We fund and grant innovative projects

We believe philanthropy has a crucial role to play in solidifying and bringing to scale the growing fields of responsible investing, social finance and impact investing. This is why we fund initiatives that are building a more just investment market and a more effective impact investment field.

These can include:

• initiatives that aim to educate investors, policymakers and foundations about the principles of sustainable finance, impact measurement and the value of catalytic capital;
• networks that allows industry collaborations to share lessons, best practices and influence markets and policymakers;
• innovative financial models and new financial instruments;
• incubators for promising initiatives that are not yet investment-ready.

$225,000

To create the Canada Climate Law Initiative (based at UBC) – a Knowledge Mobilization and Policy Hub that mobilizes directors and fiduciaries on climate governance, fiduciary obligation and disclosure of climate-related financial risk.

$200,000

To protect pensions and the climate by bringing together beneficiaries and pension funds to engage on the climate crisis.

$200,000 | Municipal Impact Investment Fund

To develop a new blended financial model with the cities of Barrie and Victoria. The MIIF will aim to attract private capital to invest in energy efficiency projects to decarbonize buildings in medium-size municipalities with the ultimate goal of reducing emissions through aggregated investment-ready projects.

$155,000

To advance conservation finance by mobilizing investors, financial institutions and leaders and by exploring specific mechanisms to support indigenous stewardship.

$150,000

To bring innovative climate smart / clean tech to scale by launching "Mission from MaRS: Climate Action", a technology adoption program that will identify Canadian cleantech ventures that can be rapidly adopted into large supply chains.

$150,000

To create the Sustainability Ecosystem at Concordia University – a Hub which provides sustainability (ESG) education to advance sustainable business practices, and the Hub which operates as secretariat for the Canadian Sustainability Ecosystem university network.

$120,000

To create a first-of-its-kind responsible investing dashboard for Canadian pension funds, providing a navigational tool that can help pension funds raise their environmental and equity ambitions to meet the opportunities of the future. This is a project of The Natural Step Canada and Smart Prosperity Institute in partnership with Corporate Knights.

$50,000

To advance responsible investing and sustainable finance in Canada by expanding the CERES initiative to Canada. CERES seeks the transition to a low-carbon economy in order to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

$50,000

To accelerate Canadian companies’ climate ambition and commitments to drive to net zero by launching a coordinated campaign by the Canadian financial sector. This is the Canadian equivalent of Climate Action 100+

$30,000

To launch a collaborative University Climate-Aligned Portfolio program for university endowments and pension plans that leverages their power as institutional investors to meaningfully address climate change-related risks.

We utilize PRIs as a tool in our impact-investment toolbox

Impact Investing is a strategy that the Trottier Family Foundation utilizes to more effectively integrate our financial assets with our goal of having an impact on fighting climate change.

Program-related investments (PRIs) are investments made to charities as well as for-profit enterprises to help fuel the growth of innovative organizations that advance social, economic, and environmental challenges. With those investments, we seek high-impact and high-need opportunities that are overlooked by the conventional market. PRIs are impact-driven and have a tolerance for below-market returns.

Deetken Impact Ilu Women’s Empowerment Fund

The Deetken Ilu Women’s Empowerment Fund is an impact bond that aims to advance gender equality in Latin America and the Caribbean and promote renewable energy. Deetken is committed to supporting women’s empowerment across all business activities, renewable energy, affordable housing and sustainable enterprise.

Raven Indigenous Outcomes Fund I

The Raven Indigenous Outcomes Fund is a $50 million initiative that uses outcomes-based financing to expand Indigenous-led solutions. Centered on community priorities, the Fund brings together investors, governments, and philanthropic partners to support projects that improve well-being, with repayment linked to independently verified results.

Amplifier Fund (Desjardins)

The Amplifier Fund is a $50 million initiative managed by Desjardins Capital to accelerate the development of environmentally responsible affordable housing across Quebec. Supported by six major Montreal-based foundations and the Government of Quebec, it provides patient capital to non-profits and co-ops for projects that combine accessibility, energy performance, and social innovation.

We align our investments with our mission through MRIs

Mission-related investments (MRIs) are investments made with the intent of achieving our climate-related objectives. While our goal is to drive demonstrable progress toward climate change mitigation, we expect MRIs to achieve market-rate financial returns and decarbonization. Our primary investment themes are:

• Greenhouse gas emissions mitigation investments (clean technology funds or climatetech, alternative technology, public or private equity green bonds, venture capital, etc.)
• Renewable and clean energy (solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, hydro and other renewables)
• Mobility (clean and accessible transportation systems)
• Built environment (energy efficiency, green building technology, green real estate, etc.)
• Industry and carbon (decarbonizing cement or steel, direct air capture, sustainable aviation, etc.)
• Sustainable land use (sustainable forestry, conservation finance)
• Sustainable freshwater management (water conservation, clean water technology)
• Sustainable food systems (sustainable agriculture and farmland, regenerative, food-related real assets)

One Planet Living Real Estate Fund

The One Planet Living Fund is a Canadian investment fund creating low-carbon, vibrant communities. Guided by the One Planet Living principles, it invests in sustainable, transit-oriented developments that combine eco-friendly construction, heritage preservation, and community engagement, delivering both social impact and attractive returns.

