This is according to the EFA member Deutscher Fundraising Verband (DFRV), and the museum of modern ahrts, an organisation created as a memorial for the disaster in the Ahr Valley, which caused nearly 200 deaths in the country.

The two organisations have written a joint letter to German finance minister Christian Lindner, which was handed to his advisers at an event in June.

The letter points out that climate change means such disasters may be more common in future, making it important that civil society and financial laws are able to respond quickly and effectively.

It also reiterates three requests already made by DFRV last year, on the first anniversary of the flood.

They are:

• an amendment of tax regulations to enable emergency and disaster aid work to be classified as a nonprofit activity, regardless of whether it is organised by a registered charity.
• a wider modernisation of nonprofit law, to reduce bureaucracy & increase support for the sector.
• greater cooperation between organisations responding to a crisis, as well as more transparency and consultation with state sponsors and insurance companies.

The letter notes that this reform to the tax code has already been set out as a plan in the Government’s coalition agreement.

Daniel Koller of the museum of modern ahrts told news website Focus Online:

“We urgently need this disaster-proof reform now. Past disasters, such as the flood in the Ahr Valley, have proven clearly that the current legal regulation of donations in the event of a disaster is not sufficient.”

The letter also invited Lindner to visit the memorial, and talk to those affected by the floods.

Martin Georgi, chair of DFRV, told Focus Online that the fundraising sector had been aware of this problem since 2002, when the Elbe and Vltava rivers flooded, also causing more than 200 deaths in Central Europe. It also raised awareness of the issue at the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

 Picture by Max Gerlach via Flickr, used under Creative Commons

The organisations span environment, international development, education, trade union, disability inclusion, trade, humanitarian, business, and faith groups, and include WWF-UK, ActionAid UK, Tearfund, World Vision UK, Friends of the Earth, and Oxfam GB.

The letter is in response to recent claims that the UK government has effectively abandoned its commitment to provide £11.6bn climate finance between April 2021 and March 2026. The civil society groups are calling for the government to fulfil its commitment and to urgently demonstrate how it will be met.

The letter says:

“Climate finance is a vital component of the Paris Agreement, without which limiting the rise in global temperature to 1.5°C will not be possible; without which the devastation of climate change will cost countless lives and livelihoods around the world for those least responsible for causing the climate crisis and cause irreversible damage to the ecosystems on which they depend; and without which meaningful international cooperation on climate action would collapse.

“The world cannot afford such tragedies from short-sighted decisions.

“Climate finance is not a handout, but a debt we owe to countries and communities that have been made vulnerable to climate change, while the UK has benefited from burning fossil fuels.”

Commenting on 7 July – the date the letter was sent – Catherine Pettengell, Executive Director of Climate Action Network UK (CAN-UK), which is the organisation that coordinated the letter, said:

“Today’s letter from more than 90 civil society organisations in the UK demonstrates the strength and breadth of support for UK climate finance. This government must not turn its back on countries and communities least responsible for the climate crisis but suffering its worst impacts. True leadership means taking responsibility for the UK’s historical emissions and the wealth that has generated and giving back fairly, to secure a better future for everyone.”

Rachel Simon, Policy Coordinator International Climate Finance, Climate Action Network Europe commented:

“If the UK cuts its climate finance commitment it would destroy its international credibility, at a time when multilateral trust on climate action is more necessary than ever. More importantly, while this cut represents a tiny fraction of the UK’s public budget, it would have devastating impacts on people in the Global South’s resilience to climate change.

“Given the UK’s historical responsibility for the climate crisis it has a moral obligation to increase, not cut, its climate finance and put a concrete plan for spending in place.”

Picture by Tama66 on Pixabay

Cited as the world’s best and last chance to get spiralling climate change under control, the United Nations’ annual climate change conference COP26 is well underway in Scotland. Global leaders have set out a raft of new pledges to end deforestation, halve emissions in little over eight years and to boost investment in renewable energy, all in a desperate plea to protect the planet, limiting further global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees.

Climate change is nothing new, but rising sea levels and ocean acidity, increasingly erratic weather patterns, wildfires and flash flooding, shrinking glaciers and arctic ice all highlight the devastating impact of human activity on the planet. The burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, farming methods and food production are key culprits in releasing harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, escalating global temperatures. And while climate change has implications for us all, it will inevitably be the most disadvantaged and vulnerable communities that bear the brunt.

