Kate Saunders

The Australian Ethical Foundation announced that it has awarded $1.5 million in grants to organisations focused on nature and climate justice.

In August 2025, Australian Ethical Investment announced a record annual distribution of $2.5 million to its Foundation for grants supporting organisations and initiatives advancing climate justice and resilience, unlocking capital for the protection and restoration of nature, and driving place-based nature solutions. This record-breaking year brings its total donations to over $13 million since 2000.

Each year, Australian Ethical Investment allocates 10% of its annual profits* to its Foundation. This innovative funding model channels resources into high-impact projects that create scalable solutions for the urgent climate challenge, acting as a catalyst for sustainable change.

This year, the Foundation reset its strategy to focus largely on nature and climate justice. It is specifically targeting systemic interventions that drive change and seeking opportunities to provide catalytic and strategic funding to initiatives and organisations focused on nature-based solutions, including many that are First Nations-led.

Australian Ethical Head of Foundation Kate Saunders said, “We’re proud to announce a strategic shift in our funding priorities, with a focus on nature protection and restoration, climate resilience and justice, and a commitment to supporting First Nations-led organisations and projects wherever possible.

World Economic Forum analysis (2020) found that over half of the world’s total GDP, approximately US$44 trillion in economic value generation, is moderately or highly dependent on nature and its services. This includes industries such as construction, agriculture, and food and beverages¹.

“Despite the urgency of the environmental crisis, less than 4% of philanthropic giving in Australia goes towards the environment, with only a small proportion of this dedicated to nature. The degradation of nature threatens our food, water, air, health, and life as we know it. If left unchecked, we will see an acceleration of climate change and biodiversity loss, and an increase in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. These impacts will be catastrophic for our communities, ecosystems, and economy, and will disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, especially First Nations communities.” Said Saunders.

A total of $1.55 million has so far been allocated to grant recipients including: Australian Democracy Network, Environmental Justice Australia, Accounting for Nature, Indigigrow, ACOSS, Environs Kimberley, Original Power, Environment Centre NT, Groundswell Major Giving Circle, WWF Australia, Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council and Places You Love Alliance.

The remaining $1 million will be allocated by the end of FY26, giving the Foundation opportunity to establish additional strategic partnerships and provide responsive funding to organisations and initiatives throughout the year.

The new Foundation strategy aligns closely with Australian Ethical’s broader stewardship, corporate engagement, regulatory advocacy and policy activities. In addition, Australian Ethical’s private market investment team’s mandate includes natural capital investments within its investment universe.

The post Australian Ethical Foundation awards $1.5 million in grants for nature and climate justice  appeared first on AdviserVoice.

The Australian Ethical Foundation’s focus is to fight climate change as effectively as possible.

The Australian Ethical Foundation has announced its largest annual donation, distributing $1.7 million in 2024 to address climate change, support vulnerable populations, and protect ecosystems. This record-breaking year brings its total donations to over $11 million since 2000.

Australian Ethical’s unique approach, which allocates 10% of annual profits (after tax and before bonuses) to philanthropy, continues to drive impact. This innovative funding model channels resources into high-impact projects that create scalable solutions for the urgent climate challenge, acting as a catalyst for sustainable change.

Original Power, one of this year’s grant recipients, has collaborated with Wilya Janta, an Aboriginal housing consultancy, to develop Australia’s first climate-resilient, culturally appropriate housing in the Northern Territory. This project directly addresses longstanding issues such as overcrowding, poor thermal performance, and lack of cultural consideration in housing design, which contribute to energy insecurity for First Nations communities. Beyond reducing carbon emissions, the initiative is expected to significantly improve health outcomes by creating cooler, better-ventilated homes, with insights from this demonstration project shaping future housing solutions across Australia.

The Australian Climate and Biodiversity Foundation, another grant recipient, is tackling deforestation at a systemic level by advocating for stronger policies and developing market-based solutions to protect critical biodiversity and carbon stores. By addressing the root causes of deforestation, this work aims to deliver long-term environmental and economic benefits.

“2024 has been a milestone year for the Australian Ethical Foundation. We’re proud to fund projects that lay the groundwork for sustainable, systemic change. By targeting root causes and collaborating with innovative organisations, we’re supporting solutions that can be scaled and replicated across Australia,” said Australian Ethical’s Head of Foundation Kate Saunders.

This year’s grant recipients include ACBF, Accounting for Nature, ACOSS (Renew Australia for All), Beyond Zero Emissions, Boundless Earth, Climateworks, Environmental Justice Australia, Fletcher St Cottage, Food Frontier, Groundswell Major Giving Circle, Investor Group on Climate Change, Karrkad Kandiji Trust, Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council and Original Power.

With less than 2% of global philanthropy utilised towards addressing climate change^[1], the Australian Ethical Foundation’s focus is to fight climate change as effectively as possible, and underpin the systems needed to support a healthy life for people, and animals. Australian Ethical’s approach to philanthropy supplements its ethical stewardship, engaging with companies to achieve systemic change at an economy-wide scale focusing on climate change, as well as the biodiversity crisis, human rights abuse, and industrialised animal cruelty. The company’s investment portfolio has a carbon intensity significantly below industry benchmarks, and its investments in renewable energy continue to drive meaningful progress toward a sustainable economy.

———

Notes:
[1] https:/www.weforum.org/impact/how-the-giving-to-amplify-earth-action-will-catapult-climate-action/

The post Record year for Australian Ethical Foundation as $1.7 million in grants power climate and community solutions appeared first on AdviserVoice.