism.com The Environmental Movement in Alberta Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII | Conclusion The Environmental Grantmakers Association (EGA) was instituted in 1987 to increase collaboration among environmental funders. EGA stresses its 225 members are from around the world but they are nearly all American.

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A dozen Canadian foundations are members; among them: The Calgary Foundation, Alberta Ecotrust Foundation, and Alberta Real Estate Foundation. (1) EGA does not divulge its full membership, but the usual suspects appear prominently in its structure. A rep from the Moore Foundation is chairperson. A rep from the Hewlett Foundation is treasurer. A partial list of EGA funders is studded with surnames of America's elite: Duke, Hearst, Heinz, Luce, Disney, etc. There are notably institutional absentees: Pew Charitable Trusts, Ford Foundation, and Rockefeller Foundation. However, the Ford Motor Company Fund is involved and the Rockefeller Family Fund helped create the EGA and has a rep sitting as the current board Secretary. America's 'Big Green' foundations, EGA members or otherwise, hand out $1 to $2 billion a year to ENGOs around the world. EGA is not itself a funding agency. Its small New York office staff organizes retreats and conferences for funders. Although EGA strategizing is private, they have obviously worked out a geographical division of responsibility. As such, only a few Big Green foundations are active in Alberta.

Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation board

Five persons surnamed Moore sit on the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation board. The Moore Foundation has assets in $4 billion (US$) and an obligation to disburse 5% of this amount every year. Favourite causes are "environmental conservation" and "science". Over the last decade they gave $250 million to Conservation International and $55 million to WWF chapters. Moore gave WWF-Canada $1.6 million in 2006 (mostly for work in BC) and $2.1 in 2007 to help Canadian ENGOs promote "area-based management". Moore gave Pembina Institute $548,296 in 2006 and $462,393 in 2008 for anti-mining activism. They recently gave Ecotrust Canada $384,891 and sent three cheques to David Suzuki totalling $1,051,000. Moore has given Tides Canada millions. (2)

Wilburforce Foundation

Seattle-based Wilburforce Foundation is obsessed with imposing a string of wilderness corridors across North America to create "ecologically effective landscapes and viable wildlife populations." Wilburforce is enthusiastic about Y2Y and maintains an office in Bozeman, Montana to oversee this project. The Foundation's hundred or so annual grants total a few million dollars. Wilburforce gave the Alberta chapters of Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) $240,000 in 2009. They gave Miistakis Institute $40,000 in 2008 and $25,000 in 2009. Also in both 2008 and 2009 they sent $15,000 cheques to Castle Crown Wilderness Coalition, $20,000 cheques to Alberta Wilderness Association, and $40,000 cheques to Sierra Club Canada (for grizzly bear activism in Alberta). Pembina got $70,000 in 2009. (3)

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation owns assets worth $6.7 billion (US$) and hands out $300 million a year. The Foundation employs 104 people at their Menlo Park, California HQ (the first building in California awarded a gold LEED certificate). Hewlett's influence in Alberta involves grants to Pembina for $180,000 in 2003, $400,000 in 2004, $360,000 in 2005, $600,000 in 2006, $500,000 in 2007, $600,000 in 2008, and $200,000 in 2009. This money was for climate change activism. Hewlett gave Tides Canada $400,000 in 2010 to suppress fossil fuel development. This was in addition to $11 million they gave Tides Canada in 2007. Those funds were mostly for work on the west coast, but $4 million set up an Ecosystem-based Management Fund and $1.5 million went to an Oil and Gas Fund. Tides USA received $5 million in 2008 to suppress oil and gas development in "Northern Canada". Between 2003 and 2007 Sierra Club Canada received three Hewlett grants totalling $400,000 for climate change activism and to lobby for fuel efficiency standards. (4)

Oak Foundation

Four of five trustees of Swiss-based Oak Foundation are surnamed Parker. In 2009 they handed out $26 million specifically to "protect the global commons, restore habitat, and achieve a zero carbon global economy." Tides Foundation was given $700,000 (US$) to:

• "...raise the visibility of the tar sands issue and slow the expansion of tar sands production by stopping new infrastructure development." Oak gave Global Campaign of Climate Action $5 million to:
• "...mobilize civil society and public opinion in Canada to support the transformational change and rapid action to save the planet from dangerous levels of climate change. The Global Campaign of Climate Action will facilitate civil society to undertake massive public organizing, regions and rapid analysis, nimble coordination and effective campaigning at all levels." (5)

