Year in review
2016-2017 conservation successes
Goals and Outcomes
The Nature Conservancy of Canada's (NCC's) on-the-ground work is led by a team of conservation science professionals who work to identify, plan and execute the protection of the best of Canada's natural spaces and manage and restore them for the long term. This process ensures that our conservation actions (like buying land, removing invasive weeds or mapping the location of rare species) are efficient and effective.
Through our conservation process, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has identified close to 100 natural areas that are critical for the protection of Canada’s natural habitats and species. Our goal is to advance conservation within these priority areas, which guides our work from year to year.
Many of our 2016-2017 goals, as outlined below, are a continuation of previous years’ goals. This is because the “forever” part of our mission means we must plan for the long term. Our overall goals are made with a five-year planning cycle in mind.
Goal
Conserve habitat for at least 26% of COSEWIC-designated species at risk.
Outcome
Conserved habitat for 31% of COSEWIC-designated species at risk, exceeding our five-year target.
Goal
Invest $10.7 million in stewardship.
Outcome
$10 million invested in stewardship and the long-term management of our lands.
Goal
Conserve at least 90% of our new properties within NCC Natural Areas.
Outcome
Almost 100% (99.5%) of our new properties are within an NCC Natural Areas, demonstrating the effectiveness of our science planning process.
Goal
Diversify funding by growing our corporate partnership program.
Outcome
NCC has nearly 30 corporate partners and more than 500 corporate donors. We continue to grow these relationships while continuing to develop new corporate partnerships — spreading awareness of NCC’s mission through joint marketing programs.
Goal
Increase membership by 150 in our Nature Legacy Society — a group of individuals who contribute funds through estate planning.
Outcome
Exceeded goal by 5%.
Goal
Grow our supporter* base to 220,000 individuals.
Outcome
Our number of supporters grew from 200,000 to 209,000.
Goal
Secure 40,000 acres (16,187 hectares) for conservation.
Outcome
Achieved 55% of our target. Despite this, we actually closed a higher number of projects than expected. Several larger, complex projects did not close before fiscal year end, impacting the final acreage count. These projects are still underway (as a result, our financial statements show a large increase in deferred revenues for the past year).
Goal
Attract 3,000 participants to more than 230 Conservation Volunteers events.
Outcome
This past year, 2,472 volunteers helped NCC complete 224 stewardship projects, coast to coast. The program will build in 2017-18.
Goal
Hire 40 conservation interns to work on NCC conservation projects.
Goal
Maintain a five-year average overhead cost (fundraising, communications & administration) of no more than 20% of total expenditures.
Outcome
21% of revenue was spent on operating costs, based on a five-year average. This is slightly over target due to strategic investments in fundraising capacity.
Goal
Maintain fundraising costs to no more than 15% of revenue.
Outcome
Fundraising costs are just over 10% of revenue.
Goal
Build up an effective stewardship endowment fund, and raise sufficient in-year funds to cover stewardship requirements.
Outcome
Our stewardship endowments grew from $96 million to $116.3 million during the year. NCC is well on its way to achieving its five-year target.
Goal
Build on NCC’s positive reputation in Canada through an increase in earned media exposure.
Outcome
Experienced a significant 40% growth in earned media exposure year over year, beating targets.
Goal
NCC continues to be recognized as a Canadian leader in the conservation not-for-profit sector.
Outcome
Rated Canada’s leading environmental NGO by MoneySense Magazine for the seventh year in a row, and received a four-star rating from Charity Intelligence.
In addition, NCC’s president and CEO, John Lounds, was awarded the Museum of Nature’s 2016 Nature Inspiration Award.
*NCC defines a supporter as anyone who donates, volunteers or otherwise engages with the organization.