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Environmental groups, long at the bottom end of fundraising, say they are losing money as the recession takes over the economy.
Some leaders fear their issues will be ignored as the focus turns to jobs, while others say economic survival is tied to a green economy.
Like many, Ecojustice, a non-profit environmental law group, receives partial funding from philanthropic foundations. But executive director Devon Page says his regular contributors have told him they will give much less next year. “I got a letter from one saying they will not be granting at all.”
Ecojustice, with a $4 million budget, is already down $200,000 in donations over last year. Page fears that’s part of a wider trend that means environmental groups will not be able to retain his organization to fight lawbreakers or take action on issues. He worries the economic focus will simply drag the environment off the radar.
Rick Smith, of Environmental Defence, takes a vastly different view. While he expects a downturn in the usual year-end donations, he believes the saviour of the economy is, quite simply, the environment.
“On one hand I am concerned about potential declines in our revenue,” Smith said. “On the other, I really do think we may be on the verge of a complete redefinition of the environmental question in a very exciting way.
“We are already seeing opportunities to make inroads for economic recovery that would have been unthinkable six months ago,” he said, citing the province’s plan for the energy grid (which creates green jobs), investments in public transit (more jobs) and discussions on creating consumer products that are less toxic (more possible jobs).
Ontario Environment Minister John Gerretsen said environmental transformation is the “silver lining” of the downturn: “It has placed a greater emphasis on ensuring that the jobs of the future are all aligned with the green economy. In effect, thousands of jobs will be created from renewable energy projects alone,” he said. “It is an opportunity for us to retool the economy and put in greener initiatives.”
Nature Canada’s Ruth Catana said her group faces a 25 per cent decline in its $2.8 million budget. Usually, it gets up to 20 foundation gifts of stock at year-end. “We haven’t received one. That is a direct impact of the markets.”