IMPACT AT SCALE
WE ARE MORE TOGETHER
$120 million pledged to date
Our members have contributed or pledged to stop land clearing, save the Great Barrier Reef, and protect our precious freshwater and sea life.
We are calling all donors to join our community of action now and pledge to increase their funding to protect the environment for you and your future generations to come.
OUR SHARED VISION
CREATING PATHWAYS FOR CHANGE
For over a decade we have been holding workshops with 62 of Australia’s leading environmental experts from academia, philanthropy and the community sector to identify four pathways for change, where focused and strategic funding can deliver real impact.
THE PATHWAYS FOR CHANGE ARE:
PATHWAY 01
OWNING THE NARRATIVE
Australians will act for the environment when passion meets motivation.
The myth that we must now choose between the economy and the environment is pervasive. Recognising the importance of changing the story, owning the narrative and reversing the inertia, philanthropy can support all aspects of effective communications including strategy development, story-telling, data collection and sharing.
PATHWAY 02
FROM GRASSROOTS TO THE TREETOPS
Now more than ever, Australia needs independent environmental organisations advocating to hold government and the corporate sector to account and to promote policies which drive sustainability.
With every $1 spent on advocacy resulting in $99 of government action and spending, environmental advocacy is a great investment of philanthropic funding.
PATHWAY 03
LIFTING UP DIVERSE VOICES
In every sector, we find people who care about the environment and every sector will benefit from the protection of the environmental systems that underpin life on earth.
By supporting this ecosystem of people and sectors speaking up for the environment, a societal response can be created. Philanthropy can encourage diverse voices through convening and resourcing alliances and networks, and amplifying the messages from different sectors including the health, agriculture, tourism, finance, faith, education and welfare sectors.
PATHWAY 04
WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE IMPACT AT SCALE
No single individual or organisation can reverse climate change or prevent mass extinctions. However, by working together we can create impact at scale.
Philanthropy can encourage organisations to collaborate rather than compete and can fund the often hidden backbone activities and skill development required for collaboration.
Around Australia, millions of people are doing their bit to care for all these things that inspire our love of country.
RESTORING NATURE
Millions of people are involved in planting trees, pulling weeds, watching birds and caring for nature.
BOOMING RENEWABLES
Australia’s renewables sector has doubled its output over the past 12 months, with more than $20B of projects now under construction.
SOLD ON SOLAR
Australians love their solar panels – we have the highest proportion of households with PV systems on their roof of any country in the world.
MANAGING THE LAND
Indigenous people own or manage more than 20% of Australia and their protected areas make up 45% of our national reserve system, employing more than 2,600 Indigenous rangers.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Fair trade, farmers markets, locally grown, organic farming and food miles are all part of how many of us now think about our food.
BANNING PLASTICS
Across Australia, communities are working to reduce plastic pollution by eradicating plastics from their homes and businesses and campaigning for a ban on plastic bags, bottles and packaging.
OUR CHALLENGE
“In 2016, environmental charities in Australia only received 2.3% of all charitable sector donations ($187 million) and we estimate that around $34m of this came from structured giving. Of total revenue for all charities including government grants and fees for service, the environment received just 0.59% or $729 million. Considering the scale and complexity of the environmental challenges we face, this is simply not enough.”
Keith Ince
Australia’s environment is in catastrophic decline and we are heading toward a tipping point. Humans are demanding too much of our land, water, air and oceans. Yet we know we have the power to reverse this decline.
THE MORRIS FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Morris Family Foundation has committed an extra $3.25M to the environment over five years.
“We’re increasing our funding because the issue is increasingly urgent,” Hayley Morris explains.
“The impacts of climate change are being felt, seen and experienced. They are impacting our businesses and employees. All funding priorities are important to us, but if we don’t sort out the environment, what’s the point?”
The Foundation supports advocacy, research and direct remediation, focusing on climate, food systems and reef/marine environments.
THE IAN POTTER FOUNDATION
In 2018 The Ian Potter Foundation became one of Australia’s leading environmental funders when it announced a $10M funding increase over three years to 2022.
“Our foundation seeks to lead by example, highlight the significance of the issue, be targeted in the areas we seek to fund and follow words with action and funding — and we invite others to join us,” says CEO, Craig Connelly.
The Foundation has partnered with The Myer Foundation and Sidney Myer Fund to initiate an Australian freshwater mapping study using a $500,000 up-front investment to determine where philanthropic funding can make the biggest impact.
Now The Ian Potter Foundation and our partner The Myer Foundation have jointly agreed to commit $10 million over 10 years to create a new independent water policy centre.
THE LENKO FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Lenko Family Foundation is a small, nimble foundation that devotes most of its giving to addressing climate change.
Given the urgency of the issue, Eytan and Debbie are committed to spending down their corpus within 5 -10 years.
“We only have a short window left to mitigate the worst effects of climate change,” Eytan says. “The idea of holding onto a corpus for the long term isn’t valid when faced with an existential crisis.”
The foundation complements its giving with in-kind support including business mentoring, strategic advice and assistance with proposals for further funding.
THE GOODMAN FOUNDATION
The Goodman Foundation has allocated $850,000 to help set up the Moreton Bay Foundation to “protect the Bay and give it a voice” say Meta and John Goodman.
“We decided to increase our funding about two years ago when we realised there was a lot of research being done about Moreton Bay but not much action coming out of it and nothing much was getting through to the general public or government,”
“For us, this isn’t about chaining ourselves to trees or being partisan – this is about broad collaboration.” the Goodmans say.
WE HAVE A VITAL ROLE
THE ROLE OF PHILANTHROPY
Philanthropic funds are incredibly important.
Philanthropy is not beholden to election cycles or shareholders. And with the ability to be nimble, flexible, innovative and independent, philanthropy in partnership with powerful and effective community and other non-government actors can hold the keys to achieving change and scaling up the right solutions.
Philanthropy empowers the community and its leaders and has a long track record of building capacity in movements, supporting advocacy to achieve major outcomes and ensuring impact for investment. Philanthropy plays a vital role in supporting the actions of ordinary Australians as they repair landscapes, advocate for better policies, make life changes, use their purchasing power, act together in communities and enjoy and protect nature.
BE PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER.
$50M IN 5 YEARS BY MAY 2022
“We call upon the philanthropic sector, and those who want to create a thriving future, to be bigger and bolder in their funding. We need to act now in a courageous and strategic way. We have what it takes to turn it around.”
Amanda Martin OAM, CEO AEGN