Nominate now

Strategic projects and organisations that need core funding have the chance to pitch for support from the AEGN membership at our 2023 Environmental Philanthropy Conference on the 3^rd and 4^th of May.   

This year, we will host two showcase events — one specifically for First Nations-led organisations and another for all climate and environmental initiatives. While there is a showcase dedicated to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led initiatives, these projects and organisations are also welcome to nominate for the climate and environment session.

Each project or organisation must be nominated by an existing AEGN member that already funds and believes in them.   

Key dates

• 8 February — nominations open  
• 8 March — nominations close at 11.59pm AEDT 
• 20 March — members will be advised on whether their project has been selected 
• 3 May — Project Showcase  climate and environment
• 4 May — First Nations Showcase  

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Project Showcases, nominations must adhere to the following: 

• The nominating AEGN member has funded or intends to fund the work being nominated.
• The project must seek philanthropic funding, not impact investment. 
• Members and NGOs must be willing and available to travel to Sydney to present in-person at the conference on Wednesday 3 May 2023 (Project Showcase — climate and environment) or Thursday 4 May 2023 (First Nations Showcase).  If costs are prohibitive, please contact us. Nominating members may consider supporting smaller organisations with travel-related costs associated with participating in the showcase session.     

Selection criteria

Download a Word doc version to prepare your submission (this Word doc can be shared with NGOs to prepare your answers to the selection criteria. Final nominations must be submitted using the online form).

Selection process

A selection committee of AEGN members will determine the projects to participate in both showcase events, based on the selection criteria. You are welcome to submit more than one project, especially where those projects are relevant to different focus areas.

While there is a showcase dedicated to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led initiatives, these projects and organisations are also welcome to nominate for the climate and environment session.

If successful, members must be prepared to work with your nominated organisation to:

• develop a compelling project pitch
• attend a briefing session
• consider assisting smaller organisations with travel. If this is prohibitive the AEGN may be able to provide some assistance.  

How to apply

The online application form will ask you to address the selection criteria. Specifically:

• Explain why you are supporting the project or organisation
• Project description (if core funding, describe in terms of the organisation) — Outline the project goal, why the project is needed, how it will be delivered and the outcome or deliverables
• Delivery organisation — outline the organisation’s purpose and capacity to deliver the project or work. This could include track record of achievements, personnel involved or anything else relevant
• Power — How does the project or core funding build or shift power to those at the forefront of environmental and climate change?
• Impact — How will the project or core funding have an important impact on environmental and/or climate issues in Australia?
• Does the project or core funding demonstrate a significant and timely opportunity to act on either climate change or environmental issues? (Project Showcase – climate and environment only)
• How is the project or organisation First Nations governed or initiated? (First Nations Showcase only)

Tips

When submitting your nomination, you may want to consider the following suggestions we’ve compiled: 

• 10 tips to get funded (This page is public and can be shared with NGOs)  

First Nations Showcase

Collectively, featured participants will be representative of diverse geographies, issues approaches and organisations. Work aimed at addressing critical needs or targeting systemic leverage points will be considered highly.

Preference may be given to regions and organisations that have had limited or no exposure to the AEGN membership.        

Selection criteria

To give your project the best chance of success, address the selection criteria in your application: 

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led — in this context this means work that is governed or initiated by First Nations People
• The project or organisation builds or shifts power to those at the forefront of climate and environmental change 
• The project or organisation will have an important impact on climate or the environment 

Consideration will also be given to the portfolio of projects to ensure they reflect a diversity of approaches and geography to appeal to the diversity of AEGN members. An additional consideration is how frequently projects and organisations have featured in showcases and the Project Clearinghouse previously. 

In the past, projects seeking up to $200,000 are more likely to generate the greatest level of support through our Project Showcases. Projects and organisations of any value are able to be nominated. 

Members should be prepared to work closely with their nominated organisations to help them to develop their proposal, story and responses to interview questions. The level of support required will vary depending on the organisation but will include some involvement in preparatory meetings with the AEGN.

Nominating members should also consider, depending on the organisation, supporting organisational representatives during their time in Sydney, possibly assisting to set up other meetings or in other ways to make their visit as productive and enjoyable as possible.  

Nominating organisations should be aware of the work involved to prepare for and deliver the session.

Successful nominations will be advised by the beginning of March and the bulk of session and funding proposal preparation will take place from this time until the conference, 3-4 May 2023.

Questions?

Ione McLean ione@aegn.org.au

Project Showcase — climate and environment

Selection criteria

Projects addressing climate change and environment will be assessed based on the following criteria: 

1. Power — the project or organisation builds or shifts power to those at the forefront of climate and environmental change.
2. Impact — the project or organisation will have an important impact on climate or the environment.  
3. Timeliness — the project or organisation demonstrates a significant and timely opportunity to act on climate and environmental issues.

Consideration will also be given to the portfolio of projects to ensure they reflect a diversity of approaches and geography to appeal to the diversity of AEGN members. An additional consideration is how frequently projects and organisations have featured in Showcases and the Project Clearinghouse previously.

In the past, projects seeking up to $200,000 are more likely to generate the greatest level of support through our Project Showcases. Projects and organisations of any value are able to be nominated.

Questions?

• Ione McLean, Environmental Philanthropy Manager – Indigenous Land and Sea Management | Sustainable Food Systems:  ione@aegn.org.au
• Julia Wylie, Environmental Program Coordinator: julia@aegn.org.au