Greengrants
Encyclopedia
Global Greengrants Fund is a charitable foundation that makes small grants
(typically $500 to $5,000) to grassroots
environmental causes around the world. These funds are used to support community-based groups outside the United States
and Western Europe
working on issues of environmental justice
, sustainability
, and conservation. Since its establishment in 1993, Global Greengrants Fund has made over 5,000 grants in 129 countries, giving a total of over $20 million.
, live sustainably
, preserve biodiversity
, and gain a voice in their own future."
, climate change
, energy
, indigenous peoples
, sustenance
, water
, and women.
Greengrants launched a designated climate fund in June 2010 in partnership with 1% for the Planet. Through this program, groups will receive $500–5,000 to
groups in developing countries that can make effective use of that support. To identify prospective grantees, Greengrants uses a volunteer network of advisors - experts in their fields who are knowledgeable about the pressing issues in their regions and able to identify grassroots groups working on these issues. Through this global network, the organization is able to grant money to groups working in local communities that otherwise would have little or no access to funding. This network keeps overhead costs low, while ensuring that grant dollars are reaching those who the organization feels are most in need and are best positioned to effect real change.
Each board develops a grantmaking strategy
to fit the regional context and the advisors’ experiences. The advisors identify appropriate moments for strategic grants
to grassroots
groups. Global Greengrants Fund has supported a wide array of projects and groups over the years, from organic agriculture in India, to securing land rights for indigenous peoples in Brazil, to fighting dams in Mozambique.
, Central America
, China
, East Africa
, India
, the Pacific Islands
, Russia
, Southern Africa
, the Southern Cone
of South America, and West Africa
. These boards are composed of volunteers from a variety of fields and coordinated by part-time staff members in each region.
, Friends of the Earth International, International Rivers Network, Pesticide Action Network, and Rainforest Action Network
. In addition, an International Financial Institutions
(IFI) Advisory Board identifies grassroots groups working to influence trends in international lending and finance, helping citizens gain a voice in decisions about development programs, dams, public works and other large-scale infrastructure projects.
In 2008, pressure from groups including the Indigenous Council of Roraima
and the National Committee in Defense of Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Land (both of which are supported by Greengrants and their partner, the Center of Socio-Environmental Support (CASA) in Brazil
) concluded a 20-year legal struggle to secure their traditional lands in the Raposa Serra do Sol
reserve in the northern Brazilian state of Roraima
.
Using only the seven grants totaling $30,400 made to them between 2005 and 2009 by Greengrants, the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) indigenous community in northern Ontario
successfully won the protection of their lands from exploitation by the Toronto-based Platinex, Inc. The proposed project would have threatened the health and livelihood of the indigenous community, which lies 125 miles from the nearest road, in the Boreal Forest of Northern Ontario
.
Greengrants has been chosen by the Aveda Corporation as their global partner for Aveda's annual Earth month campaign. They work together to support clean water projects in communities where Aveda sources their ingredients. In 2007, $700,000 was raised though candle sales and customer donations from salons and spas. With this money, 186 projects were funded in 15 countries such as India, Brazil and Bulgaria.
To date, 27 Greengrants grantees and advisors have been awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize
, considered the "Nobel Prize of environmental activism." Notably, in 2009, Wanze Eduards
and S. Hugo Jabini of Suriname
"successfully organized their communities against logging on their traditional lands, ultimately leading to a landmark ruling for indigenous and tribal peoples throughout the Americas to control resource exploitation in their territories.". Other grantees have received the Condé Nast Traveler Environment Award; the J. Paul Getty Wildlife Conservation Prize; the Sting and Trudie Styler Award for Human Rights and the Environment; and the Reebok Human Rights Award, among others.
Grant (money)
Grants are funds disbursed by one party , often a Government Department, Corporation, Foundation or Trust, to a recipient, often a nonprofit entity, educational institution, business or an individual. In order to receive a grant, some form of "Grant Writing" often referred to as either a proposal...
(typically $500 to $5,000) to grassroots
Grassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
environmental causes around the world. These funds are used to support community-based groups outside the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
working on issues of environmental justice
Environmental justice
Environmental justice is "the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies." In the words of Bunyan Bryant,...
, sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
, and conservation. Since its establishment in 1993, Global Greengrants Fund has made over 5,000 grants in 129 countries, giving a total of over $20 million.
