No time to waste – an intro to the AEGN’s strategic plan and environmental philanthropy

The Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network’s purpose is to grow philanthropy to the environment and climate so that people and nature thrive. As you well know, we are living through the most critical decade for the planet, and what we do now matters more than at any other time in history. 

The AEGN is ever grateful for the work you do – be it in Indigenous land and sea management or climate justice, advocacy or nature conservation – thank you! 

As a member-led not-for-profit, we recently released a new 2023-25 strategic plan and we’d like to share it with you.

Please join us for an online information session introducing environmental philanthropy, the role of the AEGN and reflections from AEGN members on working with not-for-profits. Hear from AEGN’s CEO Amanda Martin and AEGN member Beth Mellick from the Wettenhall Environment Trust on philanthropy trends, connecting with funders and the importance of relationship building.

Speakers

Amanda Martin - CEO, Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network 

Amanda has worked in philanthropy for over 20 years, having worked as Executive Officer for the Poola Foundation for four years before helping to establish the AEGN in 2008.After years of participating in and helping with social and environmental change, Amanda believes that a key ingredient to making the world a better place is smart and strategic community groups working with smart and strategic philanthropy.She has a background in biodiversity and protected area advocacy and management, working in both the public and community sector. Previously, Amanda was the Executive Officer of the Victoria National Parks Association, and the Head of Policy and Planning at Parks Victoria. She is also a trained and skilled facilitator of groups and regularly uses this in her current role.

Beth Mellick – Executive Director, -Wettenhall Environment Trust 

Beth Mellick worked as an environmental activist in the grassroots sector for many years before being appointed Executive Director at Wettenhall Environment Trust (formerly The Norman Wettenhall Foundation) in 2007. Wettenhall Environment Trust is a small private charitable foundation with DGR 1 status. They have a board of Trustees who meet four times a year to approve project grants and evaluate grant outcomes. The day-to-day running of the organisation is left to Beth which involves holding events, communicating with potential grant recipients, liaising with participants in the landscape restoration portfolio, organising Trustee field trips, strategic planning meetings, publishing an annual report, and talking to donors and partners.