Media Release – Urgent Call to Australia’s Philanthropic Sector
Wednesday 27th October 2010
Australia’s environment is in desperate need of additional private funding according to the latest figures on
philanthropic funding released today by leading scientist and 2007 Australian of the Year, Professor Tim
Flannery.
Speaking at the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network’s (AEGN) annual conference today, Professor
Flannery said, “While we have several wonderful philanthropic leaders who give generously to the
environment, we need more.”
The latest figures compiled by AEGN show that only 7% of philanthropic funding went to projects that
benefited the environment.¹
“The surveyed Australian philanthropic funds were very generous overall, giving away a total of over $260
million but only around $18 million went to environmental issues,” says Amanda Martin, Executive Officer of
the AEGN.
“Those who have led the philanthropic sector in environmental funding are making a vital difference but there
is so much more that could be done with additional funding,” said Professor Flannery.
“The good news is that now is the time to make a difference to Australia’s environment. The science is behind
us, we know what we need to do. We just need the social and political will to achieve it and philanthropic
giving is one of the best ways to drive change. We have a unique window of opportunity in the next decade to
reverse the decline,” Professor Flannery added.
The AEGN says there are many examples of how philanthropic funds have made an enormous difference to the
health of our environment and has called on the philanthropic community to respond to Professor Flannery’s
plea for a greater commitment to environmental funding.
Information on supporting the environment through private funding is available on www.aegn.org.au.
(ENDS)
Tim Flannery will speak at the AEGN Annual Conference today. Australian Gardens, Cranbourne Melway Ref:
133 K10 at 2.15 – 3.30pm.
1
Survey of 56 philanthropic funds that are members of either Philanthropy Australia or AEGN.
Examples of funds that have made a significant difference to Australia’s environment
1.
The Purves Environmental Fund is a Sydney-based trust established in August 2004 by Robert Purves AM,
a businessman who is committed to making an impact for a better environment. The Fund has a Board of
four members and employs a part-time researcher. Its main focus is climate change, land and water and it
funds education and capacity building. Robert Purves made a one-off contribution of $10M to the Purves
Private Fund which is the main contributor to the environmental fund. In 2008-09, the fund made
donations to other organisations totalling over $1.6M and funded projects ranging from $5,000 to
$800,000.
Examples of funding in land and water – the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists which, among
other things, provides scholarships to post graduate students aiming to bridge the gap between science
and public policy. Students are given access to Master Classes and mentoring by some of Australia's best
scientists. WGCS has also published papers such as Optimising Carbon in the Australian Landscape, Can we
secure our food whilst maintaining our environment? and Sustainable Diversions in the Murray-Darling Basin -
An analysis of the options for achieving a sustainable diversion limit in the Murray-Darling Basin.
Spokesperson – Robert Purves AM
2.
The Mullum Trust was set up as a trust in the early 1990s. There are five people on the Mullum Board and
while they don't employ staff, Mullum is administered by Deloitte on a pro-bono basis. The Mullum Trust
has a corpus of $1 M and focuses on using strategic approaches to address root causes to environmental
degradation. This includes funding education, advocacy and capacity building and donations range from
$1,500 to $15,000.
Examples of funding in land and water – Forest Stewardship Council to develop its certification standard
for Australian forests, Campaign to stop Queensland land clearing, the set up of the Invasive Species
Council.
Spokesperson – Sue Mathews
3.
Melliodora Fund - Ann and Bruce McGregor have been private donors for many years. They set up the
Melliodora sub-fund with Melbourne Community Foundation (MCF) in 2008. They intend to continue
building up the corpus over time. Grants focus on biodiversity, conservation land management, climate
change, rivers and wetlands. They fund projects across Australia and include advocacy campaigns, research
projects and publications, land acquisition for conservation, legal cases, events and conferences. Projects
funded generally range from $5,000 to $30,000.
Examples of funding in land and water – Wetland and Water policy at the Australian Conservation
Foundation and Plantations Study in 1995.
Spokespeople – Ann and Bruce McGregor
4.
The Reichstein Foundation – Reichstein Foundation was established by Lance Reichstein in 1970. Lance
Reichstein was an engineer, industrialist, entrepreneur, civic leader and quiet philanthropist. Upon Lance’s
death in 1979, the Foundation inherited a significant proportion of his wealth. Jill Reichstein, Lance’s
daughter, is Chair of the Foundation and has reshaped the Foundation from a traditional supporter of
established charities, to one actively involved in community development and social and environmental
change philanthropy.
The Foundation’s Board of Trustees is made up of community activists and family members, and its
Executive Officer has a strong background in community development. The Foundation makes donations
to projects ranging from $2,000 to $50,000.
Examples of funding in land and water – Yorta Yorta and Friends of the Earth to work together toward
better protection of the largest river red gum forest in the world - the Barmah-Millewa Forest.
Spokesperson – Jill Reichstein OAM
____________________________________________________________________________________________
To speak to:
Tim Flannery please call Jill Calder: 0419 508 597
Amanda Martin, Executive Officer, AEGN:
0401 212 024
To speak to:
Robert Purves, Sue Mathews, Ann and Bruce McGregor or Jill Reichstein, please call Jill Calder on 0419
508 597
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