About
Our Mission
To raise funds for environmental solutions, for community engagement, and for Indigenous reconciliation.
Charitable Registration Number: 80335 5692 RR 0001
Our Story
Community leaders across Canada are creating innovative solutions to important environmental issues.
But few people hear their stories.
At Small Change Fund, we use our crowdfunding platform to provide support to raise the funds needed to create real tangible impacts.
Using the power of storytelling, we help community leaders share their stories to engage a wide audience of supporters.
Since our founding in 2008, the Small Change Fund has worked with over 170 community groups to support 205 projects.
We have connected these groups with more than 1,300 donors, including matched funds from corporate and foundation partners, raising some $562,000.
Small Change Fund believes in people. We believe people know how to figure out and fix the problems in their communities, their cities, their countries. We believe people can make change without long studies, thick reports, and big money. We believe people want to help each other.
Our Team
BurkhardMausberg
Burkhard Mausberg was the founding CEO of the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation and the Greenbelt Fund for twelve years, making the Greenbelt the most popular and successful environmental initiative in its time.
A leader in Ontario’s environmental/food sector, Mausberg has worked for non-profit groups for three decades. Before joining the Greenbelt Foundation, he directed the programs of the Ivey Foundation.
Mausberg was also CEO of several environmental organizations, such as Environmental Defence and Great Lakes United, which he transformed into essential forces for change. Mausberg has served on NGO boards, on the Boards of Government agencies/commissions, and mentors young talent to become skillful leaders in their field.
He writes extensively on vital issues in diverse settings, and in 2017 published the critically acclaimed book Ontario’s Greenbelt: Protecting and Cultivating a Great Ontario Treasure (Barlow Books).
Mausberg studied environmental science at the University of Waterloo and the University of Toronto, where he also taught for eight years. He lives in Toronto with his daughters.
Prior to joining the Small Change Fund in March of 2019, Franz was the Executive Director of the Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) for eleven years. Under his leadership, TEA succeeded in getting key environmental policies adopted at City Hall, including a new climate action plan and a zero waste plan. Franz expanded TEA’s community engagement activities in all areas of the city, as well as enlisted many non-environmental community partners.
He served as Chair of the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance for four years and helped the Alliance build vast community support for the Greenbelt.
Prior to working at TEA, Franz was the Environmental Advisor to City Councillor Jack Layton and oversaw Jack’s civil society engagement activities in Ottawa.
He has taught numerous environmental policies courses at the University of Toronto and is regularly asked to deliver lectures and talks across Ontario. Franz has a PhD in Political Science at York University, enjoys science fiction and wood working, and lives in Toronto.
Brooklyn joined Small Change Fund in March 2019.
With a long-lived passion for all things IT and a background in building custom computer systems, she graduated from the Computer Programmer Analyst program at Durham College where she studied for 3 years to learn the inner workings of computers to compliment her hardware abilities.
She developed a strong interest in mobile and web application development, particularly in how to use it to better her community and the world.
Hailing from Oshawa where she lives with her wife and children, she’s proud to offer new perspectives and skills to help Small Change Fund crowdsource big change.
Maria completed her degree in Environment and Urban Sustainability at Ryerson University where she learned and became passionate about the environmental challenges faced by societies on a global scale.
After graduating Maria began teaching environmental studies at an elementary school. She discovered her passion for educating younger generations on the stark realities of climate change and encouraging them to come up with unique solutions to the climate crisis.
Maria is always looking for opportunities to broaden her understanding of environmental issues and apply this knowledge in practical ways. She has joined the Small Change Fund team as a Program Assistant to further pursue her interests.
Maria lives in Pickering, enjoys cooking, loves watching movies, and is excited to see what adventures lie in store for her.
Hailing from Ethiopia, Naomi completed a bachelor’s Degree in London, England before moving to the U.S. to enroll in a Masters of Science Degree at the University of Denver. She is interested in linking international development issues with environmental ones. She has worked for The Food and Agriculture Organization and People to People International and now helps the Small Change Fund with research and writing.
