We partner with forward-thinking organisations fostering biodiversity and mitigating climate change.

We believe a good, just society within the boundaries of the planet is possible, and the people building it are already out there. Our job is to find them, back them, and stay close as the work unfolds.

We call this philosophy critical optimism. Not blind hope, but a conviction grounded in science, experience, and action.

OUR APPROACH

1 We focus on issues that matter deeply for biodiversity and climate but still lack the attention and resources they deserve.

That does not always mean chasing the newest idea. Work that has already shown results but lacks the resources to grow impact deserves just as much attention.

Two strategic priorities guide our work:

Two strategic priorities guide our work:

1 Investing in people to lead. We support communities and civil society in taking the lead in protecting nature and natural resources, and ensure communities have genuine power over the decisions that affect them and the natural world their lives are intertwined with. The ecological transformation will not succeed if it belongs only to those already in the room.

2 Directing capital towards nature. We promote innovative financing models for nature action, and emphasise approaches that benefit the people on the ground.

2 We support our partners in every way we can.

We partner with forward-thinking organisations creating profoundly better futures for the different inhabitants of the planet, from microbes to humans. Our role is to help our partners to succeed in their missions, in their own terms.

We provide financial support. We actively seek partnerships that align with our mission. We do not organize open grant calls. However, we consider proposals that align with the Foundation's priorities and criteria.

In addition to funding, we offer our expertise and networks to support our partners in meeting their needs and goals. We build relationships of trust with the people doing the work, stay close as their efforts develop, and learn alongside them about the issues, their organisations and the role we can play.

If you are interested in partnering with us, read more here.

3 We convene where needed.

Where alignment, shared strategy, or collective momentum is missing, we step in to convene stakeholders and help build common ground.

To further our goals, we also:

• Support, on a smaller scale, the promotion of equity and social inclusion among children and youth. We do not accept unsolicited proposals in this area.
• Invest responsibly. The management of RELEX Foundation's assets is outsourced and guided by the foundation's board and CEO. Responsibility forms the basis of our investment operations, as responsible investing advances our goals and protects our investments from risks.
• Minimize the adverse effects of our operations: As we seek to maximize the positive indirect impact of our grant-making and other activities on the environment and society, we also strive to minimize the climate emissions and other environmental and social harms caused by our operations. This involves choosing the most sustainable options and practicing thoughtful consumption, for example, overland travel when possible, plant-based catering, and renewable energy and materials.
  

Photo by Mohamed Nasar