Climate change is a key issue of our time, one that poses a significant global threat and which we are addressing by striving to ensure an equitable, resilient, habitable, and enjoyable world for current and future generations.
We are focused on investing in regenerative biological systems that influence the carbon cycle (“biocarbon”), reducing dependency on fossil fuels, and promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency. We have chosen to focus our 2016 grantmaking on efforts to hasten the demise of coal and on work that increases the abilities of the forests, agricultural lands, and estuaries of the Pacific Northwest to sequester carbon.
While our work is focused on climate change, we believe in the value of ecosystems services and in the stability and resiliency of healthy natural systems. We also believe it is essential that the cost of externalities be incorporated into lifestyle, policy, and business considerations.
We award grants in Washington and Oregon. We may occasionally fund projects outside of the Pacific Northwest at the family's discretion but are not actively seeking partnerships outside of the region.
While our work is focused on climate change, we believe in the value of ecosystems services and in the stability and resiliency of healthy natural systems. We also believe it is essential that the cost of externalities be incorporated into lifestyle, policy, and business considerations.
We award grants in Washington and Oregon. We may occasionally fund projects outside of the Pacific Northwest at the family's discretion but are not actively seeking partnerships outside of the region.
2016 Climate Change Grants
- As You Sow (CA) $40,000 to support the Ending Coal in the U.S. corporate engagement campaign focused on moving coal-fired electric utilities to business models that embrace large-scale uptake of renewable energy and energy efficiency. As You Sow's mission is to promote environmental and social corporate responsibility through shareholder advocacy, coalition building, and innovative legal strategies.
- Center for Sustainable Economy (OR) $15,000 to support production of high quality information about the current status of forest carbon emissions and sequestration forestlands in Oregon and Washington. The Center's mission is to speed the transition to a sustainable society.
- Climate Solutions (WA) $20,000 general operating support. Climate Solutions' mission is to accelerate practical and profitable solutions to global warming by galvanizing leadership, growing investment and bridging divides.
- EarthCorps (WA) $30,000 to support the production and targeted dissemination of information to increase understanding of the carbon sequestration ecosystem service provided by tidal wetlands and seagrass beds. EarthCorps' mission is to build a global community of leaders through local environmental service.
- Evergreen State College Foundation for the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure (WA) $25,000 to support the development of an investment discipline and policy framework to enable smarter spending by water infrastructure decision makers. This framework is intended to advance cost-effective natural infrastructure and watershed restoration investments that enhance biocarbon uptake. The Center is dedicated to helping Washington and Oregon emerge as national leaders in sustainable infrastructure innovation.
- Geos Institute (OR) $25,000 to support an effort to regionalize the national forest carbon trust concept by calling for stepped-up protections of mature carbon-dense forests and improved forest management on public lands in the Pacific Northwest; and to use the best available carbon and climate change science in helping to prepare nearly 25 million forested acres across the region for the impacts of climate change. Geos’ mission is to use science to help people predict, reduce, and prepare for climate change.
- Northwest Natural Resources Group (WA) $20,000 to support landowner targeting and outreach to increase the effectiveness of engaging landowners in forest restoration and stewardship. By expanding the engagement of landowners in commercial, ecologically-based forest management activities, NNRG brings a scalable approach to addressing carbon storage and climate adaptation across the landscape and over the long term. This market-based approach also serves to leverage limited public and private outreach and stewardship investments by complementing the activities that need direct funding with stewardship that can be accomplished through marketsNNRG's mission is to use the marketplace to restore forests and local economies.
- Pacific Forest Trust (CA) $35,000 general operating support. PFT’s mission is to conserve and sustain America’s forest landscapes using incentive-based strategies to safeguard privately owned forests.
- Power Past Coal (WA) $30,000 to support efforts to end coal exports through the Pacific Northwest.
- Sightline Institute (WA) $40,000 to support research into the economics of coal exports and the environmental implications of the international coal trade. Sightline's mission is to make the Northwest a global model of sustainability—strong communities, a green economy, and a healthy environment.
- Urban Forest Carbon Registry (WA) $20,000 to support the development of an urban forest carbon registry so that urban forests can sequester more carbon and deliver more of their documented ecosystem services to the increasing numbers of people who live in cities and towns.
- Washington Environmental Council (WA) $20,000 to support to support the Growing Our Future campaign that aims to move at least one million acres of private forestland into a more sustainable model of forest management.WEC's mission is to protect, restore, and sustain Washington's environment.
