What We Do

Since its creation as a registered charity in 1965, the Cataraqui Conservation Foundation has raised funds through special events, annual fundraising programs (such as the ‘Partners in Education’ initiative), and by building relationships with corporate partners and like-minded organizations.

Thanks to the continued generosity and incalculable support of individuals, families, small and large businesses, other charitable organizations, these funds have been channeled to establish, build and reinforce Cataraqui Conservation’s popular and well-regarded curriculum-based education programs for students of all ages, as well as related wildlife and conservation education programming.

As well, resources generated by the Foundation have been focused on helping Cataraqui Conservation maintain, administer and improve its various properties. These include the 113-kilometre Cataraqui Trail, as well as Lemoine Point, Parrott’s Bay, Lyn Valley, Gould Lake, Little Cataraqui Creek, Marble Rock, Owl Woods Conservation Areas, and the Mac Johnson Wildlife Area. All of these properties are valued by their host communities not only for the abundant four-season recreational opportunities they offer, but also for the significant role they play in preserving environmentally significant/sensitive ecosystems and wildlife habitats.

An additional goal of the Cataraqui Conservation Foundation is to use its platform to continue to raise public awareness of the importance of environmental conservation in the era of rapid, human-made climate change.

Why We Do It

The Foundation generates financial and in-kind resources to help our partner Cataraqui Conservation continue to provide programs and services that help to preserve and enhance the natural environment of the Cataraqui Region for the benefit of all who live, work and play here.

Based on four key building blocks, the Foundation strives to maximize potential giving opportunities, continually seeks out new sources of financial support, and partnership arrangements. Each of these tenets builds upon and reinforces the work of the other.

Fundraising

It’s what we do, and who we are. In 1965, a group of dedicated, conservation-minded members of the Cataraqui Region created the Foundation as the de facto fundraising arm of the recently-constituted Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority (CRCA) – now known as Cataraqui Conservation. Over the years, as technology and lifestyles have changed and evolved, so have the creative ways the Foundation has sought support.

Today we are leveraging social media and the internet to create virtual fundraising events and programs, as well as continuing to utilize ‘old school,’ tried and true methods such as our annual Partners in Education mailer, special events, and in-person presentations to groups and corporations.

In ever-challenging times, the efforts of the Foundation are even more crucial to support the education, public programs and protected properties of Cataraqui Conservation today, and for future generations.

Flying the Flag

By utilizing modern internet and social media technology, as well as good old-fashioned mailers, meetings, events and good old-fashioned conservation, the Foundation works hard to trumpet its work, its goals and its achievements to all stakeholders, including the general public, the business community, municipal governments and allies within the environmental movement.

The more people know about the Foundation’s work, as well as that of our partner Cataraqui Conservation, the more they will come to understand the importance of that work and the pressing need for funds to help achieve those objectives.

Awareness leads to action – action that helps the environment and all the communities of the Cataraqui Region.

The Power of Partnerships

We are stronger together. This adage applies to many things in life, not least of which is the Foundation’s work in supporting the programs and services of our beneficiary partner – Cataraqui Conservation.

Relationship building, whether it be with individual donors, families, entire communities, allied organizations, other charitable foundations, government and corporations both large and small, is a fundamental task for the board and volunteers of the Cataraqui Conservation Foundation.

Building From Within

Sustainability as an organization is vital to the Foundation, as it is to any organization reliant on the dedication and efforts of community volunteers. In the post-COVID world, the need to recruit and retain future volunteers and board members is of paramount importance. Part of the efforts of the current board include fanning out within the communities that comprise the Cataraqui Region to recruit their own successors. Those with experience, expertise and energy in fundraising, administration, promotion and volunteer management are sought out, and brought in to continually strengthen the organization, with an eye both to present challenges, as well as those of the future.

If you are someone who seeks such a leadership role within a dynamic, community-based organization, which is devoted to the causes of environmentalism and conservation, contact us today.