Driving innovation and sustainable financing for conservation

Our support

Working with the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), a long-standing Charitable Trust client directed a seven-figure grant in support of the Scale Up Fund, a new collaborative venture led by The Nature Conservancy. The donor, who is interested in supporting research and innovation, understands how philanthropic funders can pursue different approaches to social and environmental issues and take risks with their funds that others cannot.

The Scale Up Fund is a philanthropic alliance that brings together private equity and entrepreneurial skills to provide funding to catalytic projects at the intersection of climate, nature and people. A tight-knit group of experts from across the private equity sector work closely together to learn and make decisions together; as well as offer their unique perspectives and knowledge to collectively drive innovation and sustainable financing for conservation in Africa and globally.

The ability to be agile and alert to new funding opportunities is one of the many benefits of donor-advised giving. Using our Charitable Trust as an alternative to running a private foundation, the client was able to work with us to accumulate and grow philanthropic capital over the longer term. As a result, when the opportunity to support The Scale Up Fund was presented, the donor could gift funds tax effectively.

Augusto Chihinga is checking his fishing nets at 7 AM in the lagoon. TNC is working with communities and local partners to advance sustainable fishing practices. Location: Cuito River. Livambi village. © Roshni Lodhia

The impact

The Scale Up Fund supports The Nature Conservancy’s most promising conservation programs in Africa and around the globe and provides capital at the right time and place to maximise their growth potential.

"The philanthropic partnership between The Nature Conservancy and the Scale Up Fund is one of the best examples of collective giving I’ve ever come across. By bringing investing and business principles to philanthropic funding, the Scale Up Fund is driving incredible results. I couldn’t be more excited about what we’ve achieved together – and what we will continue to achieve in the critical years ahead.”  – Marianne Kleiberg, Chair of The Nature Conservancy UK Foundation.

The Scale Up Fund is just one example of how The Nature Conservancy prioritises radical collaboration and innovative finance to help achieve the organisation’s ambitious global goals for people and planet by 2030.

The Nature Conservancy is working to tackle the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change in over 80 countries and territories through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners.

Agness Chuulu, and Radge Makaliki (in the background) are forest officers in Ntambu Chiefdom. © Roshni Lodhia