The health of the natural environment is closely linked to the social and economic pressures that impinge upon on it. True sustainability is based on a recognition of the earth’s ecological limits coupled with an integration of the economic, social, and cultural well-being of people and their communities into decision making.
During 2012 the Metcalf Foundation is embarking on a review of the Environment Program.
Request for Proposals
Overview
Increasing the Viability of the Local Sustainable Food System
This Metcalf call for proposals is aimed at identifying initiatives that will increase the likelihood of long-term success throughout the local food system in southern Ontario.
Interest and engagement with local food is growing at a phenomenal rate yet proven approaches to increase the probability of long-term success more broadly throughout the local sustainable food system (e.g. growing, distributing, marketing, processing, selling) are not readily apparent. It’s important to note, however, that there are indeed many promising initiatives that may ultimately serve as excellent examples of how individuals, communities, organizations and other entities can best ensure a viable local sustainable food system now and in the future. Metcalf’s objective is to locate and support them.
This is an open call to identify models and practices that support an environmentally sound, economically strong, and socially relevant local food system in southern Ontario with an emphasis on long-term viability. The proposal should focus on approaches designed, tested and proven at the local level.
Program Eligibility
Applicants to this program must:
- be an organization that has shown commitment to the goal of the Environment Program,
- be based in and active within southern Ontario, and
- be registered as a charity at the Canada Revenue Agency.
Application Guidelines
For a full description of the request for proposals, please view the RFP here. To download the application cover page, please click here.
Deadlines
Letters of interest to the RFP will be accepted on or before:
April 19, 2012
Click here to view the RFP for more information.
FAQs
For frequently asked questions, please review the FAQ section.
Past Grants
To review past Metcalf Foundation grants, please visit the Who We Fund section.
Healthy Lands
Overview
After 10 years of grantmaking to support the ecological integrity of natural and working lands, the Healthy Lands initiative is under review. We are currently reviewing what we have learned over the past decade and possible next steps.
Please check back during 2012 for timelines, new program guidelines, and related Environmental Program initiatives.
FAQs
For frequently asked questions, please review the FAQ section.
Past Grants
To review past Metcalf Foundation grants, please visit the Who We Fund section.
Sustainability Internships
Overview
The Environment Program will offer the Sustainability Internship program during our overall program review but will shift away from an exclusive focus on natural and working lands to one with broader sustainability objectives that recognize living within environmental limits.
We need opportunities for people interested in becoming involved in sustainability work in Toronto and throughout southern Ontario to find access to mentoring, training, and meaningful work experience. The Foundation will support the creation of opportunities for individuals in southern Ontario who have recently entered the sustainability field to enhance their skills and scope. By creating productive entry points, we encourage organizations to reaffirm their commitment to the future by formally mentoring and training new leaders. While the Foundation will support a variety of internship opportunities, we are particularly interested in fostering cross-disciplinary learning. Internships must be a minimum of six months in duration. Grants will be made for interns’ salaries and benefits to a maximum of $30,000 for a 12-month internship. Co-op work terms are not eligible for funding.
Program Eligibility
Applicants to this program must:
- be an organization that has shown commitment to the goal of the Environment Program,
- be based in and active within southern Ontario, and
- be registered as a charity at the Canada Revenue Agency.
Application Guidelines
For a full description of the program, including the process for making an application, please view the program guidelines here.
Deadlines
For 2012 awards, applications to the Sustainability Internship program will be accepted on or before:
February 1, 2012
Click here to view the application guidelines for more information.
FAQs
For frequently asked questions, please review the FAQ section.
Past Grants
To review past Metcalf Foundation grants, please visit the Who We Fund section.
