Environment charities have seen a significant loss of funding as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and they are struggling to maintain their work programmes through lockdown. The economic disruption of the lockdown does provide a small and urgent window of opportunity to ensure that we emerge from the pandemic with a fairer and more sustainable economy however. But what this means is that just as environment charities are at their most stretched, they are also facing their greatest opportunity in decades.

There is also a public misconception that the pandemic has somehow been ‘good’ for nature and climate change. The theory is that wildlife has been less disturbed recently, wildlife has more space to roam, and that CO2 emissions have fallen—however these sudden changes are limited and temporary.

How philanthropists can help

Provide unrestricted funding to help environmental organisations survive through the pandemic, especially to replace revenue funding that has been lost. Consider dipping into your investments / reserves to fund at a greater level despite the market shocks, as some funders did in 2008.

Be flexible on deadlines and outcomes expected from existing grants. Be as clear and up front as possible with your grantees (current and potential) about whether they can draw down grants while relevant staff are furloughed; whether they can claim overheads now if they couldn’t before; when you will be making decisions.

Many environment organisations are very reliant on face to face fundraising which cannot take place right now. Consider providing funding for other forms of donor acquisition, for example paid advertising, paid consultants, time for other fundraisers to come together and share skills and ideas.

Read the full article about environment charities by Jane Cabutti at NPC.