Blue Penguin Sustainability Grant
Applications are open for the Blue Penguin 2023 Sustainability Grants
Blue Penguin are taking applications for our 2023 grants.
What is available:
A) 10x NZD$15,000 Series A Grants
B) 3x NZD$50,000 Series B Grants
C) 1x NZD$200,000 Series C Grant
Who is invited to apply - Blue Penguin are directly approaching a small number of organisations that they view are positioned to have a positive impact in the sustainability/conservation space. If you have been sent this information please keep this confidential as we aren’t opening this process up to the broader network of all possible organisations to support.
Particular areas of interest:
Ocean Conservation
Sustainability
Marine Life and coral restoration
A summary of the planned use of funds to be submitted as part of the application process. The money needs to enable projects to happen in the next 12 months that would have not otherwise been able to move ahead, or to accelerate/upscale already established projects with a meaningful and measurable impact within a 12 month period.
Applications are Open
Timeline and expectations:
30th December 2022 Applications close + proposed use of funds submitted (you can submit applications at any point and if meeting key criteria we may approve ahead of the July deadline)
30 Jan 2023 - Successful applicant chosen and funds transferred to organisation
1 April 2023 - Progress report update emailed to Blue Penguin
1 July 2023 - Progress report update emailed to Blue Penguin
1 August 2023 - In-person virtual (or in person if possible) presentation at the Blue Penguin AGM in Fiji about work undertaken, as well as overview broader presentation of views on Sustainability/Conservation and the opportunities and challenges involved in having a meaningful impact in this space.
Applications to be sent to [email protected] and [email protected]
What is available:
A) 10x NZD$15,000 Series A Grants
B) 3x NZD$50,000 Series B Grants
C) 1x NZD$200,000 Series C Grant
Who is invited to apply - Blue Penguin are directly approaching a small number of organisations that they view are positioned to have a positive impact in the sustainability/conservation space. If you have been sent this information please keep this confidential as we aren’t opening this process up to the broader network of all possible organisations to support.
Particular areas of interest:
Ocean Conservation
Sustainability
Marine Life and coral restoration
A summary of the planned use of funds to be submitted as part of the application process. The money needs to enable projects to happen in the next 12 months that would have not otherwise been able to move ahead, or to accelerate/upscale already established projects with a meaningful and measurable impact within a 12 month period.
Applications are Open
Timeline and expectations:
30th December 2022 Applications close + proposed use of funds submitted (you can submit applications at any point and if meeting key criteria we may approve ahead of the July deadline)
30 Jan 2023 - Successful applicant chosen and funds transferred to organisation
1 April 2023 - Progress report update emailed to Blue Penguin
1 July 2023 - Progress report update emailed to Blue Penguin
1 August 2023 - In-person virtual (or in person if possible) presentation at the Blue Penguin AGM in Fiji about work undertaken, as well as overview broader presentation of views on Sustainability/Conservation and the opportunities and challenges involved in having a meaningful impact in this space.
Applications to be sent to [email protected] and [email protected]
Category / Criteria. As a guide for the scoring process for projects done by our internal advisory committee, below are some of the major categories we take into consideration:
Global Impact Potential - On a global scale, what impact is the likely to have over a 5-10 year period?
Bang for Buck - For the money required, how do we perceive
Management of project - How confident are we that the funds will go towards the designated project
Measurability/Visibility - How clearly can we measure if the project was successful?
Likelihood of success - What is the likelihood of this project achiving its stated objectives
The start of something special - Could this plant a seed to turn into something quite meaningful over time?
Meaning What would success mean? - How significant would this success be, and could it enable something that wasn’t possible before?
Unique Contribution - Is our contribution significant in the bigger scheme of the project? Is someone else lining up to fund this if we don't Would it happen anyway?
Global Impact Potential - On a global scale, what impact is the likely to have over a 5-10 year period?
Bang for Buck - For the money required, how do we perceive
Management of project - How confident are we that the funds will go towards the designated project
Measurability/Visibility - How clearly can we measure if the project was successful?
Likelihood of success - What is the likelihood of this project achiving its stated objectives
The start of something special - Could this plant a seed to turn into something quite meaningful over time?
Meaning What would success mean? - How significant would this success be, and could it enable something that wasn’t possible before?
Unique Contribution - Is our contribution significant in the bigger scheme of the project? Is someone else lining up to fund this if we don't Would it happen anyway?
2020 Winner of the Blue Penguin Sustainability Grant: Congratulations to Rob Macfarlane and Luke Gordon for their successful application “Broad-Scale Spatio-Temporal Movements of Reef Manta Rays (Mobula alfredi) in the Yasawa Island Chain”. This project has begun, and tagging is expected to commence in April 2020. You can view their proposal below.
Their project was completed mid 2021 and results will be published as part of an academic paper.
Their project was completed mid 2021 and results will be published as part of an academic paper.
| yasawa_research_proposal.pdf |
2021 Winner of the Blue Penguin Sustainability Grant: Rob Macfarlane from Barefoot Manta Resort, Fiji - for the creation of the Drawaka Conservation Trust. This new organisation will be supporting conservation efforts throughout the Yasawa Islands in Fiji. Half of the grant went towards the establishment of the trust, and the other half as seed funding for their first project.
2021 Resource Grant Winner: Asia Armstrong representing Project Manta and the Reef to Leaf Project run on Lady Elliot Island, Queensland, Australia. The resource funds are being used towards the purchase of a Drone + training of key staff on the use of the drone to observe behaviour of Mantarays around the Island.
Why did Blue Penguin support these specific projects: We were fortunate to meet in person with the individuals behind the proposals, they were already on the ground doing some great work. We asked them: what is something that isn’t already happening that could have a real impact, and we found a real niche in supporting people already started with certain projects, that were able to add on supplementary projects alongside at very minimal cost but with significant outcomes. We believe there is a sweet spot here on a more global scale, and this is why we are adding in 4x $5,000 Resource Grants in 2022.
2021 Resource Grant Winner: Asia Armstrong representing Project Manta and the Reef to Leaf Project run on Lady Elliot Island, Queensland, Australia. The resource funds are being used towards the purchase of a Drone + training of key staff on the use of the drone to observe behaviour of Mantarays around the Island.
Why did Blue Penguin support these specific projects: We were fortunate to meet in person with the individuals behind the proposals, they were already on the ground doing some great work. We asked them: what is something that isn’t already happening that could have a real impact, and we found a real niche in supporting people already started with certain projects, that were able to add on supplementary projects alongside at very minimal cost but with significant outcomes. We believe there is a sweet spot here on a more global scale, and this is why we are adding in 4x $5,000 Resource Grants in 2022.