FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 4, 2024
With its spin-off from the Ottawa Community Foundation now complete, the Ottawa Climate Action Fund (OCAF) is entering a dynamic new era. Building on the partnerships and strong track record of grants and investments established under founding Executive Director Steve Winkelman, a new senior management team will take OCAF to its next level of influence.
To date, OCAF has approved grants totalling $1.3 million, leveraging more than $4 million in public, private, and charitable funding, and hosted a successful climate-economy opportunities summit that looked at practical ways to deliver more affordable housing through a climate lens.
Now, the Fund has:
- Completed the process of establishing itself as an independent local charity;
- Launched the search for its next executive director.
Spin-Off from Ottawa Community Foundation
The Ottawa Climate Action Fund was initially incubated by the Ottawa Community Foundation. As intended, OCAF has now established itself as an independent charity. Achieving this goal is an important milestone in OCAF’s mission to drive Carbon Down, Community Up.
“We are immensely proud of what OCAF has accomplished to date and grateful to OCF for their steadfast support over the last few years,” said OCAF Executive Director Steve Winkelman. “Fully hatched, we are ready to leave the nest and fly solo as an independent charity. But we’re never alone. We’re excited about all the possible avenues for future collaboration with OCF as OCAF expands its role as a local partner, convener, and funder for climate action and solutions.”
“The Ottawa Climate Action Fund spinning off into an independent organization is a major step in our collective efforts towards accelerating climate action,” said OCF President and CEO Michael Maidment. “We congratulate OCAF’s team in driving local solutions, and we look forward to seeing an even greater impact moving forward.”
Executive Search Begins
OCAF is now launching the search for its next executive director, with Winkelman moving to Seattle with his family and transitioning out of the ED role in the spring.
“We’re so very grateful to Steve for the hard work, ceaseless dedication, and keen strategic insights he brought to OCAF,” said Board Co-Chair and social entrepreneur Tracey Clark. “He ably guided the organization through its early, formative years and leaves us with a solid platform for further growth.”
OCAF is also excited to welcome Aaron Thornell as Program and Operations Manager in January. He brings a depth of experience in sustainable housing and in renewable energy development to the team.
A Fast Start and a Strong Track Record
OCAF has already taken significant steps in its ambitious agenda to scale up local climate solutions that benefit the community as a whole. With the groundwork currently being laid on several major initiatives, the organization anticipates two significant program announcements in early 2025.
Key accomplishments to date include:
- Convened the Ottawa Climate-Economy Opportunities Summit in October 2024 that engaged businesses, financial institutions, public agencies, and the community sector in major initiatives to reduce climate pollution, increase the supply of affordable housing, and boost the local economy;
- Funded Future Homes Ottawa, an EnviroCentre project that engaged communities and households in deep energy retrofits and laid the groundwork for Ottawa’s first mass retrofit project in social housing;
- Enabled a local partner, Acorn Ottawa, to inform and empower low- and moderate-income renters on climate change, energy retrofits, and alternatives to renovictions;
- Co-created with EnviroCentre a local bike share report that pointed to an essential missing piece in the local transportation puzzle;
- Hosted the Ottawa Climate Equity Initiative, which brought together over a dozen local organizations from the climate and social inclusion communities for equitable climate action;
- Completed its first equity investment in Greensoil PropTech Ventures, an impact investment pioneer that drives innovation and sustainability to transform the built environment.
“It’s exciting to open a new chapter for OCAF,” said Board Co-Chair and community catalyst Rebecca Aird. “We’ll continue to bring the drive for innovation and action that OCAF has already demonstrated in our existing partnerships, and broaden into new collaborations. We’re excited to put our unique capabilities in service of the momentum behind climate solutions that build resilience and improve quality of life.”
For further information or inquiries, please contact:
Steve Winkelman
Executive Director
Ottawa Climate Action Fund
Phone: 613.237.6330
Email: swink@ottclimatefund.ca
https://ottclimatefund.ca/
About the Ottawa Climate Action Fund (OCAF): The Ottawa Climate Action Fund (OCAF) exists to catalyze and scale low-carbon solutions to their full potential in Ottawa. We align this work with community benefit, bringing low-carbon initiatives, investments, and people together to deliver tangible, lasting success.
About the Ottawa Community Foundation (OCF): The Ottawa Community Foundation is a registered charity and one of over 200 community foundations across Canada. Since 1987, they’ve pooled and invested donations from generous people, creating funds that have provided $200 million in grants to various charitable causes. By sharing strategic insights about community needs, OCF connects donors with the charities and causes they are passionate about. Together, we are building a strong and supportive city for everyone.