Green Grants/ Funding

## Types of funding sources

* Government related grants
* Foundation grant (corporate or philantrophic)
* Corporates
* Individual donations
* Major/Private donors
* Crowdfunding sites
	+ Ko-fi
	+ Patreon

#### **Alignment of values and maintaining organisational independence**

Some funders might request organisations to aid them in their own goals (Eg. Advertising a product). Ensure that these demands are aligned to your organisation's values and do not compromise the integrity of your mission.

**Making an effective pitch by building a strong portfolio**

All of your organisation's public work (events, social media, website) are important to help your organisation build up information and enable potential donors to find whether their values align with yours.

**Evaluating funding goals vs project demands**

Is the effort spent to gain these funds (Eg. In meeting certain project specifications) commensurate to the amount you may receive? Consider the long-term goals of your organisation and the strings attached to gaining these funds.

**Flexibility of funding**

Check if funder is willing to be flexible if your needs change during course of funding.

#### **Match funding source to spending(stability of funds)**

Understand what are the uses of the funds you have received and prioritise them. Ensure that your funding sources are sufficiently stable to meet the uses of the funds received. For instance, if you are hiring staff, you may need a more stable funding source.

### During the course of funding

#### **Regular communication**

Let your donors know about your organisation's plans and where it is going. This gives them the confidence that your movement will persist, and may also encourage recurring donations. Make it a point to build a good relationship with donors, especially individual/private ones.

#### **Transparency of donation uses**

Make clear the purpose and use of funds. If possible, make regular updates to donors on how these funds have been used and what has been achieved thus far.

#### **Engage donors in supporting your cause**

Fundraising is more about enabling people to help support a movement they care about, as opposed to simply asking for money.

### Considerations for certain types of funding

#### **Government related grants**

* Check for what items your organisation can and cannot spend the grant on (Eg. Spending on manpower/hiring of staff is often disallowed)
* Grants are often disbursed on a reimbursement basis; this requires that your organisation have available capital to spend (before you can receive the grant)

Below is an overview of funding sources available to enterprises or community groups for environmental projects (updated 28 Dec 2020).

## Grants

### SG Eco Fund (Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment)

**Summary:**

The $50 million SG Eco Fund was announced in March 2020 to support ground-up projects that involve the community and advance environmental sustainability in Singapore. They hope to motivate and enable individuals, groups and companies to take collective action to build a more sustainable future.

The SG Eco Fund works on a co-funding basis. If the application is approved, the applicant may receive funding of up to 80% of the supportable cost items, subject to a maximum of S$1 million. Funding will be provided for no more than three years from the date of the Letter of Award.

**Eligibility:**

* Individuals: Must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident, above 18 years old, and residing in Singapore;
* Groups of Individuals: All individuals must be above 18 years old and residing in Singapore, and the group must have at least one Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident;
* Organisations: Singapore-registered organisations, including companies, charities, government and non-government organisations.

* Improve the environment or advance environmental sustainability in Singapore;
* Engage and/or involve the community;
* Not have commenced;
* Not have obtained funding from other government sources.

Projects should address at least one area of environmental sustainability, including but not limited to the following: climate change; energy; waste; water; food; nature and biodiversity; environmental pollution; or environmental public health.

Projects include, but are not limited to:

* Those jointly initiated by the community and businesses to advance environmental sustainability;
* Those educating the community and promoting awareness on environmental sustainability practices;
* Those implementing innovative technologies to help the community reduce usage of resources;
* Those developing behavioural nudges and interventions to encourage environmentally-friendly habits.

**Find application details here, and FAQ here.**

### DBS Foundation Social Enterprise Grant

**Summary:**

They offer grants between SGD 50,000 and SGD 250,000 to social enterprises who have a product market fit, demonstrated traction in sales and revenue, clear social impact and are ready to scale up.

They also offer a special category of grants for innovative businesses working towards Zero Food Waste. Some examples of these solutions include technology, applications, innovations, products that reduce food loss along the supply chain as well as those that manage surplus food or upcycle food waste to value added products

They fund social enterprises registered and operating in China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Singapore and Taiwan.

**Eligibility:**

The social enterprise seeking the grant must:

* Have a business product/solution that has been validated in the market, as evidenced by revenue generation and/or traction in client acquisition, with clear plans to scale up business; and
* Be committed to a social mission and have a clear roadmap towards scaling social impact.

**Project specifications:**

Some examples of how a DBS Foundation Social Enterprise Grant may be used:

* Expand to new regions/markets
* Increase production capacity
* Establish / strengthen a brand
* Improve operational efficiency
* Build or structure a team
* Enhance social impact measurement / management
* Protect intellectual property

**Find more information here, and application form here.**

### Community Foundation of Singapore

**Summary:**

They work with charitable organisations to fund programmes that serve a diverse range of community needs in Singapore, including environmental projects.

