Through the projects we support, our vision is to create a collective commitment to preserving our environment for future generations. To support our vision, we have developed values which are core to our organisation and to the family and friends who have worked to create Elgol Fund for Nature. These values inform both how we work and what is important to us.
Our Core Values
Alongside our themes and approaches, it is essential that the projects we fund align with all of the following core values.
Climate Concerned
We understand that the dual crises of biodiversity loss and climate change are strongly interlinked. Whilst at Elgol Fund for Nature our focus is on wildlife conservation projects, we encourage applicants to use a climate lens to inform their work. It is important to consider both how a changing climate might affect the outcomes of a project, and how protecting nature might slow the effects of climate change.
Transparency Driven
At Elgol Fund for Nature we strive to be open and honest about our work. We also value transparency from our grant applicants throughout the application process and project delivery. In particular, we encourage openness with regards to the feasibility of project outcomes considering time, budget, capabilities and scale. We also urge effective reporting and transparency when it comes to both successes and failures of a project. Sometimes things don’t go to plan, but understanding what doesn’t work, and the lessons learnt is important for the progression of conservation techniques and future project success.
Collaborative Approach
We want to form valuable relationships with our partners. We respect organisations and projects which are collaborative, partnering with other stakeholders and organisations in relevant fields. At Elgol Fund for Nature we encourage the sharing of knowledge and skills with others, ensuring that efforts aren’t duplicated and that effective partnership networks are formed for future project collaboration, and for maximising return on all funding.
Data Intensive & Impact Led
We strongly favour data-driven and impact-led projects, with an emphasis on evidence at all stages of a project’s lifespan. We particularly support work which utilises or applies the wealth of previous conservation research and evidence on the ground. Alternatively, we promote efforts to gather baseline data for conservation topics which severely lack research, but which is likely to provide insight and inform action.
We encourage projects to consider the evidence:
- of the problem they intend to address
- for the methods they intend to use
- of whether their techniques have been successful or not, once results are apparent.
Social Awareness
We value organisations which understand and consider the social context and social issues of their work, such as environmental social justice or political changes which affect conservation, economic impacts and diversity across the sector. It is essential that organisations and project partners actively promote equity, diversity and inclusivity throughout their work and within their teams.