The Canadian Environmental Grantmaker's Network (CEGN) was established in 1995. CEGN's board has reps from: EJLB Foundation, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Vancouver Foundation, Winnipeg Foundation, Greater Montreal Foundation, Unilever Canada Foundation, W & D Gordon Foundation, Max Bell Foundation, Metcalf Foundation and Ontario Trillium Foundation. CEGN also receives money from: Alberta Real Estate Foundation and the McConnell, Moore, and Wilburforce foundations. Salient on CEGN's list of 60 members are the surnames Bronfman, Weston, and Mott. CEGN estimates their members hand out $50 million a year to Canadian ENGOs. CEGN aims to boost this by 33% by 2012. (6)

Catherine Donnelly Foundation

CEGN member, Toronto-based Catherine Donnelly Foundation (CDF), was originally a Catholic order (Sisters of Service) focused on poverty issues. Slowly turning green, they now declare: "The Earth mediates the Divine; therefore the Foundation is biased toward projects that strive to contribute to the critical need for ecological balance and environmental services out of a profound conviction that a fundamental shift toward a more holistic, Earth-centered value system is imperative." Of the $500,000 per year CDF distributes, about $100,000 goes to the likes of David Suzuki Foundation, Pembina Institute, and Tides Canada. (7)

Donner Foundation

In 2009 Donner Foundation (of Donner Book Prize fame) gave grants to 80 charities. 12% of their budget goes to conservation. In 2009 they gave $400,000 directly to Canadian ENGOs. Other Donner grants indirectly aided these ENGOs. (8)

EJLB Foundation

In 2009 EJLB Foundation gave $1.9 million to Canadian ENGOs. Environmental Defence Canada received $200,000 to illuminate the public about the global warming caused by the "Tar Sands". Sierra Club Canada received $50,000 for similar public service. Global Forest Watch's Edmonton office received three grants of $10,000 a year to highlight the energy industry's destruction of northern forests. Pembina got $25,000 to promote alternative energy. (9)

Ontario's Ivey Foundation

Since its 1947 inception London, Ontario's Ivey Foundation prioritized forest conservation. The Foundation, which is closely held by Iveys, has disbursed $70 million. Their current main initiative is Conserving Canada's Forests. Ivey president, Bruce Louie, is a leader of the Canadian Boreal Initiative. Recent Ivey grants include one to Nature Alberta for $20,000 and two to Pembina totalling $75,000. (10)

J. W. McConnell Foundation

The McConnell family's J. W. McConnell Foundation (est. 1937) recently gave away its 100 millionth dollar. In 1999 they set aside $10 million for the Green Street environmental education program. (In a 2004 address, McConnell CEO Tim Brodhead surveyed the 1,574 grants Canadian philanthropists had recently awarded to ENGOs. He pondered the pros and cons of having so many ENGOs and whether or not to keep the term "environmentalism". He concluded by calling for more "capacity building".) (11)

Max Bell Foundation

Since its 1972 launch the Max Bell Foundation has disbursed $65 million. Bell active in Alberta is evidenced by a recent grant of $35,000 to Ducks Unlimited Canada for work around Cooking Lake. (12)

David Suzuki Foundation

Stephen Bronfman is listed as an "over $1 million" donor by the David Suzuki Foundation. He is on the Suzuki board. Among Stephen's assets is an organic foods company, SunOpta, with annual sales of $400 million. Stephen runs his own foundation and divides his energy between philanthropy and business, just as he divides his digs between his 15,000 sq ft castle in Montreal and his 5,000 acre estate on Quebec's north shore. (13)

Ontario Trillium Foundation

Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is owned by the Ontario Government. In 2008 OTF gave out $100 million in grants. One OTF objective is to "sustain and promote a greener economy." At its 25th anniversary (2007) OTF bragged of being the top funder of Ontario ENGOs. Then OTF created its Future Fund (sub-titled: Building Skills for the Green Economy) to disburse an additional $2 million a year toward developing green skills, especially among aboriginals. While OTF's focus is Ontario, it funds national ENGOs like Nature Conservancy Canada, David Suzuki Foundation, and Canadian Nature Federation. CPAWS, an ENGO highly active in Alberta, received $247,000 from OTF in 2008. (OTF's master plan is to unite Ontario NGOs, not just ENGOs, into a political force. OTF claims the non-profit sector employs 15% of Ontario's labour force and has revenues of $47 billion.) (14)

