We have always embraced a needs-based approach on our capital rather than chasing market rate returns. We set aside assets deemed “enough” for purpose and committed the rest of the capital for philanthropic purposes, to address urgent issues that the world is facing today. We embrace enough-ness precisely because we recognise our planet’s ecological limits and the need to shift one’s mindset from one of “accumulation” and “endless desire for more” to “recognising what is enough” and setting clear ceilings amidst the planet’s budgetary constraints.
We acknowledge the natural world as the foundation of our resources and common prosperity. For humanity to sustain life on Earth, we must fully integrate ourselves with nature. We have incorporated a strong climate lens across our portfolio since 2014 and have further integrated a nature lens in 2025. From philanthropy to public and private investments, we embrace nature in our capital deployment, management and engagement activities.
We are aware of the power we hold as a funder and how our funding may lead to unintended consequences for the communities we hope to serve. As a result, we aspire to support efforts to embrace local communities’ wisdom and lived experiences to ensure that they are appropriately involved in programmes.
We see that at the core of the meta-crisis is our current economic model that pursues endless growth, driving the depletion of essential natural resources. We need new models that are just and regenerative, allowing nature to flourish, which will also enrich human life. Through our catalytic capital initiative, Kulawan, we aim to demonstrate how new alternative economic models can benefit local communities and the natural environment they live in.