Mission
To “make small grants (typically $500 to $5,000) to grassroots groups around the world working to help people protect the environmentNatural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
, live sustainably
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
, preserve biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
, and gain a voice in their own future."
Focus areas
Greengrants focuses its resources in seven major issue areas: biodiversityBiodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
, climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
, energy
Energy
In physics, energy is an indirectly observed quantity. It is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems...
, indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
, sustenance
Sustenance
Sustenance can refer to any means of subsistence or livelihood within a region or a country;*food*any subsistence economy: see list of subsistence techniques**hunting-gathering**animal husbandry**subsistence agriculture...
, water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
, and women.
Greengrants launched a designated climate fund in June 2010 in partnership with 1% for the Planet. Through this program, groups will receive $500–5,000 to
- Develop alternative energy sources
- Protect forests and plant trees
- Train farmers on resilient agricultural techniques, and
- Address climate change and its effects around the globe.
Process and structure
Greengrants seeks to bridge the gap between those who can offer financial support and grassrootsGrassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
groups in developing countries that can make effective use of that support. To identify prospective grantees, Greengrants uses a volunteer network of advisors - experts in their fields who are knowledgeable about the pressing issues in their regions and able to identify grassroots groups working on these issues. Through this global network, the organization is able to grant money to groups working in local communities that otherwise would have little or no access to funding. This network keeps overhead costs low, while ensuring that grant dollars are reaching those who the organization feels are most in need and are best positioned to effect real change.
Each board develops a grantmaking strategy
Strategy
Strategy, a word of military origin, refers to a plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal. In military usage strategy is distinct from tactics, which are concerned with the conduct of an engagement, while strategy is concerned with how different engagements are linked...
to fit the regional context and the advisors’ experiences. The advisors identify appropriate moments for strategic grants
Grant (money)
Grants are funds disbursed by one party , often a Government Department, Corporation, Foundation or Trust, to a recipient, often a nonprofit entity, educational institution, business or an individual. In order to receive a grant, some form of "Grant Writing" often referred to as either a proposal...
to grassroots
Grassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
groups. Global Greengrants Fund has supported a wide array of projects and groups over the years, from organic agriculture in India, to securing land rights for indigenous peoples in Brazil, to fighting dams in Mozambique.
Regional Advisors
Greengrants currently has regional advisory boards in the AndesAndes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
, Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, the Pacific Islands
Pacific Islands
The Pacific Islands comprise 20,000 to 30,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean. The islands are also sometimes collectively called Oceania, although Oceania is sometimes defined as also including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago....
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Southern Africa
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
, the Southern Cone
Southern Cone
Southern Cone is a geographic region composed of the southernmost areas of South America, south of the Tropic of Capricorn. Although geographically this includes part of Southern and Southeast of Brazil, in terms of political geography the Southern cone has traditionally comprised Argentina,...
of South America, and West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
. These boards are composed of volunteers from a variety of fields and coordinated by part-time staff members in each region.
Alliance of Funds
Additionally, Greengrants has developed a partnership of locally-constituted and locally-governed organizations in Brazil (Center for Socio-Environmental Support), Mexico (Solidarity in Action Fund), Southeast Asia (The Samdhana Institute), and Canada (Small Change Fund). Together, these organizations make up the Greengrants Alliance of Funds. The members of the Alliance operate much like the other the advisory boards, while also raising their own resources to increase support for grassroots groups in their respective regions.Global Advisors
Also affiliated with Greengrants is a group of Global Advisors that supplements the work of its regional boards. They include Earth Island InstituteEarth Island Institute
The Earth Island Institute was founded in 1982 by environmentalist David Brower. It organizes and encourages activism around environmental issues and provides public education. Funding comes from individual members and supporting organizations...
, Friends of the Earth International, International Rivers Network, Pesticide Action Network, and Rainforest Action Network
Rainforest Action Network
Rainforest Action Network is an environmental organization based in San Francisco, California, USA. The organization was founded by Randy "Hurricane" Hayes and Mike Roselle in 1985, with the financial help of Fund for Wild Nature....
. In addition, an International Financial Institutions
International financial institutions
International financial institutions are financial institutions that have been established by more than one country, and hence are subjects of international law. Their owners or shareholders are generally national governments, although other international institutions and other organisations...
