About the Project Showcase

The climate change and nature showcases will follow our usual five-minute, rapid-fire pitch format. The First Nations-led showcase will be a panel discussion supported by project proposals.

Nominations are now closed

Nominations closed on Sunday 13 February.

Key dates

• 18 January — nominations open 
• 13 February — nominations close at midnight AEDT
• 10 March — members will be advised on whether their project has been selected
• 22 March — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led showcase at 2.30pm to 4.00pm AEDT
• 23 March — climate showcase at 2.30pm to 4.00pm AEDT
• 24 March — nature showcase at 2.30pm to 4.00pm AEDT

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 organisation or nominated project.
• The project must seek philanthropic funding, not impact investment.

Selection criteria

Selection process

A selection committee of AEGN members will determine the projects to participate in the Showcases, 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 projects, these projects and organisations are also welcome to nominate for the climate change or nature sessions.

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

• develop a compelling project pitch
• attend a briefing session

How to apply

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

For climate change and nature, specifically:

• Will the project have an important impact on climate change or nature?
  • Outline the project goal, the deliverables from this project, and its expected impact. (maximum 1000 characters)
• Does the organisation have the capacity to deliver the project?
  • You may wish to specify your organisation’s personnel (staff, volunteers and board members), track record of achieving goals, or anything else relevant to capacity to deliver. (maximum 1000 characters)
• Does the project have a compelling strategy to achieve its stated goals?
  • Outline your strategy to achieve your stated goals, and why you think this will be successful. (maximum 1000 characters)
• Does the project demonstrate a significant and timely opportunity to act on either climate change or nature?
  • Explain why it is important that this project happen at this particular time, including any external opportunities and whether this is time critical. (maximum 1000 characters)
• Does the project represent good value for philanthropic funding?
  • Any information you can provide as to why this project represents great value for philanthropic funding. For example, will funding for this project make a substantial impact on the organisation or project. Is philanthropy the most appropriate source of funding for this project? (maximum 1000 characters)

For First Nations-led projects, applications ask:

• Which environmental issues does the project address (maximum 1000 characters) 
• How is the project or organisation First Nations- led (maximum 500 characters) 
• Optional – how does the project address critical needs or target systemic leverage points? (maximum 750 characters) 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led projects

More of an informal conversation than a pitch, this showcase will see project representatives, introduced by their nominating member, take part in a panel discussion to share a bit about themselves, their work and their future aspirations. The conversation will be supported by a set of project proposals.

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.        

Nomination criteria

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led — in this context this means work that is governed by First Nations People.
• Cuts across an environmental issue or issues.
• Nominating AEGN member has funded or intends to fund the organisation or nominated project.
• Seeking philanthropic funding (not impact investment).
• Recommend funding ask of no more than $200,000.

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 organisations should also be aware of the work involved to prepare for and deliver the session. Successful nominations will be advised by the end of February and the bulk of session and funding proposal preparation will take place from this time until the conference, 22-24 March.

Questions?

Ione McLean ione@aegn.org.au

Climate and nature projects

Selection criteria

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

1. Impact — the project will have an important impact on climate or nature.  

2. Organisational capacity — the organisation can demonstrate capacity to deliver the project. 

3. Strategy — the project has a compelling strategy to achieve its stated goals. 

4. Timeliness — the project demonstrates a significant and timely opportunity to act on either climate change or nature. 

5. Value — the project represents good value for philanthropic funding.  

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 Showcase and Project Clearinghouse previously.

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

Eligibility

All nominations must meet the following eligibility criteria:

1. The nominating AEGN member has funded or intends to fund the organisation or nominated project.
2. The project must seek philanthropic funding, not impact investment.

Questions?

• Climate change or nature — Daisy Barham daisy@aegn.org.au
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led projects, Ione McLean ione@aegn.org.au