Landowners can donate gifts of ecologically sensitive land to environmental charities approved by the Minister of the Environment, as well as to federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments. Collectively, these organizations are called recipients.

There are more than 163 eligible recipients across Canada, including land trusts and nature conservation groups. Other charities may request approval by writing to the Ecological Gifts Program National Secretariat and proving that they have registered charity status and that their purposes include "the conservation and protection of Canada's environmental heritage." For more information on how to become an approved environmental charity, read the relevant section in The Canadian Ecological Gifts Program Handbook 2005.

Recipients of ecogifts are responsible for maintaining the biodiversity and environmental heritage values of the property in perpetuity. They may also help in other ways - such as by providing an initial assessment of the property's ecological sensitivity, arranging for an appraisal of the ecogift's fair market value, and coordinating the necessary applications.