Conservation education at a young age plays a critical role in influencing lifelong attitudes towards the environment. But simply equipping children with knowledge isn’t enough.  To create long term behavioral change, children must be empowered to act on that knowledge. Supporting the next generation of conservationists is critical to the long-tern sustainability of our natural world.

Our work in this area is dedicated exclusively to Earth Rangers. Earth Rangers is the kids’ conservation organization, committed to instilling environmental knowledge and the confidence to take action in every child in Canada. They do this through a suite of programming that children can participate in at school, at home, and in their communities.

Founded as a small community organization in 2004, Earth Rangers has grown to be the largest youth environmental organization globally. Their members take action year-round to reduce waste and energy use, raise awareness and funds for at-risk species and habitats, and improve the ecological integrity of their homes, schools, and communities.

Protecting and restoring natural habitats is essential for safeguarding biodiversity, combating climate change, and ensuring communities can enjoy nature.

The Schad Foundation supports measurable progress toward new terrestrial protected areas in Canada, with our work currently focused exclusively on the Ontario Conservation Accelerator. Through this initiative, we collaborate with community, industry, Indigenous, and government partners to advance locally grounded, high-impact conservation projects.

We know that too many Canadians fail to access the nutrition they need to support their health and well-being. Poor diet is one of the leading causes of premature death in Canada. Childhood obesity has nearly tripled over the past three decades, and far too many children grow up in food-insecure households.

Against this backdrop, The Schad Foundation invests in programs and initiatives that advance equitable access to health-promoting food. We have a strategic focus on student nutrition, recognizing that access to nutritious meals support children’s learning, health, and overall well-being. Our granting has a geographic preference for pan-Canadian initiatives and projects in Ontario, where we can leverage our knowledge, networks, and impact most effectively.

Beyond youth environmental education, terrestrial conservation, and access to nutrition, we provide grants to qualified donees conducting work in the fields of species protection, climate change, naturopathic medicine, and other charitable purposes.