We recommend that all interested applicants contact the Access to Justice team before filling out an application form. If we determine that you meet the criteria and are eligible to apply for an EDRF grant, we will help you determine your funding stage and invite you to submit an application. We maintain a roster of lawyers willing to take on EDRF cases and can provide referrals upon request.
Stage 1 Grant – A smaller, one-time grant focused on legal advice and representation to take strategic action to address an important community-based environmental issue. This grant may also be used to obtain a legal opinion on whether a more in-depth legal challenge has the potential for success. Starting May 1, 2025, you may apply for up to $3,800 for a Stage 1 grant.
Stage 2 Grant – A larger grant for applicants with a demonstrated ability to use legal tools effectively as part of a broader campaign, and who are taking on a larger legal project (often a legal challenge or appeal). You may apply for up to $19,700 at a time. Grant recipients with the ability to run a broader community-based campaign, including raising funds towards a client contribution towards their legal fees, will be given priority. For more information on developing a campaign around your issue, check out this webinar.
We can provide funding up to a total of $50,000 to any one environmental case.
Please see the application form available for download at the bottom of this page in Microsoft Word format. This application form can be used for both Stage 1 and Stage 2 grant applications. The form is also available in the dyslexia-friendly Dyslexie font. For more information, please contact:
Email: legalaid@wcel.org
Phone: (604) 684-7378 ext. 229
Toll-free in BC: 1 (800) 330-9235 ext. 229
What we fund
Funds from the EDRF allow to individuals, community groups, non-profit organizations and First Nations to hire lawyers and experts at reduced rates and work collaboratively with them to address environmental concerns in negotiations, mediation, in court or before government tribunals.
EDRF funding can be used only to fund the fees and approved disbursements of lawyers and experts. The EDRF pays lawyers and experts at the median Legal Aid tariff rate at the time that a grant is approved. For grants approved after May 1, 2025, the fees of lawyers and experts will be paid at the rate of $135.46 per hour plus taxes. For full details, please refer to the application form below.
What the EDRF does not fund
EDRF funds cannot be used to pay for general operating expenses, non-legal campaign expenses, adverse cost awards, the purchase of land, or to defend against criminal charges.
Who can receive EDRF funding
Indigenous peoples and First Nations, non-Indigenous individuals, community groups and non-profit organizations are all eligible to receive funding from the EDRF. You do not have to apply as a registered charity or society.
As part of our understanding/commitment to environmental justice, we acknowledge that intersectional social identities such as race, gender, sexuality, disability, immigration status, income, rural location, and age all magnify the ways in which people experience environmental harms. Applications from members of communities who face systemic barriers to justice and environmental health are strongly encouraged.
When to apply to the EDRF
Applications are reviewed by the EDRF Management Committee on a periodic basis.
Our upcoming application deadlines are:
- June 4, 2025
- September 3, 2025
- November 12, 2025
- January 21, 2026
- March 25, 2026
Please contact us if you are facing urgent timelines. It may be possible for the EDRF to review your application on an emergency basis.
How should I submit my application?
Please download the application form at the bottom of this page and submit by email to legalaid@wcel.org. Please refer to the checklist on the application form to ensure your application is complete. If you have difficulties with technology and/or the written word, please contact us by phone at (604) 684-7378 ext. 229 or toll-free at 1-800-330-9235 ext. 229 so we can determine how best to support your application.
What support is available for the EDRF application process?
If you would like to apply to the EDRF but need help with your application, we are available to support you through the application process. Please contact our Access to Justice team if you would like support with developing ideas, writing your application, or if you have any questions.
We also encourage you to contact us at if you have a need for any assistance or disability accommodations throughout the application process.
For support with your application, please contact the Access to Justice team:
Email: legalaid@wcel.org
Phone: (604) 684-7378 ext. 229
Toll-free in BC: 1 (800) 330-9235 ext. 229
Our team is able to:
- Accept application forms and reports in alternative formats, including audio and video;
- Accept applications written by hand and photographed instead of Word document;
- Accept applications written in point form;
- Offer the form in accessible formats:
- Audio-recorded version of the questions;
- A copy of the application form in the dyslexia-friendly font Dyslexie Font is available on our website and by request;
- Provide assistance by discussing and helping to develop your case over the phone; and
- Incorporate additional support for translation services.
If you experience difficulty with technology and/or written words, please contact us by phone so we can determine how best to support your application.
New processes were implemented in 2021 to make our legal services more accessible to communities in BC who are disproportionately impacted by environmental issues, including racialized and Indigenous communities, youth, and low-income or marginalized communities. We continue to work to eliminate barriers that these communities may face when asserting their rights and protecting the environment. If you see an area where we can improve and make our legal services more accessible, please let us know how we can do better.
What is the application process? When will I hear back about my EDRF application?
- Reach out: Get in touch to learn if your environmental project is eligible for funding. We can make a referral to a lawyer if you need one.
- Apply: Our team is available to help develop your application. There are five set deadlines for application review annually (listed above).
- EDRF staff review your application: We may ask you for further information about your campaign or legal strategy.
- EDRF Management Committee: the Committee reviews your application and makes a decision to fund, decline, or defer your application.
- Funding decision: We will share the committee’s decision with you. This is usually three weeks after the application deadline.
Application Form
- EDRF Application (Microsoft Word)
- EDRF Application Dyslexie Font (Microsoft Word)
- EDRF Grant Budget Calculator (Microsoft Excel)
For answers to frequently asked questions about EDRF applications, please see our EDRF FAQ page.