A Message of Thanks to Burkhard Mausberg
Many of you are aware that Burkhard Mausberg will be leaving Small Change Fund next spring. After eight impactful years as President, Burkhard has chosen to take a much-deserved period of rest and renewal beginning in March 2026. We fully support his decision and wish him all the very best in this next chapter.
Burkhard has been integral to the success and growth of Small Change Fund. Building on the organization’s early spirit of innovation and start-up energy since our founding in 2008, he arrived in 2017 with the focus, structure, and resources needed to unlock this organization’s full potential to respond to community needs. Thanks to his vision and your support, we now partner in over 100 compelling projects and have grown revenue 80-fold.
We are incredibly grateful for Burkhard’s dedication, passion, and tireless efforts. His vision has been a driving force behind the emergence of Small Change Fund as an effective force for people and the environment, and his impact will be felt for years to come.
Burkhard will continue to support Small Change Fund during the transition to new leadership, helping to ensure a smooth and seamless handover. We are fortunate to have a strong, experienced, supportive, and highly collaborative team who will carry forward our mission with confidence and energy. The Board looks forward to continuing to support them, and working with you, as our organization continues to deepen our impact.
Mary McGrath
Co-Founder and Board Chair
We are looking for an inspiring new leader for Small Change Fund! We welcome your applications and invite you to share this opportunity in your networks.
Making a Difference
Our Operations Manager Abigail Acedera recently visited family in the Philippines, though her trip was anything but restful. During Abigail’s visit, two typhoons caused immense suffering and left many without basic necessities, particularly those who were already most vulnerable. In this time of need, Abigail rose to the occasion by fundraising and distributing solar lights, water and food. We are so glad that Abigail and her family remained safe and want to give a big shoutout to Abigail for her generous and kind spirit.
Bring Your Change Here
This giving season, your gift directly to Small Change Fund will energize over 100 projects to reach their goals. Our dedicated staff respond to and support our partners, whose work on the ground is making BIG change, by providing fundraising, human resources, IT, accounting, communications assistance, strategy, planning – and sometimes just a listening ear.
Your donation makes change happen. You can give online, by cheque or EFT, or perhaps through a gift of securities or other avenue. Contact Kim if you would like to discuss donation options: kim@smallchangefund.ca. Thank you!
A New Age for the Youth Climate Corps
Imagine a Canada with good, green jobs for all youth who want them. That’s the vision of the Youth Climate Corps (YCC), and what we and our partners at Climate Emergency Unit (CEU) have spent years pushing for. Budget 2025 will kickstart this dream with an investment of $40 million over two years. As CEU’s Seth Klein and Bushra Asghar expressed to The Energy Mix, this is an opportunity to “get our foot in the door to prove the YCC’s worth.” Small Change Fund is proud to support and host the YCC. Stay tuned for more exciting updates on this remarkable initiative.
A Cause to Pause
North Dumfries Township bears the unfortunate distinction of having one of the largest percentages of land under aggregate mining in Ontario. Another blow has fallen as the recent Edworthy West Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) appeal concluded with a settlement between the township and Cambridge Aggregates Inc. – another “win” for the powerful aggregate industry. However, our partners at North Dumfries Conservation Alliance remain undeterred. The reports prepared for the OLT will now serve as references throughout the revision of the Official Plan Policies, an opportunity to increase protections for this sensitive ecological area. You can learn more and support a sustainable future for North Dumfries here.
Save Lemoine Point Farm: Conserving the Land for Future Generations
We are working with Save Lemoine Point Farm Inc. to secure permanent protection for this 82-acre site in Kingston, ON. Along with agricultural lands, the farm features a kilometre of shoreline and is book-ended by two protected properties. Connecting these lands is critical for local biodiversity, including the twenty-three species of concern that have been identified in the area. Click here to learn more about how you can help preserve this priceless property.
Small News Bites
- In an ever-warming climate, Artificial Intelligence continues to be a hot topic. Small Change Fund President, Burkhard Mausberg, and Director of Digital Strategy, Shay Kennedy, explore the environmental impact of AI in The State of AI Ethics: Volume 7.
- The Ontario Land Tribunal trial to save the Historic Ball’s Bridge and ecologically significant Little Lakes area from an open-pit mine resumes December 1. Check out “The Road— A Song for the Place We’re Fighting For” to witness the majesty of this place for yourself.
- Late last month, our partners at The Sustainability Project hosted the fourth annual Youth Climate Action Conference. You can support the projects incubated at this conference by donating here.
Happy almost-December – we can’t believe it either!
The Small Change Fund team
P.S. Your donation directly to Small Change Fund allows us to keep improving services and supports to help more grassroots projects succeed nationwide. Thank you for helping make change!
