Innovative Fundraising Approaches for Climate-Ready Charities 

As the world faces the climate crisis head-on, climate-ready charities have an incredible opportunity to lead the charge on sustainability while exploring new ways to secure funding. 

Embracing eco-friendly practices isn’t just about protecting the planet – it’s also a powerful way to inspire communities, open doors to new funding sources, and build resilience. Let’s dive into some creative and impactful fundraising ideas that will help climate-ready charities thrive while championing sustainability. 

Go Green with Grants 

To begin, there are several funders who will support projects that involve sustainability, energy efficiency, and climate resilience. Imagine using these funds to transform historic building with solar panels or implement waste-reduction initiatives. Biffa Award, is one such funder and funds projects that improve community access to recreational and cultural facilities, including parks, sports fields, community centres, museums, and heritage sites. Grants support projects that enhance local facilities, promote participation, and preserve cultural heritage, focusing on environmental sustainability and community engagement. 

John Ellerman Foundation also aims to advance the wellbeing of people, society and the natural world by focusing on the arts, environment and social action. The foundation has a dedicated Environment grant stream focussed on organisations playing their part in protecting waterways and the UK’s oceans. In 2024, grants ranged from £30,000 to £150,000 and the average grant size was around £106,000.  

Eco-conscious Donors 

Another way to fund sustainability initiatives is by partnering with eco-conscious donors. 

Many companies and philanthropists are actively looking to support organisations that align with their own climate and sustainability goals. You can research local companies to find out whether they have ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) policies or search lists of UK companies with top ESG policies to help you find the most appropriate partner for you to approach. By reaching out to donors with strong ESG commitments, organisations can build transformative partnerships that go beyond financial support. 

One standout example is WWF and Liz Earle. Together they are working towards restoring and protecting seagrass meadows along the Isle of Wight coastline (which is the home of Liz Earle) and across the UK. Through this partnership, Liz Earle is contributing funding and raising awareness among its customers about the importance of marine conservation. The initiative also includes community engagement and education efforts to inspire broader public support for the restoration of the UK’s blue carbon ecosystems. 

Crowdfunding for Climate Change 

Crowdfunding is another exciting way to raise funds for sustainability projects and strengthen community connections. By inviting supporters to contribute directly to specific projects, organisations can build a real sense of ownership and involvement. 

UK-based platforms like Crowdfunder UK and JustGiving are ideal for campaigns that focus on eco-friendly initiatives, like energy-efficient lighting, solar panels, or public programmes that raise awareness about climate issues. Crowdfunder UK even offers match funding for community projects, amplifying each supporter’s impact. 

One example of this is the work of Friends of the Earth which launched "The Bee Cause", a multi-channel campaign aimed at saving Britain's declining bee population. The campaign utilised various media channels, including press inserts, posters in trains, targeted press adverts, and social media. Donors were offered tangible incentives such as wildflower seeds for a £3 SMS donation, a bee saver kit for £15, and contributions towards a local "Bee World" for £100+. This approach not only raised awareness but also expanded their donor base by 25% in less than six months, generating £500,000 in immediate income. 

The Bridgend Farmhouse Community Project has also utilised crowdfunding to transform ed a derelict farmhouse into a hub for environmental education and community activities. Through a community share issue, the project raised over £70,000 which supported the restoration the property, a building which now offers workshops, classes, and events for the local community. 

Members Area 

Offering a membership scheme is another way for organisations to engage supporters while generating a steady stream of income. With climate-friendly perks, these initiatives can attract people who are committed to sustainable practices. 

Organisations can offer exclusive benefits like eco-friendly workshops or members-only events that explore sustainability topics. Membership schemes provide supporters with a way to stay connected, directly contributing to an organisation’s environmental goals while enjoying a deeper connection to the work. Platforms like Patreon or software such as Donorfy also make it easy to set up and manage these schemes. 

Free training & courses 

In response to the climate emergency, Bristol Old Vic developed an accredited Carbon Literacy training program for its staff and freelancers. They also made the course available, for free, to other UK theatres, promoting industry-wide climate action. This initiative integrates environmental awareness into the organisation's operations and fosters collaboration across the sector. Executive Director, Charlotte Geeves said: "Making the course available in this way gives organisations a quick way to develop a deeper understanding of the climate crisis alongside a platform to develop a company-wide action plan that suits their context. It's been so helpful for us to approach it in this way, and we hope it'll be a useful resource for the whole sector."  

These case studies demonstrate how smaller and community-focused organisations are implementing innovative fundraising and engagement strategies to support their climate and environmental missions. By exploring a blend of grants, eco-conscious partners, crowdfunding, membership models, and sustainability-focused events, climate-ready charities can tackle the fight against climate change head on.