COP26 serves as a watershed moment; a shift of focus from the pandemic to the urgency of protecting our planet from global warming and the need for us all to take action and drive change. So what can fundraisers do to make the shift to greener fundraising?

Recognise that protecting the climate is part of your mission

Protecting the environment and natural habitats may well only be set out within the mission statement of a fraction of organisations within the nonprofit sector, but climate change has the potential to influence every organisation and their beneficiaries globally. In other words, it’s a shared mission that transcends and unites the sector.

Recognition of the role of nonprofits and philanthropy within that movement is a key first step. Already, 350 foundations globally have committed to the International Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change, making the climate crisis an integral part of their remit and funding decisions. Funders, corporate partners and donors alike want to see the organisations they engage with taking action.

“I cannot think of any issue that is more important than fighting climate change and the threats against our ecosystems,” says Andreas Drufva, marketing and fundraising director at the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation. “It’s one of the most challenging and critical tasks facing civilisation. As each year passes, it becomes clearer that time is running out. Almost everyone recognises that we need to act now. We have to do things differently.

“We’ve seen with the pandemic that when people really put their hearts, minds and resources into a crisis we can create unimaginable change. Nobody thought a vaccine could be developed in under a year, but it was. We now need to look at climate change in a similar way, recognising that we all have a role to play.”

Take it one step at a time

Although Drufva believes that we all need to contribute to a more sustainable future, he stresses that it’s important to be realistic about what can be achieved and not to be overwhelmed, saying: “We can’t change everything at once. Even the smallest step in the right direction is a reason to celebrate.” 

Ciara Golding, supporter experience manager at Friends of the Earth agrees, emphasising that the responsibility for making change has to sit with government and big businesses, but that there are simple changes fundraisers can make too.

She recommends taking it one step at a time, saying: “Sometimes it helps to think of one improvement and start with that. Whether it’s reducing your print or stopping buying balloons, that first step gives you the confidence to find new solutions that are better for the planet and supporters will really appreciate that. And if you do something that’s good for the planet, be sure to tell people. It will engage your supporters, they will love you for it.”

Making a start with fundraising merchandise

Charities work hard to make their supporters feel special and strengthen their connection with the brand, offering a range of promotional materials. But all too often, charity merchandise is single-use and hard to recycle, creating considerable waste. Plastic items are particularly problematic and not only from an ocean waste perspective. Plastic is cheap to create and notoriously hard to break down. It’s also one of the most greenhouse gas intensive industries in the manufacturing sector. This leaves fundraisers searching for suitable reusable alternatives that won’t break the bank.

Fruzsi Kozma, community fundraising & events manager at WWF UK, says: “As a fundraiser, it’s tricky. We all want our supporters to have the best fundraising journey and to feel valued. For many years, charity supporters have been given a range of goodies to use in their fundraising events and many still want that. But we’re starting to see a change in mindset now. Supporters know these things can be harmful for the environment and they want us to find more sustainable solutions.

“At events, we use cowbells, tambourines, our voices, t-shirts that we can wear again and again. We also encourage all our participants and volunteers to bring their own refillable water bottles to events.”

She advises fundraisers to talk to their supporters to explore whether they really want physical items or printed fundraising packs, adding: “Sometimes we forget how valuable those conversations are.”

Golding too encourages fundraisers to steer clear of single-use plastics, opting for reusable items. And when that isn’t possible, it’s important to make sure goods are recyclable or can be properly composted.

Sharing the approach at Friends of the Earth, she says: “Where we have activism and campaign events, we use flags, hardboard placards, which we update with different posters, and we have these great papier-mâché Earth Heads, which we make in the office. They don’t last forever, but we re-use them and do them up so that we can keep them going for as long as we can.

“Instead of giving balloons to our supporters, we give them templates to make their own bunting to bring along to our events. Our supporters love this approach of sustainable craftivism. It’s simple and fun; something they can do as part of their fundraising, inviting their friends to come along and get involved in the same way they would a coffee morning.”

Papier-mâché ‘Earth Heads’, Friends of the Earth

Being responsible with mail

Mail is a vital fundraising channel for so many charities, but it can be a minefield when it comes to environmental issues. Although paper can be recycled, there are many issues to consider in terms of selecting the right paper (deforestation-free and recyclable), sourcing vegetable or biodegradable inks, opting for plastic-free and windowless envelopes, not forgetting applying the right recycling logos.