Gordon. Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation

Walter and Duncan Gordon were sons of accounting entrepreneur H. D. Gordon. Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation dates to 1965. Gracing the Foundation's board are: a former top executive from the Weston group, an alternative energy executive, the Chief of the Gwitchen First Nation, and actress Briony Glasco (Walter's grand-daughter). Foundation president, Tom Axworthy, was Walter Gordon's research assistant when Walter was Privy Council President, then went on to become Prime Minister Trudeau's personal secretary. Axworthy is a director of the Historica Foundation, Harmony Foundation (environmental education), and Bronfman's CRB Foundation. As a member of the Interaction Council, Axworthy helped eco-theologian Hans Kung draft the Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities. Foundation vice-president, James Stauch, was formerly grants manager for The Calgary Foundation and chairman of the Canadian Environmental Grantmakers Network. Between 2007 and 2009 the Gordon Foundation gave Pembina $200,000 each year for climate change and water conservation activism. "Watershed stewardship" is a Gordon Foundation cause celebre, especially in Alberta. Their water specialist is a former Sierra Club man. In his schema, watershed stewardship equals demand management. He contends climate change is altering the availability of water, hence necessitating new approaches (eco-babble for opposing bulk water export, inter-river transfer, and shoreline development). Gordon Foundation's 2008 Annual Report lists grants to: Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation ($5,000 to hold Keepers of the Water Gathering III), Ecojustice Canada ($30,000 to influence water policy in BC and Alberta toward ecological principles), Environmental Law Society ($24,750 to monitor Alberta water policy and identify barriers to stewardship), and $5,000 for Alberta Water Learning Network. They recently gave $50,000 to Water Matters of Canmore. (15)

Alberta Emerald Foundation

Alberta Emerald Foundation (AEF) was created in 1991 by McLennan Ross LLP, Deloitte and Touche, and the Alberta Environment Ministry. AEF recently embarked on a five-year plan to raise $5 million to supplement revenues accruing to them from their endowments at Edmonton Community Foundation and The Calgary Foundation. Much AEF funding originates from governments and energy companies. AEF media sponsors include CTV and Edmonton Journal. AEF board members have included Lt. Governors and Edmonton mayors. AEF's Emerald Awards are the Oscars of Alberta environmentalism. (17)

Alberta Law Foundation

According to statute, Alberta Law Foundation (ALF) is entitled to interest accumulating on funds held in lawyer's general trust accounts. As of March 2009 the consolidated average balance in said accounts was $1 billion. Environmentalism is one of many ALF causes. ALF's favourite ENGO is the Environmental Law Centre to whom they routinely give $350,000 a year. In 2009 ALF gave Pembina $29,915. (17)

Calgary Foundation

The Calgary Foundation (TCF) has pooled philanthropic resources since 1955. They now manage 800 funds with combined assets of $300 million. In 2008-2009 TCF divided $22 million in grants over five Forever Funds. TCF's Environment Fund:

• "...supports projects that protect, preserve, enhance and restore the physical environment. This includes projects that protect or enhance the land, wildlife, natural flora..."
• TCF's enviro-strategy is guided by a 2004 Alberta Ecotrust Foundation report identifying four priorities: Urban Land Management, Water, Wildlife, and Climate Change. TCF claims:
• "...in the last 40 years the habitat of Alberta's wolves, elk and grizzlies has declined substantially due to human interests... Since settlement began in Alberta our wetlands have been slowly disappearing. It is vital to support these fertile, productive ecosystems... Aquatic ecosystems are very susceptible to small changes in water quality." (18)

Recent TCF grants: Sierra Club ($23,000), Alberta Wilderness Association ($25,000), Foothills Land Trust ($31,600), Y2Y ($25,000), Parks Foundation ($25,000), Ghost River Rediscovery Society ($20,000), Tides Canada ($50,000), Alberta Council for Environmental Education ($60,000), and Clean Calgary ($40,000). Footnotes

1. ega.org
2. moore.org
3. wilburforcefoundation.org
4. hewlett.org
5. oakfnd.org
6. cegn.org
7. catherinedonnellyfoundation.org
8. donnerfoundation.org
9. ejlb.qc.ca
10. ivey.org
11. mconnellfoundation.ca
12. maxbell.org
13. davidsuzuki.org and Forbes Magazine; The Other Bronfman; September 4,2006
14. trilliumfoundation.org
15. gordonfn.org
16. emeraldfoundation.org
17. albertalawfoundation.org
18. thecalgaryfoundation.org

William Walter Kay, Ecofascism.com William can be reached at: williamwkay@yahoo.ca