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The Foundation supports environmental initiatives including bushland preservation, wildlife conservation, water management and environmental education and research programs.
 Greening Australia
Established in 1982, Greening Australia is the country’s largest environmental organisation. Greening Australia focuses on environmental issues including salinity, declining water quality, soil degradation, climate change and biodiversity loss through an innovative blend of practical experience, science, community engagement. The Macquarie Group Foundation has made a three-year commitment to fund the River Recovery Program. This program aims to restore the health and productivity of Australia’s key waterways. Greening Australia works with leading scientists and community groups to rehabilitate river systems across Australia.
 Surf Lifesaving, Australia
The Macquarie Group Foundation has entered a five-year partnership with Surf Life Saving Australia to help train the country’s 34,000 active surf lifesavers and improve safety for the beach-going public. We have contributed $A1 million to establish the Macquarie Group Foundation Surf Lifesavers Training Fund, as part of a $A20 million fundraising drive being undertaken by Surf Life Saving Australia in its centenary year.
The fund will ensure Australia’s surf lifesavers have access to the latest training techniques and specialised equipment, such as specialised mannequins and computerised rescue scenarios. In the initial phase, it will enable all Australian surf lifesavers to be updated in newly approved international resuscitation guidelines, in one of the biggest retraining programs of the past decade. It will also help recruit and train new lifesavers, as well as providing for courses to increase the base of accredited trainers.
Australian Museum's  Lizard Island Research Station, Australia
The Australian Museum's Lizard Island Research Station forms part of a network of research stations along Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Established in 1973, it attracts marine researchers from around the world.
As part of its 30th anniversary in 2003, the centre embarked on a major redevelopment to better accommodate the increasing number of scientists using the facility. The Macquarie Group Foundation committed four years funding to the project, including the construction of the Macquarie Education Centre. Completed in mid 2006, the education centre will accommodate high school and university student groups, run daily lectures and host seminar series where scientists can share their latest research findings.
The Foundation has also provided funding for the purchase and operation of two boats, to assist in the Island’s education activities. The boats, Mcquarie I and Macquarie II will enable student groups to be transported easily to the various sites around Lizard Island.
Bush Heritage Australia
Bush Heritage Australia is a national organisation that protects Australia's unique animals and plants and their habitats. Since 1990 Bush Heritage has been managing a network of conservation reserves across Australia. Threatened wildlife and natural ecosystems are safeguarded on these reserves.
 Waterkeepers Australia
Waterkeepers Australia is a new environmental organisation that works at a grass roots level to protect Australia's waterways. Established in 2004, it aims to build a network of community-based groups, each dedicated to their own local body of water. Through these networks, Waterkeepers also provides a strong community voice to speak on behalf of local waterways.
Because it relies so heavily on community involvement, good communications is essential to Waterkeepers’ success. To that end, the Macquarie Group Foundation has provided a three-year capacity building grant to enable Waterkeepers to implement a formal communications strategy and embark on its next stage of growth. This follows an earlier Foundation grant that was provided in Waterkeepers’ start-up phase.
 Steve Irwin Fellowship, Australia
The Steve Irwin Fellowship was developed by the Australian Consulate-General in Chicago, in conjunction with the John G. Shedd Aquarium, with funding from the Macquarie Group Foundation. The Fellowship is a tribute to Steve Irwin’s work in the area of animal and wildlife conservation.
The inaugural winner of the Fellowship is Chicago teenager Matt Basile. As part of the fellowship, Matt travelled to Australia for two weeks to work closely with staff at Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo in Queensland and Australia’s historical Taronga Zoo in Sydney.
Other Environmental initiatives
Other Environmental programmes supported by the Foundation and our staff include: National Parks Association of NSW, Historic Houses Trust, Earthwatch Institute, Australian Maritime College, Coastguard Northern Region (NZ), Perth Zoo, Birds Australia and RSPCA.
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