Tired of sugary, plastic-filled fundraisers?
Grow forests instead.
Use Canada’s Forest Trust’s innovative Smart Forest™ Fundraising platform to raise funds for your school, charity, or project while leaving a lasting, positive impact on our planet.
Apply Online & Set Your Goals
Fundraise With Seedlings
Engage Your Community
Track Your Funds Raised
Watch Your Forests Grow
Inside a Smart Forest™ Fundraiser
- Healthy. Zero calories and carbon-free.
- Sustainable. No packaging or unused products.
- Safe, Secure and Easy. All transactions are securely online.
- Impactful. Supports the health of the planet and community.
- Empowering. Empowers action against climate change.
- Free. No upfront costs or pre-purchasing. Get started today!
I believe it is important for students to learn at a young age the significance of our collective responsibility to take care of Earth for our future generations.
– Principal Teralee Brunn, Sunnybrook Elementary School
Questions & Answers
How do Smart Forest™ Fundraisers work?
Smart Forest™ Fundraising is a sustainable, positive-impact alternative to sugary or plastic-filled fundraisers. Instead, you can grow forests and your carbon-zero climate impact every time you fundraise for your chosen causes.
How it works: Raise funds through the digital sale of tree seedlings! A portion of every seedling sale will be allocated to the initiatives of your choosing, and Canada’s Forest Trust will use the remainder to plant and protect Smart Forests™ across Canada on your behalf. You will be provided with a free digital fundraising platform to track seedling sales and the growth of your Smart Forest™.
The School Smart Forest™ program offers schools and students additional opportunities for ongoing engagement through expert speakers, learning modules, workshops, and hands-on programming with additional opportunities for leadership development, skill–building, networking, scholarships, internships and paid jobs. You can indicate your interest in these opportunities during the application process or reach out to [email protected] to learn more.
Is there a cost to start a Smart Forest™ Fundraiser?
No. There is no cost to the school, student, or organization to start a Smart Forest™ Fundraiser.
What is a Smart Forest™?
We call our forests Smart Forests™ because they:
- Sequester carbon
- Develop healthy and biodiverse ecosystems
- Create employment
- Connect Indigenous & non-indigenous youth
- Foster multi-generational environmental stewardship
- Ease climate anxiety
- Provide scholarships and internships for Canada’s youth
- Report on its impact
CFT takes a holistic approach to forestation that goes beyond the single act of planting a tree. We ensure the long-term health of our forests with certified monitoring and expert management that is backed by science and learned from Indigenous Knowledge Keepers. And we protect our forests forever and will inform you of the exact location of your seedlings/forest, the health of the land, the impact on biodiversity and so much more. This information is all provided through a digital impact dashboard.
Who will be recognized when a Smart Forest™ is planted?
Smart Forests™ will be planted using the seedlings contributed through fundraising efforts across Canada. Every Smart Forest™ that is planted using seedlings from your fundraiser is considered to be one of your forests and you will be listed and recognized.
Interested in visiting one of your forests? No problem. Contact a member of the CFT team at [email protected] to discuss visiting options for students, administration, students and donors!
Will we be planting the forests ourselves?
Canada’s Forest Trust takes care of all aspects of planting and managing forests in collaboration with our partners. If planting is something that excites you and your students, we have opportunities to get your hands dirty. There will be options for tree planting internships, learning pathways and on-site planting ceremonies for your school.
If you wish to learn more about these options, please submit an inquiry here or email [email protected]
How do you choose where to build a Smart Forest™?
CFT sources lands across Canada that are suitable for reforestation and will have maximum impact on the environment. Our forestry experts advise us on the right mix of species for the soil and climate of each forest location.
Prefer to speak to our team?
