Nova Scotia Nature Trust is a 5-star charity. The charity is financially transparent and has a good results reporting grade. Excluding donor-endowed funds, its current funding reserves can cover annual program costs for 1.3 years. 

Founded in 1994, Nova Scotia Nature Trust (NSNT) works to conserve natural land across Nova Scotia, with a special focus on coastal habitats and old forests. The charity states that natural areas are particularly at risk in Nova Scotia, where 70% of land and 85% of the coastline is privately-owned. Compared to the rest of Canada, where 90% of land is held publicly, NSNT states that Nova Scotia has the highest rates of private land ownership. 

A Charity Intelligence 2023 Top 100 Rated Charity

Nova Scotia Nature Trust runs three main programs: Land Conservation, Education and Outreach, and Land Stewardship. 

Land Conservation represented 85% of program spending in F2021. NSNT protects land in one of three ways. It offers Stewardship Agreements, which are informal arrangements that allow landowners to retain ownership while helping NSNT monitor their land. Nova Scotia Nature Trust also signs legal Conservation Agreements, which retain private ownership but grant more extensive rights and land access to the charity. Finally, NSNT offers Land Acquisition options that transfer land to the charity through donations, bequests, or sales. As of F2021, the charity reports that it now holds 120 conservation lands, spanning 18,267 acres.  

Education and Outreach programs were 8% of program spending in F2021. These programs include educational resources and opportunities for community members to visit and explore conserved lands. NSNT runs campaigns to educate Nova Scotians on the importance of stewardship and conserving the province’s natural legacy. In F2021, NSNT completed a coastal island “prioritization toolkit” to help support decision-making related to coastal island conservation.  

Land Stewardship made up the remaining 7% of program spending. NSNT relies on volunteers and conservation partners to preserve its land. As of F2021, 97 Nova Scotian landowners and families have helped to protect land with NSNT. 

Nova Scotia Nature Trust received $4.3m in donations and special events revenue in F2022. It received $693k in donated land, representing 13% of revenues. The charity’s audited financial statements do not disclose separate administrative or fundraising costs, and its most recent T3010 filing with the CRA is from F2021. Combined overhead costs are 8% of revenues (less investment income). For every dollar donated to the charity, 92 cents go to the cause. This falls within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.  

Nova Scotia Nature Trust has $20.0m in total fundraising reserves, including $15.7m in donor-endowed funds. Excluding donor-endowed funds, the charity can cover annual program costs for 1.3 years 

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Nova Scotia Nature Trust for review. Comments and edits may be forthcoming.  

Updated on July 29, 2022 by Emma Saganowich.