Clayoquot Biosphere Trust

What Clayoquot Biosphere Trust does

Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT) is a federally registered Canadian charity and community foundation headquartered in Tofino, British Columbia, serving the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Established in 2000, CBT is the only organization in Canada that is simultaneously a community foundation and a UNESCO Biosphere Region coordinator. Its mandate covers environmental conservation, Indigenous-led stewardship, education, community development, and sustainability research across the territories of five Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations (Hesquiaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, Ucluelet, Toquaht, Ahousaht) and two municipalities.

CBT operates as a grantmaking and research-coordination institution rather than a product company. It administers a diversified portfolio of approximately 15 grant and scholarship programs — including the $20,000 Biosphere Research Award, the Free to Play participatory grantmaking program ($176,000 in the first year), Neighbourhood Small Grants ($50–$600), Arts & Culture and Community Development grants (up to $6,000 each), Vital Grants (up to $20,000 over two years), and multiple education awards — alongside 19+ community endowment funds. Research outputs include biennial Vital Signs reports (five published since 2012), a biennial Living Wage calculation, and climate and biodiversity research programs.

Revenue is generated through philanthropic donations, contributions from corporate partners (notably Tofino Resort & Marina's 1% program), and returns on a $12 million founding endowment from the Government of Canada invested in partnership with Jarislowsky Fraser under a fossil fuel-free mandate. CBT distributes grants through an online portal (grantinterface.com) and convenes regional forums and stakeholder networks (e.g., Clayoquot Salmon Roundtable, iisaak sin hay tiiʕmis Wildlife Coexistence Network). It is a member of Community Foundations of Canada (191 members), the Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association, and the global UNESCO Biosphere network of 738 regions, with 16 staff executing the operating model.

Name

Clayoquot Biosphere Trust

Legal name

Clayoquot Biosphere Trust Society

Website

https://clayoquotbiosphere.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Clayoquot Biosphere Trust is a Canadian registered charity and community foundation serving the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region. It manages a $12 million endowment and distributes grants for environmental research, education, Indigenous language revitalization, and community development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Foundation and Grant-making Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ), Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

Keywords

• Community foundation
• Grant programs
• Endowment funds
• Biosphere conservation
• Sustainable development

Headquarters

HQ city

Tofino

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Donations and Fundraising: CBT receives donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations through various fund types including donor-advised funds, community funds, and specific campaign funds. Donations are pooled into endowment funds and used to support community grants in perpetuity.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CBT is a registered charity and community foundation that manages pooled endowment funds and distributes grants, scholarships, and education awards to registered charities, First Nations governments, non-profits, municipalities, researchers, youth and students within the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region. It also convenes regional forums, coordinates climate and biodiversity research partnerships, and publishes biennial Vital Signs reports and Living Wage calculations tracking regional sustainability against UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Product overview

Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT) is a registered charity and UNESCO biosphere region organization, not a technology product company. CBT operates as a community foundation offering a comprehensive portfolio of grant programs, scholarships, endowment funds, and research publications. The grant programs include: Biosphere Research Award ($20,000), Free to Play Grants ($176,000 participatory), Neighbourhood Small Grants ($50-$600), Arts & Culture Grant (up to $6,000), Community Development Grant (up to $6,000), Research & Environment Grant (up to $6,000), Youth & Education Grant (up to $6,000), Vital Grants (up to $20,000), Nuu-chah-nulth Language Grants (up to $2,000), and Youth Grants (up to $1,000). Education awards include Lifelong Learner Award, Central Region Nuu-chah-nulth Education Award, Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region Education Award, Pacific Rim Foundation Dick Close Scholarship, and Tourism Tofino Scholarship. CBT also manages 19+ community endowment funds and produces research publications including Vital Signs Reports and Living Wage Calculations. Media programs include the 'What's Brewing in the Biosphere' podcast distributed on YouTube and Spotify.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Biosphere Research Award Annual grant of $20,000 to support research advancing local understanding of conservation challenges in marine and/or terrestrial ecosystems within the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region.
• Free to Play Grants Participatory grantmaking program supporting community projects that help children unplug and reconnect with nature through land-based play; funding requests from $5,000 to $50,000 with $176,000 allocated locally for the first year.
• Neighbourhood Small Grants Small grants ranging from $50 to $600 supporting community members who want to make their communities better places to live, with themes focused on Green & Youth Projects.
• Arts & Culture Grant Annual discretionary grants funding small arts and cultural projects throughout the region, up to a maximum of $6,000, administered by the CBT Arts & Culture Committee.
• Community Development Grant Annual discretionary grants funding small community development projects throughout the region, up to a maximum of $6,000, administered by the CBT Community Development Committee.
• Research & Environment Grant Flexible grants funding small environmental research projects, up to a maximum of $6,000, focused on improving ecosystem and species health and strengthening Nuu-chah-nulth ways of knowing, administered by the CBT Research and Environment Committee.
• Youth & Education Grant Annual discretionary grants funding youth and education projects throughout the region, up to a maximum of $6,000, administered by the CBT Youth & Education Committee.
• Vital Grants Grants of up to $20,000 for a maximum of two years supporting projects that address regional priorities and complex sustainability challenges by helping achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Nuu-chah-nulth Language Grants Grassroots language grants of up to $2,000 per year to language activists from five communities within the Biosphere, supporting Indigenous language revitalization efforts.
• Youth Grants Grants of up to $1,000 designed by and decided by youth from Ucluelet, Tofino, and Nuu-chah-nulth communities for local ideas, projects, and activities benefiting youth.
• Education Awards Portfolio of post-secondary education awards including the Lifelong Learner Award ($5,500 one-time), Central Region Nuu-chah-nulth Education Award ($5,500/year for up to 4 years), Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region Education Award ($5,500/year for up to 4 years), Pacific Rim Foundation Dick Close Scholarship ($10,000/year for up to 4 years), and Tourism Tofino Scholarship ($10,000).
• Donor-Advised Fund Charitable fund vehicle requiring a minimum initial donation of $25,000; donors can recommend grants to registered Canadian charities or leave decisions to advisory committees.
• Field of Interest Fund Charitable fund requiring a minimum donation of $25,000 to support a named cause in perpetuity, with grants directed by CBT advisory committees.
• Charitable Organization Endowment Fund Endowment fund requiring a minimum donation of $25,000 that benefits a specific registered charity in perpetuity, with CBT managing investment and administration.
• Legacy Fund Estate-giving fund requiring a minimum initial donation of $1,000 and a balance of $9,000+ through estate or additional gifts; granting begins once the fund reaches $10,000.
• Community Funds Portfolio of 19+ named endowment and community funds managed by CBT for the Clayoquot Sound region, including Biosphere Centre Fund, Biosphere Research Fund, Clayoquot Sound Wild Salmon Fund, Clayoquot Sustainability Fund, Coastal Queer Fund, Community Resilience Fund, Debbie Mundy Memorial Scholarship Fund, Mųłaa Rising Tide Fund, Nuu-chah-nulth Language Fund, Operating Endowment Fund, Pacific Rim Arts Society Fund, Pacific Rim Foundation Fund, Tofino Arts Fund, Tofino Children's Swimming and Water Safety Fund, Tofino Community Fund, Tofino Saltwater Classic Fund, Warrior Program Fund, West Coast Multiplex Fund, and West Coast N.E.S.T. Fund.
• Vital Signs Report Biennial research publication measuring the vitality of communities and ecosystems, tracking progress towards UN Sustainable Development Goals with localized data aligned with 14 of 17 UN SDGs.
• Living Wage Calculation Biennial calculation of the living wage for the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region, defined as the hourly pay needed to support each parent in a family of four with two young children.
• SDG Research Program Cross-cutting research program that uses the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals to guide local action and advance Agenda 2030, with five pathways: Vital Signs Report, Living Wage Calculation, Vital Conversations, Education Tourism (West Coast N.E.S.T.), and Values-based Investment.
• What's Brewing in the Biosphere Podcast Monthly radio show and podcast where the CBT team shares updates and news from the region, including current grant opportunities, research, events, and community news; distributed on Tuff City Radio, YouTube, and Spotify.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supported 65+ participants at 2023 Regional Forum representing First Nations, local governments, organizations, and businesses
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• University of Washington TacomacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000CBT collaborates with UW Tacoma to conduct ongoing water-quality research on physical, chemical, and biological oceanographic conditions in the fjords of Barkley and Clayoquot Sounds. UW Tacoma has been conducting research in the region since 2000, creating a vast collection of long-term data. The partnership provides students with real-world data collection and analysis experience while giving CBT broader knowledge of local conditions.
• Community Foundations of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBT is a member of Community Foundations of Canada, a network of 191 community foundations across Canada working together to make Canadian communities more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable. CFC coordinates the national Vital Signs program that CBT participates in. CBT also partners with CFC on initiatives like Free to Play with 22 participating community foundations.
• UNESCO Biosphere NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBT upholds the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region designation, one of Canada's 20 UNESCO biospheres and part of a world network of 738+ biosphere regions. The UNESCO designation provides framework for sustainable development, conservation, and international knowledge sharing.
• Jarislowsky FrasercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBT's pooled endowment funds are invested in partnership with Jarislowsky Fraser. CBT's assets are not invested in the fossil fuel industry or other socially and environmentally harmful industries, aligning investments with their commitment to sustainable living. CBT has been recognized as a leader in ethical investing in the community foundations sector.
• Pacific Rim National Park ReservecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBT co-secretariat for the iisaak sin hay tiičmis (Respect all Life) Network/West Coast Vancouver Island Coexistence Network with Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. This working group brings together community planners and stakeholders including tourism sector, municipalities, and Nuu-chah-nulth communities to help humans and wildlife coexist in the biosphere region.
• First Nations Governments (Nuu-chah-nulth)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBT works in relationship with First Nations including hiškʷiiʔatḥ (Hesquiaht), ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht), Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet), tukʷaaʔatḥ (Toquaht), and ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ (Ahousaht). Partnerships support First Nations priorities in research, language revitalization, education, and conservation aligned with UNESCO biosphere principles.
• Canadian Biosphere Reserves AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBT is affiliated with the Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association (CBRA), which coordinates biosphere reserve activities across Canada and connects Canadian biospheres to the international UNESCO network.
• West Coast AquaticmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBT participates in governance processes with West Coast Aquatic, including the Clayoquot Salmon Roundtable which brings together First Nations, governments, and stakeholders for co-management of wild salmon stocks and sustainable management in Clayoquot Sound.
• West Coast NESTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWest Coast N.E.S.T. (Nature. Education. Sustainability. Transformation.) is an initiative of CBT focused on higher education, capacity building, and education tourism. The NEST creates a global network of learners while generating local economic opportunities and shifting values toward sustainable livelihoods.
• Community Conservation Research NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBT Research Director Laura Loucks has been a member of the Community Conservation Research Network since 2011, working with 30 colleagues from around the world on sustainable livelihoods and environmental conservation. CBT contributed to the book 'Communities, Conservation and Livelihoods' published with IUCN.
• 1% for the PlanetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBT is a 1% for the Planet non-profit partner. This global movement inspires businesses and individuals to support environmental solutions through annual memberships. Donors in the network can contribute to CBT through the platform.
• TRANSECTS (International Research Partnership)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBT is part of TRANSECTS (Transdisciplinary Education Collaboration for Transformations in Sustainability), an international team of researchers and partners from Canada, Germany, and South Africa with representatives from academia, Indigenous and rural communities, UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, and governing agencies.
• Redd Fish Restoration SocietymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRedd Fish Restoration Society received CBT funding for kelp forest habitat research and restoration projects, including kelp monitoring to determine baselines for distribution, health, and abundance, and identify vital kelp habitats for Pacific salmon in Clayoquot Sound. Redd Fish has integrated Strawberry Isle Marine Research Society (SIMRS).
• Clayoquot Salmon RoundtablecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBT is an active member of the Clayoquot Salmon Roundtable, a co-management process between First Nations, governments, and stakeholders to develop and implement plans for recovery and sustainable management of Clayoquot Sound's wild salmon stocks. The Roundtable provides a forum for local advice to DFO on salmon harvest and stewardship.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Nature United (Nature Conservancy Canada): Canadian arm of The Nature Conservancy focused on conservation outcomes, Indigenous-led conservation, and natural climate solutions. Comparable to CBT in conservation mission and Indigenous partnership model, but operates at much larger scale nationally with land acquisition capacity.
• Vancouver Foundation: One of the largest community foundations in Canada, also a CFC member and Vital Signs participant. Comparable as a regional community foundation with grant programs, endowment management, and civic research—though significantly larger in scale and grantmaking capacity than CBT.
• Community Foundations of Canada: National umbrella organization for Canada's 191 community foundations, including CBT. Operates the national Vital Signs program that CBT participates in and co-delivers initiatives like Free to Play. Closely comparable as a network-level grantmaking and capacity-building entity serving community foundations.

