Alternative donations for conservation
When I first started fundraising for conservation I thought money was the only resource needed to save a species. However, that was before working on a conservation project where I have received alternatives to money. I found these alternative donations were critical for implementing conservation.
What are these alternatives?
Non-monetary donations of expertise and time. Here are some examples and information on what inspired our donors.
Artwork
We had a problem. A critically endangered species called the Manumea or little dodo, with no good pictures to inspire conservation action. But a solution came in the form of Micheal Rothman, an artist of great talent. “Let me help,” he said after he read about our plight.
Over the next few months, he visited museums in New York to measure old Manumea skins collected on voyages in the 1800’s in the South Pacific. He also studied the lush native plants of Samoa emails expert botanists from these lands.
Then he drew.
Then he painted.
The result, a master piece to inspire us to save this species.
Fieldwork expertise
We also have had some skilled ecologists who joined us and volunteered their time and expertise. This increases the total amount of time we can be in the field and helps us build new skills in country.
Website development
Websites are key to getting a conservation message out. We have been lucky enough to have a talented web designer, Nicola Brady, use her expertise to develop a web product which has inspired donors and conservationists to save this species.
Cartoons, graphic design and a song
To successfully crowd-source funding you need a 3-minute video. This video has to inspire and grip people. Developing a movie was not our strong point. Luckily Steen Brady, was feeling inspired and designed a successful film. She is now working on the cartoon which will build awareness of the threats the Manumea face.
The song was created by environmentalist Dave Wong.
Some of these people I knew before and during the project. Others were complete strangers but are now part of our project.
Why did they do it?
I asked Mike Rothman what inspired him to contact us and he said “ I recall seeing an article about your work with the conservation of Samoan birds, which stimulated my interest. Being a fan of that type of activity, and feeling some kinship your pragmatic (and really arduous efforts), the idea of doing the painting immediately jumped into my head. I basically consider my own small contribution to your project to be in line with the concept of Tikkun Olam, which translates from the Hebrew, roughly, as “helping to heal the world”. I’m not religious, but it seemed like the right thing to do, or as my mother might have said “being constructive” or “being useful”. Nothing fancier than that.”
Thanks to all these great donors!
These skills and expertise have so much value, but they are often overlooked when a conservation project only looks for money funding. However if you do need tips on grant writing please read this. We would love to hear about your experience tapping into expertise and skills for conservation. Please write us a note below.
