Greater Good Grants

Support for making an impact

Launched in the midst of a pandemic, the Greater Good Grants (GGG) is a way to step up and uncover opportunities to extend help to communities and natural environments that need it the most.

Stemming from a belief that all businesses have a duty to do their part for society, GGG funds projects that benefit local communities and natural environments in countries where the Group operates.

Past Projects
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Community conservation of Borneo’s rainforests

Borneo’s vast peatland forests are home to the largest remaining orangutan populations, provide economic and social benefits for indigenous communities, and are major global carbon stores.

They have been destroyed by annual fires, but this project empowers rural communities to restore the forest with necessary resources and training. 

Safe Water Gardens

Access to clean running water is a basic human right, but possessed by only three families in rural Bumi Indah village in Bintan.

Pumps, water tanks and sinks were installed in 37 households delivering lifelong safe sanitation to homes, boosting self-esteem and reducing existing inequality between city and village populations.

Community stewardship of the Ghaghra-Sarju River

Strengthening community participation and amalgamating traditional lifestyles with conservation initiatives supports the conservation of unique aquatic wildlife and establishes a self-sustainable, community-led conservation model for others to follow.

This project provided alternate livelihood training in innovative small-scale farming and river tourism for locals, and education for 154 children.

Tackling agricultural waste

Agricultural waste in the Anlung Pring Protected Area, a high-priority wetland in Cambodia, threatens the resident population of globally threatened Sarus Crane.

A community-based waste disposal system was implemented in consultation with locals to better manage and dispose potentially hazardous agricultural chemical waste, mitigating risk of leaking potentially toxic agro-pollutants.

Addressing data gaps for devil rays

Species-specific data is needed to inform effective conservation and sustainable fisheries management of endangered devil rays in Indonesia.

Training was provided to sample 47 Giant Devil Rays and 61 Bentfin Devil Rays caught in small-scale fisheries in West Java, to further understanding of population boundaries of these highly mobile species.

Empowering communities in Mahakam Delta

The Mahakam Delta in Borneo provides significant carbon sequestration in the fight against climate change, and is home to critically endangered species.

This project reforests mangroves through a community nursery that establishes alternative livelihoods for locals, and supports these efforts with survival monitoring and awareness sessions.

Conservation of muntjac in Bach Ma

Bach Ma National Park is home to two endemic threatened species of muntjac deer. Information on their populations is sparse but urgently needed to create effective conservation strategies.

This project assesses populations using non-invasive scientifically robust systematic surveys from 40 camera-trap stations on the Bach Ma summit. 

Conservation of tortoises and freshwater turtles

Bach Ma National Park and Sao La Nature Reserve in Vietnam are home to critically endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles.

This project develops awareness surveys and conservation communications to support rescue and release of rehabilitated animals, reduce threats from illegal wildlife trade, and create a longer-term plan to support wildlife.

Building on our commitment to sustainable development, we offer annual grants to individuals or organisations that align with the Banyan Tree Global Foundation (BTGF) global framework within a local context to support measureable impact and progress towards larger regional or global frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals to help people and the planet.

Projects that do not meet the eligibility criteria, or unsolicited proposals outside of this funding call shall not be considered unless they are for urgent humanitarian need.

Due to the volume of applications, we cannot provide clarification on individual projects.

What we fund

All projects should be innovative and impactful, aligned with one or more of our six focal areas, and conducted within countries where Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts operate.

Projects must have a demonstrated need and urgency; should leverage local, regional and national partnerships necessary to deliver measurable impact, and shall be scalable with clear evaluation of success.

All projects must uphold the highest standards of ethical behaviour, honesty, fairness and transparency.

Biodiversity & Conservation: Improve understanding, conservation and management of species and habitats.
Resource Use & Waste Management: Innovative ways to tackle cradle-to-grave lifecycles of resources to benefit community, business and the environment.
Climate change & Resilience: Elucidate global change and develop resilience in natural and human systems.
Education & Empowerment: Develop education infrastructure, capacity and delivery to students of any age, with particular focus on disadvantaged members of society.
Health & Protection: Focus on health and wellbeing in local communities.
Culture & Livelihood: Develop, protect, restore and provide stewardship of culture and livelihoods.

Who we fund

Organisation affiliation is required to receive and administer the grant, grants will not be paid to personal bank accounts. NGO’s and international NGOs must demonstrate registration to operate in project county(s). At this time, we will not consider grant requests from government representatives; but they may be included as project partners to ensure project success.

Meeting the above criteria, Principle Investigators over the age of 18 at any level who have suitable skills and demonstrated experience are welcome to apply. Local collaboration is required if your project is outside of your home country. The Principle Investigator may only be recipient of a single grant at a time, but an organisation may have multiple projects if led by different investigators. Existing project recipients must have submitted their final report before being eligible for another grant.

The individual responsible for carrying out the project must apply and write the application: others may not submit in the name of the Principle Investigator. Individuals are required to consult a tax professional should taxes apply.
 

Applying for a Grant

Our 2023 call for proposals is now closed. Applicants shall be informed of outcomes in December 2022. Unsolicited proposals will not be considered at this time. Our next funding call deadline will be September 30, 2023.