Emerging players

• West Coast Aquatic: Governance body for aquatic management on BC's west coast, including the Clayoquot Salmon Roundtable that CBT participates in. Comparable to CBT's salmon conservation and water quality programs but with broader fisheries co-management authority.
• Pacific Rim National Park Reserve: Federal national park reserve overlapping CBT's biosphere region and co-secretariat partner on the Iisaak Sin Hay Tiičmis coexistence network. Closely comparable geographic and ecological focus with CBT, but operates as a federal agency rather than a community foundation.

Others

• Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association: National association coordinating Canada's 20 UNESCO biosphere reserves. Comparable to CBT as a network-level biosphere entity providing coordination, advocacy, and shared programming—closer to an ecosystem peer than a direct grantmaking competitor.

Direct peers

• Tides Canada Foundation (MakeWay): Canadian charitable platform supporting environmental, social justice, and Indigenous-led initiatives through donor-advised funds and grants. Directly comparable to CBT as an environmental grantmaking intermediary with Indigenous partnership focus and shared funder models.
• Sitka Foundation: BC-based environmental grantmaking foundation funding conservation, climate, and biodiversity initiatives across the province. Directly comparable to CBT's environmental grant programs, with overlapping funder and applicant ecosystems in British Columbia.
• Real Estate Foundation of BC: BC-based grantmaking foundation funding projects related to land use, real estate, and built environment sustainability. Comparable as a provincially-scoped BC grantmaking entity with environmental and community development portfolios similar to CBT's.
• Fundy Biosphere Region (UNESCO): One of Canada's 20 UNESCO biosphere regions, also operating community sustainability programs on the Bay of Fundy. Most direct comparable to CBT as another Canadian UNESCO biosphere with similar community foundation-style activities and scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCaMJ91JZESI5btrZD91TAkw/playlists
• Facebookfacebook.com/clayoquotbiosphere
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clayoquot-biosphere-trust
• Instagraminstagram.com/clayoquotbiospheretrust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Clayoquot Biosphere Trust