What CPAWS · SNAP Canada does

CPAWS (Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society), branded operationally as SNAP Canada, is a federally registered Canadian charity founded in 1963 and headquartered in Ottawa. It is the only national charity in Canada exclusively dedicated to the protection of public land, freshwater, and ocean ecosystems. The organization operates a national office alongside 13 community-based chapters spanning every major Canadian region, with a workforce of 53 staff. Its work is organized around five core program areas: Land & Freshwater, Coasts & Ocean, Wildlife, Climate Change, and Take Action community advocacy.

CPAWS generates revenue through a diversified charity funding model: approximately 25% from individual donors, 37% from foundations (including named supporters such as The Winged Achene Foundation and Wilburforce Foundation), 30% from government grants, and 8% from corporate partners (including Mountain Equipment Company and BMO). Roughly 80% of revenue flows directly into conservation programs, with the remainder covering administration and fundraising costs. The organization holds a 4-star rating from Charity Intelligence and reported fiscal-2025 revenue of $23.37M, up 37.8% from $16.96M in 2024, alongside a $2.77M reserve and an IT Transformation Reserve for organizational capacity-building.

Strategically, CPAWS combines on-the-ground advocacy through its 13 chapters with national-level policy engagement, including co-hosting IMPAC5 in 2023, founding membership in SeaBlue Canada, and an MOU with the Seal River Watershed Alliance to advance an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area. An Indigenous Reconciliation and Conservation Committee was established to formalize Indigenous-led conservation priorities. The organization is governed under a new President, Jennifer Smith (appointed 2025), and serves Canadian civil society, Indigenous communities, policymakers, and conservation scientists as its primary stakeholder groups.

Name

CPAWS · SNAP Canada

Legal name

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society

Website

https://cpaws.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

CPAWS (Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society) is Canada's only national charity dedicated exclusively to protecting public land, freshwater, and ocean. Founded in 1963, it operates 13 regional chapters and a national office delivering advocacy, policy, and conservation programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Advocacy

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE), Nature, Biodiversity & Ecosystem Conservation (BPADALAE), Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG), Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI)

Keywords

• Conservation advocacy
• Wildlife protection
• Habitat preservation
• Marine protected areas
• Environmental nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute to CPAWS through one-time gifts, monthly giving programs, and estate gifts. Individual donors represent 25% of total revenue.
2. Foundation Grants: Grants from foundations including The Winged Achene Foundation and Wilburforce Foundation. Foundations represent 37% of total revenue.
3. Government Grants: Federal, provincial, and territorial government funding for conservation initiatives including Enhanced Nature Legacy funding. Government grants represent 30% of total revenue.
4. Corporate Support: Corporate partnerships and donations from companies including Mountain Equipment Company, BMO, Outdoor Research, Icebug, and others. Corporate support represents 8% of total revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CPAWS is Canada's only national charity dedicated to protecting public land, freshwater, and ocean through advocacy, public education, research, and policy influence. The organization mobilizes Canadians to take action for conservation, partners with Indigenous communities on Indigenous-led conservation and IPCAs, and collaborates with federal, provincial, and territorial governments to establish and expand protected areas. It runs five core conservation programs (Land & Freshwater, Coasts & Ocean, Wildlife, Climate Change, Take Action) and produces briefs and reports that inform conservation policy.

