The Opportunity
SMEEF is designed to access NEW money for marine environmental enhancement. We are reaching out to ALL sectors, and their supply chains, who make use of, or have an interest in, the Scottish marine environment and asking them to contribute to our grant pot.
SMEEF presents an unique opportunity to:
As a donor you will be invited to be part of the Contributors’ Forum where you can discuss issues of relevance and share your knowledge with SMEEF. We will also feature your logo on our website and reference you in our regular newsletters and in relevant media. You will receive regular updates on progress and we will also be happy to present to your key stakeholders about our work and what your contribution is helping to achieve.
Get Involved
SMEEF needs businesses to come forward and contribute to the grant pot.
SMEEF will provide your company with:
SMEEF is uniquely placed to ensure the greatest positive impact for nature and people. Get in touch now to discuss how your business can become involved.
SMEEF will help fight the biodiversity and climate emergencies by restoring marine ecosystems and we will work with business and individuals who are committed to achieve that. Our Ethical Contributions Policy sets out the details of how we work. You can read more about this below. For further details please get in touch.
SMEEF will generally accept contributions from anyone, and any business, with an interest in restoring the Scottish marine environment. We welcome both fixed cash payments or a variable percentage of profits approach.
SMEEF’s Ethical Contributions Policy sets out the terms of our acceptance and refusal of contributions to ensure they are in line with our core aims and do not compromise or create a risk to our own or our partners’ reputation, financial position or brand. It is important that all parties be wholly protected from any real or perceived impropriety through the offer or receipt of a contribution. By implementing this policy, we have a robust and informed decision making process for all contributions, partnerships and other opportunities.
SMEEF believes that harnessing the power of the private sector and philanthropy is crucial if we are to realise our vision and achieve the greatest impact for marine and coastal ecosystems in Scotland. SMEEF will therefore seek philanthropic support from anyone with an interest in the health of the Scottish marine and coastal environment, including from trusts, foundations and corporates in the UK and abroad.
It is particularly important for SMEEF to prevent any contribution from creating direct influence (real or perceived) upon Steering Group members and their organisations (NatureScot, Marine Scotland and Crown Estate Scotland), their processes or standards, including upon the outcomes and advice given relating to licences/marine applications etc.
SMEEF will take all reasonable measures to ensure it is aware of the source of funding for contributions and will undertake due diligence to ensure that contributions are for purposes consistent with SMEEF’s mission and that no legal or reputational issues are raised by their acceptance, including offences under the Criminal Finances Act. One such factor is the timing of a contribution, if it may be construed as influencing or having influenced (for example) a licencing or application outcome or a procurement process.
We will disclose immediately to the appropriate person/people any actual or apparent conflict of interest that a contribution may pose. This will include any concerns relating to a potential breach of the Criminal Finances Act in relation to the provision of philanthropic contribution receipts.
SMEEF will maintain an appropriate and auditable record for every contribution and contributor (individual, trust or corporate), held in an electronic database and will demonstrate the nature of the contribution and any benefits provided such as fund designation and naming rights.
Funds will not be transferred outside of SMEEF and will only be used to forward the aims of the Fund. A limited percentage of contributions will be used to cover fund overheads, including staff costs and fund management.
All contributors to SMEEF will be subject to appropriate checks which may include checks on publicly available information including:
We may also ask you to provide information about your ‘Route to Net Zero’ and your role in the Just Transition. Net Zero commitments will be tested using a range of accredited or otherwise credible sources such as membership of the UNFCCC Race to Net Zero and how the company is rated on the Transition Pathway Initiative online tool.
These checks will be proportionate to the donor and a report will be prepared and put to the Ethical Contributions Board (ECB) for recommendation. This will then be signed off by the Steering Group and the relevant financial authority within NatureScot.
SMEEF reserves the right to refuse contributions or terminate partnerships where the activities of the organisation or individual conflict with our goal of achieving lasting positive change for marine and coastal habitats and species in Scotland.
By contributing to SMEEF the business will need to declare that they:
SMEEF policies are regularly reviewed and are subject to change without notice.
SMEEF would like to thank the following businesses who have helped to build the funding pot. We are deeply grateful for their donations and support for the funding programme.
SMEEF would like to thank the following businesses who were able to contribute seed funding in order to get the programme established.
Core funding continues to be covered by Scottish Government Marine Scotland Directorate and Crown Estate Scotland. SMEEF is hosted by NatureScot.
The sizes of organisations involved with SMEEF vary considerably and operational issues, including COVID-19, mean their ability to pay into the Fund is also variable. All donations to the fund are welcome with the aim of establishing a sustainable rolling fund. We welcome multi-year funding, one off contributions or an agreement based on a percentage of profits.
Photos by ©Marine Conservation Society (Image 1-2) and ©Philip Prince/seawilding.org (Image 3)