(IFI) Advisory Board identifies grassroots groups working to influence trends in international lending and finance, helping citizens gain a voice in decisions about development programs, dams, public works and other large-scale infrastructure projects.
Examples
In 2009, with the help of several organizations supported in part by small grants from Greengrants, the National Coalition on Mining succeeded in pressuring the Ghanaian government to ban mining in protected forest reserves.In 2008, pressure from groups including the Indigenous Council of Roraima
Roraima
Roraima is the northernmost and least populated state of Brazil, located in the Amazon region. It borders the states of Amazonas and Pará, as well as the nations of Venezuela and Guyana. The population is 400,000 and the capital is Boa Vista...
and the National Committee in Defense of Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Land (both of which are supported by Greengrants and their partner, the Center of Socio-Environmental Support (CASA) in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
) concluded a 20-year legal struggle to secure their traditional lands in the Raposa Serra do Sol
Raposa Serra Do Sol
Reserva Indígena Raposa/Serra do Sol is an Indian reservation in Brazil, intended to be home to the Macuxi people...
reserve in the northern Brazilian state of Roraima
Roraima
Roraima is the northernmost and least populated state of Brazil, located in the Amazon region. It borders the states of Amazonas and Pará, as well as the nations of Venezuela and Guyana. The population is 400,000 and the capital is Boa Vista...
.
Using only the seven grants totaling $30,400 made to them between 2005 and 2009 by Greengrants, the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) indigenous community in northern Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
successfully won the protection of their lands from exploitation by the Toronto-based Platinex, Inc. The proposed project would have threatened the health and livelihood of the indigenous community, which lies 125 miles from the nearest road, in the Boreal Forest of Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario is a region of the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron , the French River and Lake Nipissing. The region has a land area of 802,000 km2 and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it contains only about 6% of the population...
.
Recognition
Global Greengrants Fund received a four out of four star rating on Charity Navigator, an independent organization that rates non-profits. They received four stars on both efficiency and capacity.Greengrants has been chosen by the Aveda Corporation as their global partner for Aveda's annual Earth month campaign. They work together to support clean water projects in communities where Aveda sources their ingredients. In 2007, $700,000 was raised though candle sales and customer donations from salons and spas. With this money, 186 projects were funded in 15 countries such as India, Brazil and Bulgaria.
To date, 27 Greengrants grantees and advisors have been awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize
Goldman Environmental Prize
The Goldman Environmental Prize is a prize awarded annually to grassroots environmental activists, one from each of the world's six geographic regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands and Island Nations, North America, and South and Central America. The prize includes a no-strings-attached award of...
, considered the "Nobel Prize of environmental activism." Notably, in 2009, Wanze Eduards
Wanze Eduards
Wanze Eduards is a Saramaka leader from the Republic of Suriname. He was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2009, jointly with Hugo Jabini, for their efforts to protect their traditional land against logging companies, by bringing the case to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights,...
and S. Hugo Jabini of Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
"successfully organized their communities against logging on their traditional lands, ultimately leading to a landmark ruling for indigenous and tribal peoples throughout the Americas to control resource exploitation in their territories.". Other grantees have received the Condé Nast Traveler Environment Award; the J. Paul Getty Wildlife Conservation Prize; the Sting and Trudie Styler Award for Human Rights and the Environment; and the Reebok Human Rights Award, among others.
See also
- Conservation movementConservation movementThe conservation movement, also known as nature conservation, is a political, environmental and a social movement that seeks to protect natural resources including animal, fungus and plant species as well as their habitat for the future....
- EcologyEcologyEcology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
- Environmental protectionEnvironmental protectionEnvironmental protection is a practice of protecting the environment, on individual, organizational or governmental level, for the benefit of the natural environment and humans. Due to the pressures of population and our technology the biophysical environment is being degraded, sometimes permanently...
- Natural environmentNatural environmentThe natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
- Natural capitalNatural capitalNatural capital is the extension of the economic notion of capital to goods and services relating to the natural environment. Natural capital is thus the stock of natural ecosystems that yields a flow of valuable ecosystem goods or services into the future...
- Natural resourceNatural resourceNatural resources occur naturally within environments that exist relatively undisturbed by mankind, in a natural form. A natural resource is often characterized by amounts of biodiversity and geodiversity existent in various ecosystems....
- nonprofit organizationNonprofit organizationNonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
- philanthropyPhilanthropyPhilanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...