Our Unique Model
What is the NRF Model?
NRF holds the land title.
We are the legal, permanent landholder. This ensures a donor’s gift is safe and their wishes are honoured.
NRF appoints stewards to manage the land.
We work with trusted stewards, often local community groups, to restore and care for the land.
NRF oversees steward and, if necessary, intervenes.
For example, if a steward becomes dysfunctional, then NRF either steps in with governance and resources to get the steward “back on its feet” or appoints a new steward to ensure land is protected over time.
Donors have flexibility.
Land donors can negotiate conditions for access, involvement, or even residence on the land. Your legacy remains yours. There are tax issues to consider here.
Why our model
is different
We secure permanent protection of critical biodiversity areas.
Our strategy moves beyond short-term agreements to deliver enduring conservation outcomes.
We appoint local organisations to steward and manage the land we own. They do so in accordance with the NRF’s ecological standards. This embeds accountability, local knowledge, and long-term care into every site.
Collaboration between Government, community and a not for profit organisation.
Want to know more?
The Nature Recovery Foundation offers a unique opportunity to protect and restore Bass Coast’s ecosystems through landscape scale conservation, community engagement, and strategic partnerships.
With only 15% of native vegetation remaining and with iconic species under threat, the Nature Recovery Foundation provides a model for success, drawing on past local achievements like the Scenic Estate Reserve and the Summerland Peninsula penguin sanctuary.
The NRF’s work is guided by strong governance and a commitment to scientific and traditional ecological knowledge.
By supporting the NRF, whether through philanthropy, land contributions, corporate partnerships, or community donation; investors and donors become part of a movement that delivers positive environmental impact, climate resilience, and intergenerational legacy for Bass Coast.
Together, we can protect, restore and enhance biodiversity, and inspire future generations to care for nature.
Support Our Mission
The NRF offers three meaningful pathways for donors, partners, and community members to make a lasting impact on the Bass Coast’s natural environment.
By participating in any of these pathways, you can help ensure the long-term protection of our unique local landscapes, while also supporting the wellbeing of the communities connected to them.
Pathway 1:
Land Donation
We enable landholders to protect land by transferring it into our trusted, non-profit organisation committed to long-term conservation. By donating land, you protect the land and all that goes with it. You also protect your legacy. Our approach:
Removes high biodiversity land from the property market to prevent future sale or development.
Places land in a secure structure backed by strong legal safeguards.
Ensures best-practice environmental stewardship for lasting ecological care.
Offers flexible arrangements – landholders and families can choose to remain on the land or opt for community-based management and stewardship.
Pathway 2:
Land Acquisition Fund
Our Land Acquisition Fund is designed for anyone seeking to contribute directly to the permanent protection of ecologically significant land. When you donate or invest in this pathway, your support goes toward strategic purchases of properties that are critical habitat for threatened species or serve as vital corridors connecting fragmented ecosystems.
By supporting the Land Acquisition Fund, you can:
Make a one-time or recurring donation to help secure land under legal protection.
Work with the Foundation to identify and prioritise land to acquire.
Participate in fundraising campaigns focused on specific conservation targets.
Receive updates and reports on the impact of your contribution, including success stories of newly protected areas and species benefitting from your support.
This pathway is ideal for individuals, families, foundations, and corporate partners who want to create a direct and enduring legacy for nature.
Pathway 3: Stewardship & Restoration Fund
The Stewardship & Restoration Fund enables donors and supporters to invest in the ongoing care and active management of land already acquired and protected. Contributions to this pathway will fund ecological restoration projects, such as revegetation, invasive species control, and habitat enhancement, as well as programs that involve the local community in stewardship activities.
By supporting the Stewardship & Restoration Fund you can:
Support hands-on restoration work and habitat improvement initiatives.
Fund educational and volunteer programs that foster community involvement and local stewardship.
Help maintain the health and resilience of protected land for future generations.
Collaborate with government, Landcare groups, and other partners to amplify the impact of restoration efforts.
Receive regular updates on restoration progress, biodiversity gains, and stories of community engagement.
This pathway is suited for those passionate about nurturing nature and ensuring that protected land continues to provide environmental and social benefits