Georgian Bay Land Trust

About Georgian Bay Land Trust:

Founded in 1990 as Georgian Bay Trust Foundation, Georgian Bay Land Trust (GBLT) cares for the land and water of Georgian Bay and North Channel, which is a UNESCO-designated World Biosphere Reserve. Its mission is to preserve the unique archipelago and adjacent water bodies that lie along the eastern shore of Georgian Bay and North Channel that are of ecological, geological and historical importance, and to promote the appreciation of the area.  GBLT states that urbanization of Georgian Bay, dredging, climate change and municipal pipeline development put stress on the area’s land and water systems, and destroy critical habitats for wildlife. The charity works to protect and preserve the land to ensure its ecosystems remain productive and unspoiled for future generations to enjoy. Georgian Bay Land Trust has three major programs: land protection, land stewardship, and education & outreach. Ci notes that total program costs in the financial analysis include donated land, which comprised 89% of Ci-reported program costs in F2016.  

Land protection accounted for $198k of program costs excluding donated land in F2016. Georgian Bay Land Trust protects land that UNESCO designates as the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve. The charity classifies its protected properties into three categories based on visiting access – natural areas, which people can access; preserves, which people must schedule with GBLT to visit; and critical reserves, which people cannot visit due to ecosystem fragility. In its most recent 2015 annual report, the charity reports protecting four new properties, totaling 24.3 acres of newly-protected land. GBLT protects 14 different vegetation communities and habitat types through this new land. The charity protects 44 properties across 1,576 acres of land in total, and has 15 properties currently in the securement process. To date, GBLT has identified five species-at-risk on its protected properties.

Land stewardship made up $85k of program costs in F2016. GBLT’s stewards monitor the charity’s properties and take inventories and assessments of the land. In 2015, stewards removed 15 bags of invasive Phragmites from Sandy Island, and over 190 pounds of invasive Sedum acre from West Lookout and Little McCoy. The charity received 162 property report submissions and gained 10 new land stewards during the year. Stewards spotted over 1,200 visitors on the GBLT-protected properties in 2015.

Georgian Bay Land Trust spent $78k on education & outreach programming in F2016. Its Conservation Quest program educates kids on the importance of preserving Georgian Bay through interactive stations, and had over 400 kids participate in 2015. In 2015 GBLT delivered 8 presentations to community groups, held 11 public summer events and ran 420 minutes of airtime on The Dock and The Moose FM radio stations to increase public awareness of the importance of protecting Georgian Bay land and water.

Financial Review:

Georgian Bay Land Trust is a small-cap charity with total cash donations and special events fundraising of $782k in F2016. Goods in kind revenue of $3.2m represent land donations. Administrative costs are 1% of revenues and fundraising costs are 12% of cash donations and special events fundraising. Per dollar donated to the charity, $0.88 goes towards its programs, which falls well within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. GBLT’s net funding reserves of $2.4m include a $95k stewardship endowment fund. Excluding endowed funds, the charity’s reserves can cover 65% of annual program costs.

This charity report is an update that is currently being reviewed by Georgian Bay Land Trust. Comments and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on June 19, 2017 by Katie Khodawandi.