Then there’s also the issue of quantity. Too much mail or poorly targeted campaigns can create considerable amounts of waste. Understanding people’s preferences and whether some supporters would prefer to be contacted via digital or other means is important.

Golding comments: “There’s a big question around things like print and mailing packs. Supporters want us to save money and to save trees, but we have a need to reach out and ask for support and it’s often the case that eco alternatives cost more. So, it’s not always easy to find the right balance.”

“Friends of the Earth supporters are acutely aware of environmental issues and we have a print policy that covers a whole range of issues from the type of paper and ink we use through to the accreditations we expect from our suppliers and where to print the recycle logo.”

She adds that the charity rarely includes gifts in its packs, with the exception of gifts of seeded paper or a pack of seeds, which both go down well with supporters.

Kozma adds: “We generally encourage people to think carefully before they print, to ensure they use FSC paper, that it’s recyclable and that we move away from envelopes with plastic windows.

“It’s really important to check fundraising materials carefully to minimise waste and to use those resources wisely. For example, we often use both sides of a poster with one side as a game and the reverse being a thank you message for supporters, which they can display afterwards.”

Suzanne Lewis, charity data specialist at Arc Data, says: “The days of mass blanket acquisition mailings have gone. Intelligent data selections, based on the cause and supporter behavioural insights, should see campaigns focused on much tighter and smaller volumes with much higher potential – in essence, we should be contacting only those people who are most likely to want to engage with our charity.

“In this way we can achieve effective campaigns with great results while eliminating unnecessary wastage of paper, production and distribution, and the associated costs and carbon footprint.” 

Lewis also emphasises the importance of ensuring that data hygiene is up to scratch to avoid waste mail packs, advising fundraisers to be sure their data is regularly cleaned of duplicate and incomplete addresses, saying: “Bad data does nothing for your charity nor the planet.”

Orangutan in the Bourneo rainforest, where deforestation is their biggest threat. Photo by Simone Millward on Unsplash.

Events that build brand and engage communities, without harming the environment

From fun runs and marathons to concerts and coffee mornings, events have long been a key part of the fundraising mix, connecting supporters with the cause and with each other. Kozma says: “Fundraising events are a wonderful opportunity to engage with supporters and the community, but we need to ensure that they don’t inadvertently add to the challenge of climate crisis.”

There are a whole host of challenges when it comes to events, from selecting venues and third parties with suitable environmental policies through to protecting the land itself. Increasingly, nonprofits are providing digital tickets and fundraising packs rather than printed items, and medals and t-shirts made of sustainably sourced materials. As well as issues around merchandise, fundraisers also need to consider the travel implications for attendees, and food.

If the venue is accessible by public transport, the carbon footprint will likely be far lower than somewhere that requires delegates to drive. If not, is it possible to arrange dedicated group travel by coach or other means? In its Toolkit on Environmental Change, the Chartered Institute of Fundraising (UK) encourages fundraisers to consider offering guidance for attendees about how they can get to the event with the least impact on the environment.

Cutting food waste is an important step to help cut emissions. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United States (FAO) estimates that around one third of all food produced globally goes to waste, meaning that catering quantities for events need to be carefully considered. Food production is said to be responsible for well over a third of the world’s greenhouse gases, with meat accounting for almost 60% of those emissions, so removing or reducing meat from the menu is certainly a step in the right direction. So too is minimising un-necessary packaging.

Avoiding rather than offsetting air travel

In most cases, fundraisers are unlikely to be heavy jet-setters. The costs alone can be prohibitive. Plus, it’s well understood that the emissions from aviation are a growing concern for global warming.

But at times – to visit beneficiaries, to attend key conferences and in-person events – travelling by air can be unavoidable. Ina Toften, communications and fundraising director of WWF Norway, advises organisations to try to reduce their air travel and, if a trip is necessary, to consider lengthening the stay to make best use of the trip.

Carbon offsetting programmes are gaining ground. These enable individuals and organisations to pay for environmental projects that reduce carbon emissions with the aim of balancing out their own carbon footprints. While environmental programmes such as reforestation and replanting are widely encouraged, there is much scepticism about carbon offsetting, as set out in this blog.

Golding comments: “Offsetting can be a bit of a farce. You can’t buy and sell the right to release carbon into the environment. And you can’t pull that carbon back into the earth. We simply need to cut our emissions and fast.”

Pesalat Reforestation Project in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Photo by James Anderson, World Resources Institute.

