Nature Conservancy of Canada is a 4-star charity. It is financially transparent and has an A Results Reporting grade, which is above average. For every dollar donated, 59 cents are available to go to the cause, which is outside Ci's reasonable range. 

Founded in 1962, Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) works to protect natural areas, plants, and animals while finding solutions to biodiversity loss and climate change. The charity leads large-scale projects to permanently conserve land. NCC states that “since the onset of European settlement, the country has lost 70 per cent of Prairie wetlands, more than 80 per cent of Prairie grasslands, 80 per cent of Carolinian forest and over 80 per cent of wetlands in and around urban areas.”

In NCC’s strategic plan, it outlines multiple goals with the overarching target to double its impact by 2030. The charity aims to protect 500,000 hectares of prairie grasslands in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba by 2030. NCC is working to help achieve the global “30 x 30” goal, which is to protect 30% of the planet’s land, oceans, and freshwater by 2030.

In F2024, NCC spent $126.2m on its programs and grants.

In F2024, Nature Conservancy Canada conserved 16,000 hectares (ha) of land across 90 projects. The charity conserved 8,300 ha of forests, 2,600 ha of grasslands, 2,200 ha of lakes and wetlands, and 212 kilometres of rivers and shorelines. As of F2024, 256 species at risk are now protected on NCC lands, which is 36% of the 707 species at risk in Canada.  

Some of NCC's major conservation projects include partnering with Newfoundland and Labrador’s Stewardship Association of Municipalities to designate over 2,600 ha of public land as protected land, expanding the Mackie Ranch in Saskatchewan conservation project to 1,286 ha, and conserving 1,500 ha of wetlands at risk of being drained in the central Quebec region.

Since its founding, Nature Conservancy Canada has contributed to the conservation of over 15 million hectares of land. Of the 15 million ha conserved, 2 million ha NCC conserved directly with partners and 13 million ha were indirectly conserved due to its advocacy and influence. NCC manages 400,000 ha of the 2 million it has conserved.

Nature Conservancy Canada’s audited financial statements do not use activity-based costing, which is a best practice. Ci used the charity’s T3010 filing with the CRA to report government funding, international donations, fundraising costs, administrative costs, and program costs.

NCC received $54.5m in Canadian donations and $82.8m in government funding. The charity also received $15.6m in international donations and $5.8m in donated land. NCC spent $126.2m on its programs and grants, which is 57% of revenue (excluding donated goods). The charity recorded a surplus of $58.8m in F2024, which is 27% of revenue (excluding donated goods).

NCC spent $19.1m on fundraising, which is 32% of donations, and $17.6m on administration, which is 9% of revenue (excluding investment income). Total overhead spending is 41%. For every dollar donated to Nature Conservancy Canada, 59 cents are available to go to the cause, which is outside Ci’s reasonable range.  

NCC has $366.9m in reserve funds (cash and investments), of which, $157.5m are donor endowed. Excluding donor-endowed funds, the charity’s reserves can cover 1 year and 9 months of its annual program and grant costs. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.  

Nature Conservancy Canada uses external fundraisers. In F2024, NCC paid fundraisers $848k to collect $409k. It cost $2.10 to raise a dollar through external fundraisers in F2024. It is likely more cost efficient to donate directly to the charity.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Nature Conservancy Canada for review.

Updated on June 24, 2025 by Liam Chapleau.