Invasive Species Action Fund

The following organizations and landowners located in Ontario are eligible:

• Non-government organizations and charities
• Conservation Authorities
• Land Trusts
• Municipal and local governments
• Universities, colleges, and schools
• Indigenous Communities/Organizations
• Indigenous Governance
• Conservation Authorities
• Land Trusts
• Landowners (only where projects align with collaborative ongoing efforts on public lands)

Ineligible Applicants 

• Federal government departments and agencies
• Provincial government ministries
• Private landowners whose properties are for personal use only, where the work will not benefit the general public, are ineligible. However, in exceptional cases, private lands directly adjacent to public property with an approved public invasive species management plan may be considered as part of an application from an eligible applicant.

• Salary costs directly related to the project
• Contractor costs directly associated with the project
• Purchase and rental of equipment, supplies and materials directly related to the project
• Administration costs not exceeding 10% of ISAF contribution to a project
• Convening multi-partner collaborations on invasive species management to address landscape-level prevention and management work
• Prevention, control and management plans for invasive species
• Training youth and youth engagement activities
• Costs associated with training and/or licensing of current employees to increase capacity for invasive species removal
• Communications costs (signage, advertising)

Ineligible Costs & Activities 

ISAF does not fund: 

• Salary costs for full or part-time municipal employees that would continue to be employed without ISAF funding. However, ISAF funding can be used to support new positions or contract extensions that are solely intended to meet ISAF project outcomes.
• Projects with a primary focus on invasive species education and outreach.
• Projects that focus on invasive Phragmites.  Please apply to Ontario Phragmites Action program’s Invasive Phragmites Control Fund for these projects.   We expect to share Information on future cycles of the Invasive Phragmites Control Fund shortly. For additional information please refer to the Ontario Phragmites Action website for updates! 
• Projects that are undertaken exclusively on property that is privately owned for personal use.
• Land securement.
• Capital equipment purchases exceeding 20% of the total ISAF request.
  • Should your project include a capital expenditure that exceeds 20% of your overall request, please reach out to grants@invasivespeciescentre.ca to discuss prior to submitting your application. 

• Applicants proposing work on lands they do not own or manage must provide written confirmation of support from the appropriate governing body or landholder:
  • For lands managed by municipalities, townships, conservation authorities, or private landholders, applicants must obtain written confirmation that the proposed work is supported and permitted. This must come from the relevant landowner or managing authority.
  • For work on Indigenous lands, applicants who are not recognized representatives of the relevant governance body (e.g. First Nation’s Land and Resources Office) must provide written confirmation of support from that body. This confirmation—submitted as an email or letter—must acknowledge the proposed work and provide permission to proceed. It may come from the Land and Resources Office, the appropriate governance body, or Chief and Council, depending on the First Nation’s preference.
• All invasive species prevention and control projects must demonstrate how their project will be using established Best Management Practices for their species of focus. Should a BMP not be available, the proponent must demonstrate how their proposed approach builds on existing knowledge for effective control
• Applicants requesting funding for staff-related costs are strongly encouraged to explore additional funding sources, such as the Canada Summer Jobs program, to help offset the total amount requested through ISAF.
• Applicants are required to obtain, and provide copies of all permits, licenses and authorizations prior to completing the proposed work. Furthermore, applicants are responsible for obtaining landowner permission to access and complete work on any private property. It is the responsibility of the applicant to understand the legal parameters required under each project and said responsibilities rest with the applicant, project partners, and/or contractors alone.
• Proposals require a formal matching of 1:1 in cash contributions or in-kind support (please see “Non-ISAF Contributions” section below for additional details
• Projects addressing federally regulated forest pests are strongly encouraged to secure additional funding that exceeds the 1:1 matching requirement.
• Projects that support positive outcomes in controlling multiple invasive species are encouraged
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit any invasive species distribution data collected under ISAF supported projects through EDDMapS and/or iNaturalist
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to describe how the project links and supports policies or governance direction of First Nations communities, municipal or other plans
• When an organization submits multiple proposals, reviewers will prioritize supporting the strongest projects from the widest range of applicants.
• Letters of Support are highly encouraged when submitting a project for ISAF consideration. Applications that include letters of support may receive additional points during the review and scoring process.

The 2026 Invasive Species Action Fund has received funding from the MNR to support projects in Ontario. The Fund strives to support a number of projects in three different streams with up to $3,500 for each successful applicant receiving a Microgrant, up to $15,000 for Accelerated Impact grants, and up to $50,000 for Transformative Action grants. Successful applicants will receive their award, as outlined in the above table, for activities to be completed by February 5, 2027.

Award recipients agree to provide project updates, stories, and photos to be used by the Invasive Species Centre to communicate project outcomes and raise awareness about invasive species in Ontario. Award recipients agree to report on specific key performance indicators that will be used to communicate project outcomes. Award recipients will also communicate project outcomes and raise awareness of invasive species stories when appropriate.

Applicants may also be asked to participate in an Invasive Species Centre-led event to share a short presentation or poster about the project and outcomes.