Overview

A sustainable future is fundamental to our vision for Australia. Environmental sustainability is one of the Sidney Myer Fund and The Myer Foundation’s five core values while addressing climate change is one of the two abiding themes of the current (FY19–23) strategic plan.

Our philanthropy is informed by the Sustainable Development Goals and we recognise the imperative of the UN Paris Agreement to limit global warming to at least 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, reinforced by the IPCC’s Global Warming of 1.5⁰C Special Report (2018) and Physical Science Basis Report (2021). Urgent action is required now to at least halve emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050. Greater ambition, a plan for action, and economic, social and environmental transition are crucial to meeting global climate goals this decade.

The Myer Foundation is pursuing a suite of strategies – a portfolio approach – to advance our commitment to environmental sustainability. Grantmaking supports organisations taking discrete but complementary approaches to effecting systemic change, as well as direct action through the investment of The Myer Foundation’s own financial resources, more than 90% of which are now invested in ESG (environmental, social, governance) assets. While environmental sustainability is largely the remit of The Myer Foundation, the Sustainability & Environment Program's budget has been augmented by the Sidney Myer Fund, which has invested a material proportion of its own corpus into ESG assets.

Sustainability & Environment Program Grantmaking

The Sustainability & Environment Program’s focus area for the current strategic period is to support organisations that seek to influence key stakeholders to take action on climate change. In line with the Sidney Myer Fund and The Myer Foundation’s strategic pillar of organisations, multi-year grants will be made to organisations whose purpose and work as a whole align with the focus area.

Should you believe your organisation’s work as a whole aligns with the focus area please send a brief email to admin@myerfoundation.org.au for the attention of the Program Manager.

Organisations must meet a range of eligibility criteria to be considered for funding. Projects, programs, initiatives, departments and/or campaigns will not be considered. The Sustainability & Environment Program does not accept unsolicited applications.

Catalysing change: Watertrust Australia Ltd

Australia is the driest inhabited continent and has some of the most highly variable rainfall and run-off on Earth. Long-term, sustainable management of our waters and catchments is of critical importance. The Myer Foundation and The Ian Potter Foundation shared a vision to create a new, independent and authoritative centre that can rebuild trust and work collaboratively with all stakeholders to find common ground on water and catchment policy reforms. A coalition of 16 philanthropic funders has now committed to investing in the future by establishing a national and fully independent centre focused on helping improve the way decisions are made about water and catchments across Australia.

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Transitioning to 100 percent sustainable investing

In 2020, The Myer Foundation undertook a significant portfolio restructure to fast track our goal to achieve 100 percent ESG (environmental, social, governance) aligned investments. We are now rapidly approaching this goal, two years ahead of schedule.

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Current grantees

During the current strategic period FY19-23, the Sustainability & Environment Program is supporting the following organisations: