The Organisation
EarthCare Foundation is a registered charitable institution under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance, Hong Kong SAR.
Our grant programme supports initiatives that address intersectional issues, from building sustainable and resilient food systems, to safeguarding livelihoods and accelerating the transition to systems that both uplifts people and protects nature. Through our philanthropy, we seek to foster much-needed cooperation among countries across Asia. Since our establishment in 2004 we have deployed over 100 grants.
As we approach the next half-century, EarthCare Foundation believes that sustainability must lie at the heart of all global solutions.
Our world is now at a critical juncture. The interconnectedness of global health, economic, social and environmental challenges means that we must tackle all these intersecting issues holistically to promote sustainable development. That’s why EarthCare Foundation supports solutions that address the indivisibility of the world’s most pressing issues.
Since laying down our roots 20 years ago, our Foundation has sought to drive sustainable and inclusive development across Asia. We believe cross-border partnerships and collaborations will propel much-needed progress for a better future. Through our grants, we support initiatives that improve the well-being of local communities, while safeguarding livelihoods and protecting the natural ecosystems of our planet.
Values
We value the intrinsic connection between human well-being and the health of our ecosystems. Recognising that biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation are driven by human actions, we commit to fostering respect for the natural world and working collaboratively to protect and restore it for the benefit of all living beings.
Vision
EarthCare Foundation envisions a prosperous future where humanity and nature can thrive in harmony for generations to come.
Mission
We believe in action. At the heart of our mission is to spark change for a better and brighter tomorrow. Through our philanthropic efforts, we support crucial initiatives across Asia, supporting the development of solutions that stand at the intersection of sustainable food systems, environmental protection, and climate resilience.
Our world is now at a major crossroads. We are living through the real impacts of climate change, while also grappling with the interrelated socio-economic issues of global inequality, food insecurity, as well as inadequate access to health, and education. As the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has highlighted, the impacts of climate change pose the severe threat of reversing the steady gains that many countries have made in recent decades.
Amid this pivotal point in human history, we remain steadfast in our commitment to champion projects that tackle our world’s most challenging issues in a holistic manner. We use our philanthropic capital to fund initiatives that aim to address these critical and intersectional issues. From restoring ecosystems to empowering local communities and developing sustainable livelihoods, all our supported initiatives are aligned with the ultimate goal of shaping a future that benefits both people and the planet.
Our Approach
What sets our work apart is our belief in cooperation and collaboration. The need for action to protect and conserve our precious natural world has never been more urgent, yet we are still grappling with a lack of partnerships and multi-pronged solutions to the world’s problems.
That’s why EarthCare Foundation’s grant programme is directed towards projects that aim to address issues not just within environmental protection and ecosystem restoration, but also the interrelations with food and agriculture systems and sustainable livelihoods. These solutions are core to creating an inclusive economy that prioritise the needs of communities, while safeguarding natural resources.
Here at EarthCare Foundation, we also believe that projects should build bridges. Fostering cross-border cooperation is essential to achieving sustainable development in Asia, as many of the impacts of climate change will affect countries across the region. The climate is set to bring on water scarcity, food insecurity and extreme weather events such as droughts, heatwaves and floods—all of which must be collectively tackled to strengthen our resilience. We therefore strategically support projects that identify mutual solutions and prioritise coalition-building amongst nations.
Finally, our work prioritises the local context. Locally-led climate solutions bring in grassroots communities within the region, harnessing local expertise and leveraging context-based traditional knowledge. This allows for better integration of socio-economic considerations, all while reaping environmental benefits for our climate and natural ecosystems.
Through our approach, EarthCare Foundation has deployed over 100 grants to environmental projects across Asia since our inception in 2004. These initiatives are all aligned with our mission to galvanise action towards a sustainable, healthy and equitable future.
Milestones
Over the past two decades, EarthCare Foundation has been dedicated to supporting projects across Asia, from the remote Pacific Islands to our home base in Hong Kong. All of these programmes are aligned with our core mission: to harmonise nature and humanity and develop climate solutions that simultaneously promote cross-border exchange, local livelihoods, and participation among civil society.
In the first decade since our founding, EarthCare Foundation has supported numerous projects that address issues such as the waste crisis, food systems and sustainable urban cities. These projects spanned from Hong Kong and China, to Thailand, Vietnam, and the Pacific Islands of Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea. In 2018, , the programme expanded to reforestation, soil restoration, regenerative agriculture and other climate-smart food security solutions. These initiatives, with ongoing projects, are based in China, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia.
2020 – ongoing
Ongoing climate smart rice for food security
2018 – ongoing
Regenerative agriculture for rural development
2018 – 2023
Reforestation, restoration of soil with benefits to local communities
2018 – 2021
Blue carbon and ecosystem restoration
2000
2010
2020
2006 – ongoing
Waste transformation and food systems
2005 – 2019
Working with indigenous communities to support their cultures and protect their lands and waters
2004 – 2014
Building circular & green economies
2002 – 2008
Ecological agriculture and sustainability in urban centres
Governance Philosophy and Management Structure
We place great importance on professionalism and uphold the highest integrity across our operations.
The governance of ECF is entrusted to a Board of Directors composed of five experienced individuals from diverse professional backgrounds who share our commitment to protecting the planet. Serving on a voluntary basis, trustees provide guidance and advice to ECF. Their responsibilities include approving the Foundation’s strategic direction and annual budget, and overseeing the yearly work plan.
To ensure strong checks and balances, ECF operates under a rigorous financial and grant management system. An advisory committee of three independent consultants who serve on a voluntary basis meets three times a year to review and approve grant expenditures in accordance with the annual programme and related progress outputs. This process ensures accountability and transparency in both project execution and financial management.
Our financial accounts are prepared per the Hong Kong Financial Reporting Standards. We engage a third-party accounting firm to conduct independent audits and ensure that our operations are upheld to the highest standards.