Making change that will stick for the long-term

As the world tries to build back better and greener, fundraising organisations are striving to be ahead of the curve. While eco-friendly options can be more expensive, more solutions are becoming available all the time and, as Kozma, says: “We have to think about the bigger picture and the environmental costs that might come down the line.”

Of course, tackling climate change is no quick win. It takes time to research and source new avenues and solutions that strike a balance in meeting the needs of beneficiaries, building and sustaining supporter relationships, while protecting the environment.

Drufva believes that fundraisers need to look at everything they do through an environmental lens seeing where positive changes can be made, saying: “We should all be asking ourselves what actions could be harmful to the environment and make conscious choices as to what we could be doing differently. Once you’ve identified areas for change, it’s important to set targets and KPIs that will ensure those changes are met. That might include cutting your air travel budget by half, committing to offset carbon emissions and shifting a proportion of your mail to digital channels.” 

To build a greener fundraising future and a pathway that will stick for the long-term, responsibility for the environment cannot sit with one person alone. It needs to be entrenched across the organisation. In its toolkit, the Chartered Institute of Fundraising recommends a raft of measures to draw environmental thinking into the organisation’s culture and ethos. These include opening up the conversation at board level, setting up a green team or task group to enact change, building understanding around the organisation’s carbon footprint and setting targets for reducing emissions.  It also highlights the importance of weaving in environmental thinking into relevant organisational policies around such areas as carbon emissions, ethical investment, the acceptance or refusal of donations, print and procurement.

Climate change is undoubtedly an emergency situation, but as Kozma concludes: “It’s not too late to make a difference.”

Useful links:

COP26 Explained (Cop26)
Environmental change: A toolkit for fundraisers (Chartered Institute of Fundraising)
A simple guide to climate change (BBC)
Third Sector and Net Zero (SCVO)
Philanthropy as a new way to mobilise finance for impact (Philanthropy Advocacy)

Main feature photo by kazuend on Unsplash

The International Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change launched in July and is a new initiative hosted by WINGS, which is a network of philanthropy development and support organisations. It calls on philanthropic organisations around the world, regardless of mission, status or geographic location, to come together.

At the core of the Commitment is the belief that all foundations and philanthropic organisations can and should play a role in addressing the climate emergency, with the Commitment aiming to make this a reality. As such it asks foundations and other philanthropic organisations to integrate climate consideration into every part of their operations.

Signatories will share learnings, resources and experiences with their peers, with support from a network of regional champions around the world.

Signing the International Commitment is a four-step process: first organisations must register their interest, and WINGS will then send a link to the application form. Once submitted, WINGS will review it and respond within 4-6 weeks.

Once approved, organisations are listed as a signatory on the website of the International Commitment.

The Commitment was developed by WINGS, with the help of Dafne’s Philanthropy Coalition for Climate and more than 40 philanthropy associations across the globe collectively representing over 22,000 foundations and funders. A dedicated WINGS Climate Task Force made up of over 40 foundation networks and philanthropy support organisations from 21 countries around the world and representing around 22.500 funders is supporting the development and sharing of the Commitment.

Across Europe, a number of national commitments on climate change have also been started, with the new International Commitment running in parallel to those in France, Spain and the UK, which are organised by the Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF), the Centre Français des Fonds et Fondations (CFF) and the Asociación Española de Fundaciones (AEF), and a European Philanthropy Coalition for Climate organised by Dafne.

More are to follow, with national associations of donors and foundations in Austria, Finland, Poland and Switzerland also currently exploring how to best set up national funder commitments on climate change.

Photo by Markus Spiske on Pexels

Recognising that climate concerns present a ‘serious risk’ to the pursuit of philanthropic aims, the consortium encourages all organisations with philanthropic resources – whatever their mission or field of expertise – to play their part and commit to driving change.

The coalition emphasises that philanthropic organisations, which hold assets for the common good, have a responsibility to use their resources, independence and influence to rise to the challenge. It states that there is less than a 10-year window to achieve change, saying:

“If we don’t act now, how can we be sure that we can act tomorrow?”

“The philanthropy sector has a unique, catalytic role and can help to bring about the necessary changes to ensure that everyone has equitable access to opportunities arising from the transition to a low carbon economy, and to ensure that the costs are not disproportionately borne by those who are least able to pay.”

The climate commitment statement covers seven core areas, ranging from education and learning to endowments and assets, operations to transparency. To find out more about the initiative and to sign up, see the campaign website at philanthropyforclimate.org.