In my first blog on the EGA Retreat I said that I wanted to gain a deeper insight into how best philanthropy can fund the environment. The last day of the Retreat has provided me with plenty of food for thought on this subject. Before I write about my overall learnings (and there were plenty!) … Continue reading
Time to fund organisational capacity – thoughts from the EGA Retreat
October 14th, 2010From Jill Reichstein
October 9th, 2010To come so far and feel so welcomed into a very strong community of environmental donors has been very exhilarating. I have been taken by the strong emphasis on environmental justice and commitment to structural reform through legislative processes. It’s interesting to learn that NGOs can utilize 18% of their grants money towards advocacy while … Continue reading
THE EGA—some observations
October 9th, 2010This EGA meeting seems more dynamic than the one we attended a couple of years ago in upstate NY—new leadership. Here are my thought on a few of the presentations I heard. Food The most expensive food is the cheap processed food without food value. The only sustainable way forward is for real food to … Continue reading
Issues of Justice and Community
October 8th, 2010I was told to prepare myself for exhaustion matched by excitement and inspiration at this EGA Retreat and today has not disappointed on any front. I’ll leave it to Amanda Martin to write about the amazing Sylvia Earle who kicked off proceedings. Sylvia is one of Amanda’s great heroes and it was wonderful to look … Continue reading
Anna Karenina
October 8th, 2010A good session on failure in philanthropy just now. A number of people talking about failures in programs, with a special focus coming from the floor on failure to get gains on climate change- the recent failure of federal legislation here is strong on everyone’s mind. There was a touch of the Anna Karenina effect … Continue reading
Success and Failure in Grantmaking (EGA Retreat), By Simon Herd
October 7th, 2010Many interesting ideas came out of the session on Failures and Success in Environmental Grantmaking. One of the panelist talked about the ‘need to normalise failure’ and that in a ‘culture of wealth failure is not acknowledged or accepted’. While the notion of a ‘culture of wealth’ might not make the cultural leap from America … Continue reading
Inspiring First Day
October 7th, 2010The first day of the EGA retreat has been very inspiring for me. Suffering from jet lag and feeling a bit overwhelmed by the 400 people attending this conference, I began the day with a bleary eyed coffee. But the first key note speaker was someone who, ever since I was a child, has been … Continue reading
Time for tough questions at the EGA Retreat
October 6th, 2010Before leaving for California to take part in the EGA Fall Retreat, Amanda Martin sent each of the Australian contingent an email asking us what we wanted to get out of the trip. Those of you that have attended an AEGN event previously would know that this is a fairly common Amanda question! I thought I … Continue reading
US Environmental Grantmakers Retreat
October 6th, 2010Welcome to the first blog from the Australian contingent at the US Environmental Grantmakers Association’s Fall Retreat in Pacific Grove California. We hope to use this blog to keep AEGN members in Australia up to date with some of the major talking points and lessons from the Retreat. You can access the exciting program for … Continue reading
Martin Copley AM – Queen’s Birthday Honours List
July 13th, 2010AEGN’s Chair, Martin Copley, has been recognized in the 2010 Queen’s Birthday Honours List. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for “service to conservation and the environment through the preservation of Australia’s native species of flora and fauna.” Martin has dedicated nearly 20 years to the conservation of Australia’s threatened … Continue reading