**Eligibility:**

To receive a grant, charities should have good and sustainable programme ideas that meet the following criteria:

* Focus on clearly identified problem areas, opportunities or social gaps that are under-supported.
* Shows a clear link on how the programme can create sustainable impact beyond the duration of funding.
* Have potential to scale even if they are ad hoc pilot programmes.
* Offer measurable outcome and benefits to the community or recipients

As part of our due diligence and programme assessment, we will work closely with you to refine and present your proposals to donors.

Charities are also expected to demonstrate good stewardship of funds so as to build strong donor relationships and sustainable programmes.

**Project Specifications:**

The grant request must be able to meet all of the following criteria:

* Meet community needs in Singapore. This refers to the community at large in Singapore and excludes any initiatives outside of the country.
* Be carried out by a charitable organisation that is secular, non-political and be registered in Singapore or is part of such an organisation. Excludes individual persons or private companies.
* Must fall within CFS’ mandate e.g. relief of poverty, advancement of education, health, arts, environment, sport that advances health, etc. This excludes advancement of religion and support for any political organisation or purpose.
* Programmes – whether direct or support services – that benefits the community in Singapore. Such programmes may be new or existing. Excludes displacement of existing source of funding and CAPEX costs. Can include manpower costs and overheads needed to run the programme.
* Shows a clearly identified gap or need and articulates how the programme can address it. There should be concise explanation of the current problem and how the results of the programme will solve this problem.
* Have a strong component of creating sustainable impact and be able to meet agreed deliverables. Includes indicators that measure the intended results or impact of the programme e.g. number of recipients helped, % improvement from current situation etc. There should also be a clear, self-sustainable plan after funding ends.

**Find application information here.**

### Temasek Foundation Ecosperity

**Summary:**

Temasek Foundation supports a diverse range of programmes that uplift lives and communities in Singapore and beyond. Temasek Foundation’s programmes, made possible through philanthropic endowments gifted by Temasek, strive towards achieving positive outcomes for individuals and communities now, and for generations to come.

**Eligibility:**

Interested parties, such as individuals or groups, researchers, collaborators, institutions, organisations or companies, are invited to apply for funding for their project in focal areas such as air, biodiversity, energy, food, infectious disease management, land, noise, waste management, water, and weather and climate.

**Project Specifications:**

Through the Ecosperity Innovations Call for Proposals, Temasek Foundation provides funding for later-stage applied, translational research and development proposals, and/or commercialisation efforts of innovative solutions that address liveability and sustainability issues in Singapore, benefiting and impacting the Singapore community.

**Find application details here.**

### Singapore Press Holdings Foundation

**Summary:**

The SPH Foundation's grant-making philosophy revolves around its mission to help build a community that embraces language enrichment, creativity, diversity, healthy living and sports.

**Eligibility:**

Only organizations with projects aiming to benefit the Singapore community are eligible.

**Project Specifications:**

Projects that fall under the "Loving and Protecting the Environment" category of the SPH Foundation's overall goal should aim to conserve Singapore's green heritage, and promote the importance of protecting the environment's biodiversity, including wildlife, flora and fauna, and nature reserves.

**Find application information here.**

### OCBC Cares

**Summary:**

The #OCBCCares Environment Fund commits S$100,000 annually to support ground-up initiatives that enhance environmental sustainability in Singapore.

* Individuals (Singaporeans and permanent residents)
* Interest groups (Singaporeans, permanent residents and non-residents) including Non-Governmental Organisations and Non Profit Organisations). Each participating non-resident must partner at least 2 Singaporeans.

This Fund is not available to individuals and groups with existing commercial interests; or for government-initiated projects.

* Efforts to conserve, recycle or minimise waste of environmental resources including water, energy, natural habitats and food
* Biodiversity conservation, including habitat enhancement, habitat restoration and species recovery
* Resolution of pressing local environmental sustainability issues
* A stronger call, from ground-up, for the community to make lifestyle changes and adopt more environmentally responsible habits.

**Find more details here, and application details here.**

### 3P Partnership Fund

**Summary:**

The 3P Partnership Fund is a grant administered by the National Environment Agency (NEA). It aims to encourage organisations and companies from the People, Private and Public (3P) sectors to work together to develop innovative and sustainable environmental initiatives that promote environmental ownership amongst the local community.

The 3P Partnership Fund works on a co-payment basis. First time application would receive no more than 60% of the supportable cost items.

**Eligibility:**

Any Singapore registered organisation or company is eligible. As a pre-requisite , applicants must involve at least one other partner from the 3P sectors (excluding NEA) in the initiative.

