Nature Trust of British Columbia

500 - 888 Dunsmuir Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 3K4
CEO: Dr. Jasper Lament
Board Chair: Emily Griffiths-Hamilton

Charitable Reg. #:10808 9863 RR0001

STAR RATING

Ci's Star Rating is calculated based on the following independent metrics:

[Charity Rating: 3/5]

FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY

Audited financial statements available only upon request.

B+

RESULTS REPORTING

Grade based on the charity's public reporting of the work it does and the results it achieves.

n/r

DEMONSTRATED IMPACT

The demonstrated impact per dollar Ci calculates from available program information.

NEED FOR FUNDING

Charity's cash and investments (funding reserves) relative to how much it spends on programs in most recent year.

92%

CENTS TO THE CAUSE

For a dollar donated, after overhead costs of fundraising and admin/management (excluding surplus) 92 cents are available for programs.



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OVERVIEW

About Nature Trust of British Columbia:

Nature Trust of British Columbia is a 3-star charity. It has an average results reporting grade and it is not financially transparent. The charity's overhead costs are within Ci's reasonable range for overhead spending. 

Established in 1971, Nature Trust of British Columbia (Nature Trust) is the oldest and largest provincial land conservation charity in BC. It acquires ecologically significant land through purchases, donations, covenants, and leases. The charity then maintains or restores the acquired land to protect the natural diversity of wildlife and plants and their critical habitats. Nature Trust is a non-advocacy group that seeks a balance between sustaining the environment and sustaining the economy. Since 1971, Nature Trust has acquired more than 500 properties composing over 178,000 acres of vulnerable habitats. 

Nature Trust reports that British Columbia is the most biologically diverse province in Canada. It estimates there are more than 50,000 species in the province and some of the world’s largest populations of species are found in BC. Yet, 43% of BC species are on watch lists because of low or dwindling populations. Although only 6% of BC land is privately owned, there is a higher concentration of at-risk species in low elevation areas where most private land is located. Of the 3,808 native species in BC for which conservation status has been assessed, 233 species (6%) are of global conservation concern and 1,640 species (43%) are of provincial conservation concern. The charity recognizes biodiversity is not only important for a functional environment, but the economy relies on biodiversity as well since it provides renewable economic resources and ecosystem services. 

Nature Trust of British Columbia’s 2021 annual report was not available at the time of this update. Ci used the charity’s most recent 2020 annual report.  

In F2021, Nature Trust spent $12.3m (84% of program costs) on acquiring new conservation lands in BC. In F2020, the charity acquired five new properties which all provide a habitat for species at risk. The charity purchased 35 acres along the Salmon River and 963 acres in the Princton Grasslands. It also received three donated properties: Breton Island, Cowichan River, and Marsden Face.  

In F2021, Nature Trust spent $2.4m (16% of program costs) on land management. Nature Trust works in partnership with other conservation organizations and various levels of government to conserve functioning ecosystems and ecological processes. In F2020, the charity worked with First Nation partners and scientific and academic organizations to install monitoring equipment and collect data in 15 estuaries along the east coast of Vancouver Island. Each summer, Nature Trust hires students and youth to join its Conservation Youth Crews. The crews are based on Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, the Okanagan, and the Kootenays, and are supervised by regional Conservation Land Managers. 

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Results and Impact

In F2020, Nature Trust acquired the Princeton Grasslands which include important habitat for the Williamson’s Sapsucker, an endangered species with only 500 adult birds left in Canada.  

While Charity Intelligence highlights these key results, they may not be a complete representation of Nature Trust of British Columbia’s results. 

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Finances

Nature Trust of BC received donations of $23.1m in F2021 (124% increase from F2020). Nature Trust also received $2.6m in investment income in F2021, comprising 13% of total revenues. Charity Intelligence used the total operating expenses line reported in the charity’s audited financial statements for its total overhead costs. Fundraising and administrative costs are 8% of revenues (less investment income). For every dollar donated to the charity, 92 cents go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.  

Nature Trust has total funding reserves of $52.3m, including $5.3m of donor-endowed funds and a $10.7m donor-designated Land Management fund. Excluding donor-endowed funds and the Land Management fund, the charity can cover annual program costs for 2.6 years.  

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Nature Trust of British Columbia for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming. 

Updated on August 10, 2022 by Emma Saganowich.  

Financial Review


Financial Ratios

Fiscal year ending December
202120202019
Fundraising & admin costs as % of revenues 8.1%14.5%16.8%
Total overhead spending 8.1%14.5%16.8%
Program cost coverage (%) 260.8%778.6%428.7%

Summary Financial Statements

All figures in $000s
202120202019
Donations 23,07310,2888,877
Government funding 731900
Business activities (net) 585448451
Investment income 2,6343,2794,279
Total revenues 26,36514,20413,608
Program costs 14,6904,3485,890
Fundraising & administrative costs 1,9171,5801,568
Total spending 16,6075,9287,458
Cash flow from operations 9,7588,2766,150
Capital spending 82048
Funding reserves 52,27541,02133,656

Note: Ci reports on a cash basis and thus adjusted for deferred donations, affecting total revenues by $5.0m in F2021, $2.9m in F2020, and $1.7m in F2019. Ci included change in fair value of investments in investment income, affecting total revenues by $477k in F2021, $1.4m in F2020, and $2.9m in F2019. Ci included value of purchased land in program costs, increasing total expenses by $12.3m in F2021, $2.7m in F2020, and $4.3m in F2019. Amortization was allocated to program costs and overhead costs on a pro-rata basis. 

Salary Information

Full-time staff: 15

Avg. compensation: $110,405

Top 10 staff salary range:

$350k +
0
$300k - $350k
0
$250k - $300k
0
$200k - $250k
1
$160k - $200k
1
$120k - $160k
1
$80k - $120k
7
$40k - $80k
0
< $40k
0

Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2021

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Comments & Contact

Comments added by the Charity:

No comments have been added by the charity.

Charity Contact

Website: www.naturetrust.bc.ca
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 604-924-9771

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Charitable Registration Number: 80340 7956 RR0001