Sharing your experience, planning your next steps, aspiring to go to the next level.

By signing the Canadian Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change, you have committed to take action across seven pillars – 1. Education and Learning, 2. Commitment of Resources, 3. Integration, 4. Endowments and Assets, 5. Operations, 6. Influence and Advocacy, and 7. Transparency.  By completing this short report, you are already taking an action on #7! 

For each pillar in the Commitment, we ask that you briefly describe one to three tangible actions you have taken in the past year.  Please be as specific as you can and indicate, where possible, what the action was and the impact it had. Where appropriate, try to articulate any quantitative change in terms of percentage or proportion versus straight numbers (e.g., increased granting by 10% versus increased granting by $10,000). You can draw upon the recommended actions for each pillar in the implementation guide and/or add your own actions!

We understand and respect that everyone is at a different place in their journey and that you may have more actions in one pillar than in another (and some may have none). That is perfectly okay! Filling in this report is also meant to serve as a learning process for staff, board, and investment committees alike. We encourage you to use this tool to facilitate conversations within your organization and to take an approach that is as participatory as possible (ex. during Board and staff retreats or a professional development session). The reporting can help define your strategy/action plan and is not meant to be linear. The important thing is to reflect on your progress and trends and look to move things forward.

The implementation report has four sections. 
In the first section, we ask you to provide some background, in particular on who has been involved in filling the form, and to rate your progress to date.
In the second section, we ask you to do a deep-dive into each pillar and describe up to three tangible actions you have taken in the past reporting period.
The third section has two questions about supporting equity and Indigenous leadership in climate action.
The fourth section is made of questions that are open-ended to get your thoughts on programming and how we can build a stronger community of peer-learning and practice through knowledge mobilization.
About You

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* 1. What is the name of your organization?

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* 2. Who is filling out this report? Please provide your full name.

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* 3. What is your title at the organization?

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* 4. What is your email?

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* 5. Who was involved in filling out this report? (Check all that apply)

SECTION 1 - Background

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* 6. Please rate your level of climate engagement before becoming a climate pledge  signatory.

When thinking about your climate engagement, think about how often, and in which spaces, climate action is at the forefront of what you do.

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* 7. Please rate your level of climate engagement now that you are a climate pledge  signatory.

When thinking about your climate engagement, think about how often, and in which spaces, climate action is at the forefront of what you do.

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* 8. Please rate the degree to which signing the Canadian Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change has impacted your foundation and your awareness and action on climate change.

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* 9. Please rate the overall progress you feel you have made in the past year in implementing in the Canadian Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change

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* 10. Please rank each pillar in order of priority for your foundation in implementing the climate pledge.

SECTION 2 - Actions on Each Pillar

For each pillar in the Commitment, briefly describe one to three tangible actions you have taken in the past year.  Please be as specific as you can and indicate, where possible, what the action was, and the impact it had. Where appropriate, try to articulate any quantitative change in terms of percentage or proportion versus straight numbers (e.g., increased granting by 10% versus increased granting by $10,000). You can draw upon the examples provided in the implementation guide for each pillar and/or add your own.

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* 11. Pillar 1: Education

We will ensure that our boards, investment committees, staff, volunteers and stakeholders are informed about the systemic causes, impacts and solutions of climate change, and the implications for our work. In Canada, we respect that Indigenous wisdom, knowledge, and acts of reciprocity are essential to our learning journey and climate justice.

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* 12. Pillar 2: Resources

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, we will commit resources to accelerate work that addresses the root causes of climate change or adaptation to its impacts. If our governing document or other factors make it difficult to directly fund such work, we will find other ways to contribute, or consider how such barriers might be overcome. In Canada, the system in which we operate can make it prohibitive for groups closest to the work on the ground, often non-qualified donees, to obtain the resources they need. We will advocate for transformative change and identify ways to overcome philanthropic and systemic barriers. We will work to flow funding abundantly now, and over generations, to Indigenous and equity-seeking groups

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* 13. Pillar 3: Integration

Within the design and implementation of our programs, we will seek opportunities to contribute to a fair and lasting transition to a net zero world, and to support adaptation to climate change impacts, especially in the most affected communities. In Canada, we will work to equip grantees, applicants, Boards, and staff to consider the many ways in which climate change impacts and intersects with the priority issues and program areas in which we grant. We recognize the multifaceted climate solutions that are grounded in Indigenous wisdom, ecological science, and leadership.

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* 14. Pillar 4: Endowment and Assets

We will consider climate change in relation to the source and management of our operational and any endowed funds. We will seek to align our investment strategy and its implementation with a rapid and just transition to a net zero economy. In Canada, we will take action embedded in science and use our voice as holders of capital to help shift corporate and regulatory behavior. 

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* 15. Pillar 5: Operations

We will take ambitious action to minimize the climate impact of our own operations, which may include for example travel, buildings and procurement. In Canada, we will also encourage our grantees and peers to consider how their work impacts climate change

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* 16. Pillar 6: Influence and Advocacy


We will seek opportunities to work with others, to amplify the voices of frontline communities, and to encourage and support more ambitious action on climate change by our key stakeholders, partners and audiences; these may include businesses, local or national governments, multilateral organizations, donors and funders, individuals or civil society movements. In Canada, we know that philanthropic actors can influence and advocate to advance priorities within the bounds of their charitable status. As allies, we will work to support and uphold Indigenous rights as outlined in UNDRIP, reconciliation, and Indigenous initiatives that protect all living beings, land, water, and air.

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* 17. Pillar 7: Transparency

We will collect and publish information annually on the actions we have taken against the six pillars listed above to share our progress and identify areas for improvement. We will continue to develop our practice, to collaborate, and to learn from each other. In Canada, we will share information on our progress annually via the Canadian Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change reporting tools so that we can be transparent and held accountable by our peers, our partners and ultimately the public. We will aim to increase our ambition year-over-year with support from the Commitment team. We will seek guidance and heed wisdom from Indigenous and other equity seeking groups to ensure our actions are robust and impactful.

SECTION 3 - Supporting equity and indigenous leadership in climate action

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* 18. Please rate the amount of funding you have allocated to Indigenous-led organizations this past year (see The Circle’s I4DM for a definition of Indigenous-led).

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* 19. Please describe what actions have you taken to uplift support for Indigenous communities?

SECTION 4 - Feedback for programming

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* 20. Reflecting on the actions you’ve outlined above, are there one or two that you feel have been particularly important for your organization and engagement in addressing climate change.  Please describe.

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* 21. Describe some challenges that you faced as you began to take climate action?

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* 22. Can we follow up with you to learn more and possibly feature your example in a case study or story?

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* 23. Please provide any additional comments you might have regarding your experience with implementing the Canadian Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change thus far.

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* 24. Is there anything else the Climate Commitment Steering Committee could support you with?

THANK YOU FOR SHARING!

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