Oak Foundation
Grants for climate change mitigation, wildlife conservation, and the conservation of marine resources
Principal Office: Switzerland
The Oak Foundation addresses issues of global social and environmental concern, particularly those that have impacts on the lives of the disadvantaged. The Foundation makes grants to organizations in approximately 40 countries.
Among several program areas funded by the Oak Foundation, the one of principal importance in the Terra Viva Grants Directory is Environment.
Grant Programs for Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Natural Resources
Environment. The environment program has themes in marine conservation, climate change, and wildlife conservation.
Energy — Oak’s strategy in marine conservation focuses on six areas: oil, gas, plastics and petrochemicals, clean power, transport, and sustainable cities. Oak will fund efforts to catalyze the deployment of clean energy technologies, supporting the transition away from coal, oil, and gas
Food — Grants support the protection and stewardship of marine resources to meet the food security needs of coastal communities, changes in food consumption patterns, and a shift in the norms of acceptable food marketing, e. g., through promoting heathy and sustainable food in China; reducing the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry in Europe; and reducing pesticide use in Brazil.
Natural Security — The Oak Foundation supports the rich biodiversity in Southern Africa and Southeast Asia by funding local and regional projects that focus on wildlife management, contribute to the disruption and reduction of illegal wildlife trade, or strengthen rural collectives and improving the distribution of benefits from natural wealth
(e.g., nature-based tourism and sustainable harvesting of wild species).
About the program in Environment
The Foundation makes grants to nonprofit organizations that include foundations, institutes, NGOs, associations, educational organizations, and others.
Grants in the environment program generally range from US$25 thousand to US$7 million.
APPLICATION: Most grant applications are invited by the Foundation’s staff, but the Foundation does accept unsolicited Letters of Inquiry.
Grant seekers are requested to study the Foundation’s grant-making criteria, and to review previous grants in its grants database.
Applicants that meet the Foundation’s requirements can submit Letters of Inquiry according to the relevant guidelines. Letters of inquiry may be submitted at any time.
About how to apply
Geographical Distribution of Grant Activities in Developing Countries
Worldwide
The Oak Foundation maintains a grants database.
The Oak Foundation in Zimbabwe helps to maintain and develop non-governmental organizations that have social, health, and education aims. One part of the Zimbabwe program is support for rural water supplies.
The India Program aims to improve the lives of the most marginalized groups; institutionalize practices that address poverty and social injustice; and build strong organisations at the grassroots.
The Brazil Program focuses on child abuse, issues affecting women, homelessness, human rights and the environment in the Recife metropolitan area.
Contact Us provides information for the Foundation’s offices in Geneva and worldwide.
September 2021