Our general guidelines and exclusions apply to all 5 categories. Please study them carefully. Please also look at the list of current beneficiariesas a guide. What follows is a brief explanation of the main focus of our current grant-making in each category and of the themes we particularly favour. Such is the competition for funds that if your work does not match our themes it is unlikely to be funded.
Conservation of the environment and natural world is a category reflecting the fact that Sir John Ellerman was a distinguished zoologist and expert on small mammals. This is one of the two smallest categories. In 2007/08, a total of 22 charities received £471,000 between them.
Main Focus
At present the focus of our funding is UK-based charities working throughout the UK and/or internationally in at least one of the following areas:
• Protection of threatened animals, plants and habitats
• Promotion of better understanding of and solutions to major environmental issues like climate change and biodiversity
• Development and extension of conservation facilities/sites
• Promotion of sustainable ways of living, including renewable energy technologies
Particular Themes and Concerns
The Foundation is particularly interested in charities which can demonstrate all or most of the following:
• Practical and sustainable benefits of significant scale
• Collaborative work with others and the open sharing of ideas
• Effective operation with or alongside local communities and cultures
• Recruitment, training and employment of a broad base of volunteers