Spotlight on new giving area – Environment

The Foundation Board has added a broad new partnership focus centred around the environment, reflecting the increasing engagement of philanthropy in seeking innovative ways to help manage resources and address climate challenges in a sustainable manner.

Two new charity partnerships have been approved in 2021, aiming to deliver impact linked to Pinnacle’s broad sustainability strategy and the wider UN SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).

Peter Cullen Water and Environment Trust

Together with Pinnacle’s affiliate Riparian, a partnership has been initiated with the Peter Cullen Water and Environment Trust in the ACT, directly supporting their Women in Water (WiW) Program. The Trust bridges the gap between people, science, and the environment. It was founded on the philosophy that, to improve Australia’s water and environmental management, we need to enhance the link between good science and effective policy making. This requires effective leadership skills, particularly around how to best communicate in ways that bring science to life and make it relevant for politicians and policy makers.

Supporting the Women in Water Program is an integral part of achieving these strategic goals, through increasing the current diversity of thought, experience and networks included at policy and decision making tables. This partnership aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 – To ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Photo credit: Tanya Doody

Foundation for Regional and Rural Renewal

The Foundation for Regional and Rural Renewal (FRRR) provides funding and capacity building support at the hyper-local level, enabling community-led solutions that build resilience and long-term viability and vitality of smaller remote, rural, and regional communities across Australia. It is the only national foundation specifically focused on ensuring the social and economic strength of these communities.

The Pinnacle Charitable Foundation has supported FRRR on several occasions over the past 10 years via niche funding during times of natural disaster. With the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters, including drought and floods, the Foundation has deliberately sought to increase its support for FRRR in 2021, with a significant commitment of $150,000. Funding is to be split across 3 program priorities including Future Drought Fund, Strengthening Rural Communities, and Disaster Resilience programs. These programs will address UN Sustainable Development Goal 13 – Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, and particularly Target 13.1 to “strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries”.

FRRR will also be collaborating with another Foundation key partner in R U OK?, to help build relationships and a greater R U OK? presence during visits in regional NSW and Victorian communities. R U OK? aims to promote informal community care together with local organisations, suicide prevention networks and social connection programs which are focused on mental wellbeing.

FRRR profiled the Pinnacle Charitable Foundation’s philanthropic support in their recent November Donor newsletter, which you can read here.