Cycle Capital Fund IV and V

Cycle Capital’s Fund IV & V are private equity clean tech funds that finances clean tech entrepreneurs and invests in the commercialization stage of clean technology ventures in Canada and the USA.

New Market Funds Rental Housing Fund II

New Market Funds Rental Housing Fund II invests in retrofit multi-family affordable housing throughout Canada. Fund II also retrofits buildings to reduce emissions by 20% and partners with existing non-profit and cooperative operators.

RE Royalties Green Bond (Direct)

RE Royalties Green bonds are used to finance investments made in renewable energy generation, energy efficiency management and sustainable infrastructure.

Active Impact Fund II

Active Impact Investments Fund II invests in early-stage climate tech ventures that are capable of achieving venture scale and profitability while solving the most urgent environmental issues (clean energy, transportation, infrastructure, food, circular economy).

Active Impact Fund III

Active Impact Investments Fund III builds on the success of their previous funds by investing in early-stage climate tech ventures capable of achieving venture-scale impact and profitability while tackling the world’s most urgent environmental challenges across clean energy, transportation, infrastructure, food systems, and the circular economy.

Amplify Capital

Amplify Capital is the evolution of the MaRS Catalyst Fund, investing in mission-driven, double-bottom-line disruptors in health, education and clean tech.

Eiffel Infrastructure

Eiffel Investment Group invests in companies and infrastructure through both debt and equity strategies, with a strong focus on sustainability and advancing the global energy transition.

TPG Rise Climate

TPG Rise Climate is an investment platform supporting companies and projects that reduce carbon emissions. It invests across private equity and infrastructure, targeting solutions in clean energy, sustainable materials, and technologies that remove or reduce greenhouse gases, helping to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.

MIROVA

Mirova Global Sustainable Equity Strategy is an actively managed global equity fund that aims to deliver strong risk-adjusted returns while advancing environmental and social sustainability. It invests in companies aligned with long-term global megatrends—such as environmental transition, demographic shifts, technology, and improved governance—that are expected to reshape economies over time. ESG risks and opportunities are integrated into every stage of the investment process.

Clear Skies Biodiversity Fund

The Clear Skies Biodiversity Fund invests in solutions that protect and restore natural ecosystems, promote biodiversity and mitigate environmental degradation. By strategically investing in companies that enable and deliver measurable biodiversity outcomes, this fund seeks to address nature loss and generate long-term returns for investors.

Clear Skies Climate Action Fund

The Clear Skies Climate Action Fund invests in innovative solutions that advance a net-zero and climate-resilient future. By supporting companies that integrate climate action into their core strategies, the Fund aims to cut emissions, strengthen climate adaptation, and improve livelihoods through sustainable growth and job creation worldwide.

Alpha Fixe

AlphaFixe Capital is a Canadian fixed income investment manager with a strong commitment to responsible investing, integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors to create long-term value and promote a more sustainable, equitable economy.

Realize Capital Partners Fund I

Realize Capital Fund I is a Canadian impact investment fund managed by Realize Capital Partners, a joint venture between Rally Assets and Relay Ventures. Backed by the Government of Canada’s Social Finance Fund, it blends private and public capital to generate both competitive financial returns and measurable social and environmental impact. The fund invests across private equity, private debt, and real assets, with a focus on advancing inclusive growth and sustainability across Canada.

MKB Fund III

MKB Fund III is the latest climate-focused private equity fund managed by MKB Equity Partners Inc. It is a growth-equity cleantech fund investing in North American companies that are commercializing emission-reduction technologies. It is targeting growth-stage businesses in sectors like clean energy, mobility, the built environment, and industrials.

Fonds d'economie circulaire

The Circular Economy Fund, Canada’s first dedicated circular economy investment fund, supports startups across Quebec. It accelerates the ecological transition by reducing waste, promoting recovery, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions, while fostering innovation and collaboration between emerging and established companies to scale circular economy solutions.

We use our assets to catalyze impact

ESG integration is essentially "do no harm". We choose asset managers who explicitly embed ESG issues into traditional financial analysis. ESG integration means that the portfolio manager combines environmental, social and governance data together with traditional financial metrics when assessing a company’s value. For all our asset classes, we use negative screens, we measure our total carbon footprint and we have an active ownership strategy.

a) DIVESTMENT

Since 2015, we have only hired investment managers that adopt and apply negative screening - this means excluding companies from our portfolio that involve fossil fuel companies (coal, oil and gas).

b) TOTAL CARBON FOOTPRINT

We also attempt to calculate the carbon intensity of our portfolio (tCo2 / $1M). In other words, we strive to measure our portfolio's exposure to carbon emissions and climate risk and try to best calculate our footprint, despite inconsistencies in methodology. In 2019, the Foundation's total carbon footprint was estimated to be approximately 65% lower in emissions than MSCI’s benchmarks. We remain committed to improve these numbers.

c) PROXY VOTING AND SHAREHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

In 2020, we committed to better understand how our investment managers were exercising the Foundation’s shareholder votes to ensure they are cast consistently with our principles, investment policy and mission. We also actively participate in SHARE’s shareholder engagement program to help improve environmental, social and governance practices of specific companies that we own shares in. We anticipate becoming more active shareholders in the years to come.

Our asset managers