Step 7. What are the types of funding you might give?
Once you have a sense of what needs to be funded to make a difference, you can decide on the types of funding you prefer.
This is not an easy question and the answer is not always evident. Again, there is no one single ‘right’ answer or silver bullet.
You might like to specialise in a particular type of funding – for example small grants, project grants or scholarships. You may need to begin with a few small grants to help you understand the issue more or the capacity of a community organisation.
Type of funding | Strengths | Challenges |
Small grants ($500 – $15,000) |
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Medium grants ($15,000 – $50,000) Large grants ($50,000+) |
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Multi-year grants |
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Pilot or seed funding – grant to develop projects or to undertake a feasibility study |
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Grants that scale up success (follows from seed funding, small grant or specific project) |
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Challenge grants (based on an organisation raising funds from other sources) |
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Scholarships |
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Awards |
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Project funding |
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Collaborations |
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Capital grant (for building, land etc) |
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Endowment grant (usually to an academic or cultural institution and to be used over a long period of time) |
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Evaluation grant |
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Program-related investment |
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Small grants for biodiversity conservation
We are firm believers that the small grants we give out to community groups are vitally important.
Someone once said that small grants take up too much time and aren’t worth bothering with. That might be true for some, but for many small community groups across Australia, we have been able to see some very positive results from receiving our grants.
Our small grants have enabled groups to produce guides, hold workshops, carry out research, create websites and train community members in various aspects of science and monitoring. We have been delighted to receive copies of flora guides, bird guides and moth books which have been professionally produced and used by groups to share knowledge, engage the local community and increase general interest in biodiversity. Other small grants enable groups to train volunteers in monitoring and recording data in a systematic way, to employ scientific research and to work on conservation activities with expertise.
To be good grantmakers, particularly for small grants, funders need to respect community groups and their knowledge of conservation on a local level. It’s about thinking outside the box and considering funding groups who may not have a high profile in the city, but have a solid track record in conservation management, the ability to collaborate effectively and evidence of tangible outcomes from past projects.
To find a good project and a solid group to support, you need to look at the communities who are living in the environment they want to save. They have the best idea about what’s important and whether they have the capacity to do the work. Scientific expertise can be brought in when necessary – the two go well together.
Beth Mellick – The Norman Wettenhall Foundation
Ask yourself
- What are your preferences for the type of funding to have impact on the issues you are interested in?
Record your answer in the worksheet (pdf)