Product overview

CPAWS (Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society) is a non-profit conservation organization that does not offer a technology product platform. Its offerings consist of advocacy programs and campaigns focused on protecting Canada's land, freshwater, ocean, and wildlife. The organization operates through five interconnected conservation programs: Land & Freshwater Conservation, Coasts & Ocean Conservation, Wildlife Protection, Climate Change Action, and Take Action Campaigns. Additionally, it produces research publications and policy briefs to influence conservation outcomes. CPAWS has 13 regional chapters from Yukon to Newfoundland plus a national office in Ottawa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Land & Freshwater Conservation Program Advocacy program that works to establish protected areas on public land, influence government policy, and engage Canadians in protecting freshwater ecosystems across Canada for the benefit of people, wildlife, and the planet.
• Coasts & Ocean Conservation Program Advocacy program that works to establish and improve Marine Protected Areas along Canada's coasts and oceans, advocating for stronger protections and supporting Indigenous-led marine conservation initiatives.
• Wildlife Protection Program Advocacy program focused on species at risk protection, emphasizing habitat conservation for wildlife including caribou, grizzly bears, bison, and marine species such as orcas and puffins.
• Climate Change Action Program Advocacy program that promotes protected areas as nature-based climate solutions, advocating for the protection of carbon-dense ecosystems including forests, peatlands, and marine environments.
• Take Action Campaigns Public engagement program that mobilizes Canadians to take action for nature protection through letter-writing campaigns, petitions, and advocacy tools targeting government decision-makers.
• Research & Policy Publications Research output producing reports, policy briefs, and analyses such as the On the Path to 2030 report card, MPA Monitor reports, and climate action analyses to inform conservation policy and public discourse.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% of revenue invested directly supporting conservation programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Mountain Equipment Company (MEC)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNature Leaders tier corporate partner at $50,000+. MEC is an outdoor equipment retailer with shared commitment to wilderness protection.
• Banque of Montreal (BMO)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNature Leaders tier corporate partner at $50,000+. BMO provides financial support for conservation efforts.
• Outdoor Research (OR)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerNature Protectors tier partner ($10,000-$49,999). Outdoor gear company supporting CPAWS conservation.
• Outdoor ProlinkmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerNature Protectors tier partner. Outdoor industry partner supporting conservation efforts.
• IcebugmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerNature Protectors tier partner. Footwear company that ran Green Friday campaign raising $28,000+ for CPAWS.
• Westland InsurancemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerNature Protectors tier partner ($10,000-$49,999). Insurance company supporting conservation.
• PHI (Peace Hills Insurance)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerNature Protectors tier partner ($10,000-$49,999). Insurance company supporting conservation efforts.
• New RootsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerNature Protectors tier partner ($10,000-$49,999). Herbal supplements company supporting conservation.
• SmartwoolsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerNature Allies tier partner ($5,000-$9,999). Outdoor apparel company supporting conservation.
• Muskoka Roastery Coffee Co.supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerNature Allies tier partner. Coffee company that matched donations across Earth Day, Ocean Day, Parks Day, and Biodiversity Day campaigns.
• KeensupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerNature Allies tier partner ($5,000-$9,999). Footwear company supporting conservation.
• Ocean Ball FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual Ocean Ball event partner raising $10,000 for ocean protection. Toronto-based entrepreneurs and changemakers.
• Que PasasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated $50,000 to support protection efforts and raise awareness about Canada's wild spaces.
• CoSpheresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPAWS joins the CoSphere coalition to push for deep change needed for a better world through systems science integration.
• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPAWS endorses FSC as the only forest certification system that includes protection of Intact Forest Landscapes criteria.
• Green Budget CoalitionsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPAWS is a member of the GBC - a group of 21 leading environmental organizations providing fiscal and budgetary recommendations to the federal government.
• Leader's Pledge for NaturesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPAWS supports the Leader's Pledge for Nature to reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.
• Leave No Trace CanadasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPAWS is a founding partner and advocate of the Leave No Trace Canada principles.
• Make Room for NaturesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocacy campaign partnering with Canadian environmental organizations to protect Canada's natural heritage.
• #NatureForAllsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal movement launched by IUCN in 2016 to inspire love of nature. CPAWS is a partner advancing the movement in Canada and globally.
• One Earth One Voice/One Earth One VotesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampaign rallying supporters to urge federal government to prioritize green and just recovery, and voting with nature priorities.
• OneOcean FlotillasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollective drive to achieve maximum impact for the ocean through alignment of international groups around marine conservation objectives.
• SeaBlue CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPAWS is a founding member of SeaBlue Canada - a collaboration of seven organizations with extensive experience in establishment and management of marine protected areas.
• Seal River Watershed AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMemorandum of understanding signed between Seal River Watershed Alliance and Governments of Manitoba and Canada to explore Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA) and National Park Reserve.
• Fisher River Cree Nation, Peguis First Nation, and Kinonjeoshtegon First NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMemorandum of Understanding signed to secure natural lands within shared territory as protected areas, with support from CPAWS Manitoba.
• 1% For the PlanetsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCPAWS is a 1% For the Planet approved recipient organization enabling member businesses to donate to CPAWS.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC): Canada's largest private land conservation organization, directly competing with CPAWS for donor dollars, corporate partnerships, and government grants focused on land and freshwater conservation. Both operate coast-to-coast with regional offices and similar protected-area acquisition mandates.
• David Suzuki Foundation: Canadian environmental nonprofit focused on climate, biodiversity, and Indigenous-led conservation. Competes with CPAWS for individual donors, foundation grants, and policy influence on federal environmental legislation.
• Greenpeace Canada: Major Canadian environmental advocacy organization competing for individual donors and media attention. Overlaps with CPAWS on forest protection, ocean conservation, and climate change advocacy.
• Ducks Unlimited Canada: Canada's leader in wetland and waterfowl conservation, competing with CPAWS for restoration funding and government grants. Overlaps with CPAWS on freshwater habitat conservation and advocacy around protected-area policy.
• World Wildlife Fund Canada (WWF-Canada): One of Canada's largest conservation nonprofits, directly competing with CPAWS for individual donors, foundation grants, and federal funding. WWF-Canada overlaps on wildlife protection, ocean conservation, and climate advocacy, with a stronger international brand.
• Environmental Defence Canada: Canadian environmental advocacy organization competing with CPAWS for grassroots donors and policy influence. Overlaps on climate action, biodiversity protection, and federal budget advocacy through the Green Budget Coalition.
• Sierra Club Canada Foundation: Canadian chapter of the global Sierra Club, competing for conservation donors and volunteers. Overlaps on wilderness protection, public education, and advocacy for protected areas.
• Canadian Wildlife Federation: National conservation organization focused on wildlife and habitat, overlapping with CPAWS on species-at-risk advocacy, public engagement, and government funding relationships.

Others

• Parks Canada: Federal agency that establishes and manages national parks and marine protected areas. CPAWS depends on Parks Canada as a government partner and beneficiary of its advocacy work, making it an ecosystem stakeholder rather than a competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Ocean Conservancy: US-based ocean conservation nonprofit with similar marine protected area advocacy to CPAWS's Ocean program. Comparable in mission but not a direct competitor in Canadian donor or policy markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cpaws
• Facebookfacebook.com/cpaws
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cpaws-ov
• Instagraminstagram.com/cpaws_national

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CPAWS · SNAP Canada