Built by Nature Fund

Built by Nature’s Fund is a philanthropic grant-making fund that supports initiatives that accelerate the timber and biobased materials transition across the built environment, for the benefit of the public good. 

We fund projects that address key challenges to timber and biobased adoption in the market, as identified and prioritised by local frontrunner networks that we support in geographies where we work.

We fund projects supporting at least one of what we call “the big seven” demand-side stakeholders in the built environment industry, with the aim to support their adoption of mass timber. The big seven are: contractors-builders, developers, designers, investors, insurers, asset owners, and city governments.  

Applications to the Built by Nature Fund are by invitation only. To start exploring whether your idea is a fit for the Built by Nature Fund, you can complete and submit the Expression of Interest Form via the link above and the Built by Nature team will be in touch about next steps.

Submit your Expression of Interest.

We will do our best to get back to you in a timely manner, even when the response is negative, but due to a high number of submissions, we are not always able to get back to every single applicant. 

Anytime. Expressions of Interests are reviewed regularly and if aligned with our current priorities, can then be developed into proposals, which are then taken to the Built by Nature Investment Committee for review, and ultimately, to the Built by Nature Board for approval. Applications are reviewed by the Investment Committee on a quarterly basis.

Yes, but only if the applicant organisation can clearly demonstrate that the initiative is geared towards supporting the public good, and that no profit-making will be supported and/or derived from the proposed project. Please note that the Built by Nature Fund is not a venture capital investment fund, and therefore cannot fund for-profit entities in the pursuit of bringing their solution to market and/or scaling their venture. Instead, we fund projects that benefit the public good, meaning the sector, industry or market as a whole, without providing competitive advantage to any of the parties involved.

We fund projects that support frontrunners in our networks overcome challenges to building with biobased materials.  

We currently support frontrunner networks in six countries in Europe: the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. We also support one regional network in East Africa, spanning Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. 

Grants can go up to €500,000.00 per initiative. Please note that applications are expected to secure significant co-funding.

Applications below €50,000.00 benefit from a quicker application process. 

Successful applications are able to (1) showcase the gap or barrier in the adoption of timber and biobased materials that they are addressing, (2) clearly demonstrate the intent to contribute to the public good through the initiative, (3) target one or more of the “big seven” stakeholders, (4) demonstrate clear alignment with the relevant network priorities, (5) and secure co-funding from other funders as a way to demonstrate buy-in for the project.

Yes, if your proposed initiative fits with the Built by Nature Fund’s objectives, the Built by Nature team will discuss the proposal with you. Proposals typically go through a series of reviews and iterations before final submission.

An organisation may apply as many times as they wish to the Built by Nature Fund. However, as a general rule, we expect organisations to develop financial sustainability over the long term for their initiatives, so as not to rely on Built by Nature’s funding for more than two to three phases of the work.