**Project Specifications:**

The 3P Partnership Fund supports projects that focus on:

* Grooming environment advocates and champions
* Encouraging community participation in environmental activities
* Increasing awareness on environmental issues.

The projects must:

* Set down clear deliverables which aim to promote environmental ownership/action in the school population, industry or community at large
* Reach out to a larger segment of the community beyond the organisation's interest
* Support or contribute towards one or more NEA Strategic Outcomes: Strong Environmental Ownership, Close Community Partnership and Outreach, High Public Health Standards, Sustainable Waste and Resource Management, Energy Efficient and Low Carbon Society, Resilient Climate Change Preparedness, Timely and Reliable Weather information and Conducive Living Environment in support of NEA or  Sustainable Development targets
* Not be for direct profits or commercial gain
* Demonstrate sustainability of initiative through: (a) recurrent activities/activity is continuous or on-going (for the year), (b) long-term effects of the project and (c) plans to enhance the project over time.

**Find details here.**

### Call for Ideas Fund (CIF)

**Summary:**

The Call for Ideas Fund (CIF) provides co-funding for projects that seek to resolve environmental challenges and problems in the local community, and the development of mobile applications which enable open and easy access to environmental information so that the public can make informed choices and decisions in their daily lives. Funding support is up to a maximum of $20,000 or 80% of the total project cost for supportable cost items (whichever is lower).

**Eligibility:**

Any individual (Singaporean or PR) or Singapore registered organisation/company. As a pre-requisite, applicants must involve at least one other partner from the 3P sectors (excluding NEA) in the project.

* Set down clear deliverables which aim to promote environmental ownership
* Involve at least one other partner from the 3P sector in organising the initiative, excluding NEA
* Support or contribute towards one or more NEA Strategic Outcomes: Strong Environmental Ownership, Close Community Partnership and Outreach, High Public Health Standards, Sustainable Waste and Resource Management, Energy Efficient and Low Carbon Society, Resilient Climate Change Preparedness, Timely and Reliable Weather Information, Conducive Learning Environment, in support of NEA or Sustainable Development targets
* Not for direct profits or commercial gain. Projects that are able to cover costs through sponsorships or other sources of income would not be eligible for the grant.

In addition, the proposed project should fulfil one or more of the following objectives of each track:

Active Citizenry track

* Promote the adoption of environmentally-friendly habits among residents (e.g. conserve energy at home or practise recycling as a way-of-life)
* Co-create solutions with community to address specific local environmental issues (e.g. tackle high rise littering and cleanliness issues or promote dengue prevention efforts)
* Strengthen residents’ emotional attachment to the local environment

Mobile Applications track

* Enhance NEA’s operations’ service delivery (e.g. Provide timely and accurate weather information)
* Furnish key environmental information in a transparent and accessible manner (e.g Hawker stalls grading and location of recycling bins)
* Facilitate adoption of environmentally-friendly habits through customising outreach content

**Find details here.**

## Funding-Related Resources

### Green Future's 2020 Guide to SG Government Funding for the Environment

**Summary:**

A list of 30 government funding and incentive schemes related to energy efficiency, environmental initiatives, food production, green buildings, sustainable finance, sustainable transport, urban solutions, waste management, water technology, and workforce and business development. Most of the resources listed are available to any business, not just those within the sustainability sector.

### Groundup Central Grants

**Summary:**

An extensive compilation of grants available to both registered and non-registered groups proposing ground-up initiatives.

1. ↑ https://www.sgeco.gov.sg/about/
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 https://www.sgeco.gov.sg/fund-info/
3. ↑ https://www.sgeco.gov.sg/faq/
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 https://www.dbs.com/foundation/our-support/grant-programme
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 https://www.cf.org.sg/grants/what-we-support/
6. ↑ https://www.cf.org.sg/grants/apply-for-a-grant/
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 https://www.temasekfoundation-ecosperity.org.sg/
8. ↑ https://www.temasekfoundation-ecosperity.org.sg/public-data/documents/Temasek%20Foundation\_Ecosperity%20Innovations%20Call%20for%20Proposals%20(Aug%202020).pdf
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 https://www.sphfoundation.org.sg/grantseekers.html
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 https://www.ocbc.com/green/
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 https://www.nea.gov.sg/programmes-grants/grants-and-awards/3p-partnership-fund
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 https://www.nea.gov.sg/programmes-grants/grants-and-awards/call-for-ideas-fund
13. ↑ http://www.greenfuture.sg/2020/02/16/2020-guide-to-singapore-government-funding-and-incentives-for-the-environment/
14. ↑ https://www.groundupcentral.sg/grants