New to green giving?
We’ll help you get started
Whether you would like to start funding environmental initiatives or want to grow and develop your existing giving, we are here to help. Over 300 foundations, family offices, high level individual donors and advisors take part in the network. Among our ranks are some of the most experienced and strategic philanthropists in the UK, providing advice and sharing knowledge on the most efficient and results-orientated approaches to tackling environmental issues.
Below we introduce key questions and topics to help your green giving, including how the environment links with your existing funding, what impact you could have and how EFN, our members and our partners can help you start or grow your environmental giving.
EFN is fully funded by our members and our support services are free.
Start giving now
We support individual donors, trusts, foundations, advisors and family offices to start or grow their environmental funding. We know that climate change and nature loss can seem overwhelming, but we are here to guide you through various ways to start or grow your giving and direct you to useful resources and helpful partners.
How environmental issues affect all giving
The environment links with all aspects of our lives – our health, well-being, fresh air, food, water, energy and economic prosperity. Almost any social cause you might care about, from poverty alleviation to human rights, is entwined with environmental issues. The climate crisis and nature loss are stress multipliers and exacerbate existing inequalities across our societies. If we are to tackle these challenges and ensure a healthy, fair future for this generation and the next, far more funding is needed for the environment and the multiple causes it intersects with.
The impact of environmental giving
We know that the urgency and scale of environmental challenges can seem overwhelming, but philanthropy has a vital role to play in solving them. Philanthropic funding is society’s most flexible capital that can be deployed quickly, take risks, and test out solutions. It’s exactly the sort of funding that is urgently needed in the face of environmental challenges.
Resources
Further reading for new funders
Environmental philanthropy
At NPC, we’re helping charities and funders step up their role in the transition to a post-carbon economy, working together across social and environmental areas. This guide is for anyone new to environmental philanthropy, and especially if you already fund social issues.
Increasing the effectiveness of environmental funder-fundraiser relationships
There is a serious shortfall in finance for the environment sector, which receives less than 9% of funding awarded by UK trusts and foundations. While one solution is to grow the available funding, another important strategy is to increase its effectiveness, ensuring maximum impact for every pound spent.
Climate philanthropy: a guide for action
A healthier climate future is possible—but science tells us we must move with urgency. Many climate solutions exist, and people around the world are working to discover and create new ones—but philanthropy is urgently needed to scale these efforts. Climate Lead’s Guide for Action provides a framework for getting started on climate philanthropy.
Where the Green Grants Went 9
In the ninth edition of our Where the Green Grants Went report series, we analyse over 6,555 grants awarded by UK trust, foundations and lottery sources to environmental causes from 2021/22. WTGGW9 includes a new section dedicated to exploring what effective philanthropy looks like and how it may be implemented by environmental funders.
Spotlight on climate funding strategies
Active Philanthropy’s “Spotlight on Climate Funding Strategies” provides an overview of ten different ways to engage in climate philanthropy.
Membership
Join EFN
Become an EFN member and join a diverse network of foundations, trusts, individual donors and advisors working to build a thriving and sustainable future. EFN membership is free and members benefit from funder-only events, spaces and opportunities – including our monthly newsletter.
Events
Join in and get involved
Anti-climate populism: what do we do?
This event will explore the rise of anti-climate discourse in UK politics and the deep and strategic challenges and questions it leaves the climate and environmental movement.
Tax for life: the time to reform tax is now
This event will explore the need to reform the tax system to serve life and hear about work happening on the ground from Tax Justice UK and the Economic Change Unit.
EFN Book club l Active Hope
EFN has a new book club! It’s open to everyone involved in EFN. To take part, read or listen to the book and join this event for a group discussion.
Climate Funders Group l The shifting frontline of climate activism
The right to protest is under threat. In this Climate Funders Group session, we’ll be hearing from two campaigners as they reflect on the current operating context of activism.
Why fund activism?
This event will explore what it means to be an activist today in times when activists are facing increasing repression and what difference funding makes.
How to partner with local authorities
This event will explore how philanthropic funding can bolster the effectiveness of climate action at a local government level.
Planet repairs and reparations
This event will explore reparatory and environmental justice, covering how it can lead to ecological and social healing and what role funders can play.
Stepping up: in conversation with Emma Pinchbeck
In this fourth event in the “Stepping Up” series, we’ll be speaking to Emma Pinchbeck, CEO of the Climate Change Committee.
Freshwater funders group l Freshwater fish
This informal gathering of our Freshwater Funders Group will explore the effectiveness and impact of freshwater fish conservation approaches.
Members’ lunch | The right to repair
The UK is the second highest producer of electrical waste per person. To date, legislation has been insufficient in tackling this challenge. To explore this complex issue, we’ll be hosting a repair café and lunch, followed by a panel.