Environmental Conservation
Grantee Week Day 4 – Land Transaction
On Day Four of Grantee Week we are pleased to share the three grantees of our Land Transaction grant program. This program provides funding to support transaction costs associated with land and easement donations and is invitation only. Each property successfully funded with these grants is permanently protected through a Conservation Easement or Notice of…
Grantee Week Day 2 – Environmental Resilience
Welcome to Day Two of Grantee Week! Today we are pleased to share the 15 organizations who have each received $20,000 grants in the first of a two-year Environmental Resilience program grant cycle. These nonprofits support increasing awareness of and education around conservation and/or climate issues, as well as increased climate resiliency, particularly of low-income…
Banding Together for the Trees
“I believe that you just cannot do work on environmental issues at the local level without the community [being] involved,” says Elaine Chiosso, Executive Director of the Haw River Assembly (HRA). Her organization has spent six years advocating for better environmental protections to be required in Chatham Park, a 7000+ acre planned development community that…
Creating Connections Between Culture and Nature
Traveling around the Triangle, we see traffic congestion while commuting to and from work, new apartment buildings in the skyline, and more and more construction of highways and roads. These are just results of the Triangle’s popularity across the country as it tops the “best of” lists and more people migrate to live in this…
Conserving Land and Legacy
With your help, we have granted $767,111 to environmental organizations through Fund for the Triangle since FY 2013-2014 While strolling through Good Hope Farm on a sunny afternoon, one gets the curious feeling that the farm is a living, breathing organism all on its own. A resident farmer pulls up to tend to her plot,…
After-School Program Reconnects Children to the Earth
Is it possible to reconnect young people with the earth? Connecting with nature is tough for children who are coming of age in the digital era and kids without access to outdoor activities. Between the allure of screens, other extracurriculars, peer pressure to stay inside, and inequitable opportunities, it is no wonder kids are not…
A Family Commitment to Change
How much is enough? That question stuck in Dave’s mind after participating in a JustFaith group at his church, where they met once a week to learn about major issues like hunger, poverty, racism, immigration, and more. He started adding up all of the birthday, anniversary, and holiday gifts that were exchanged in their family…
Ron Strom: Passionate Philanthropist
The following is an interview with Ron Strom (R), Foundation fundholder, conducted by Meg Buckingham (M), senior marketing & communications officer for the Foundation. M: Ron, tell me a little about your passion, and how you connect it to your philanthropy. R: My personal passions involve connecting with the environment and with others. I grew…
Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association: We are all connected
The Following is an Interview with Chris Dreps (C), executive director of Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association, conducted by Meg Buckingham (M), senior marketing & communications officer for the Foundation. M: Chris, can you tell me a little more about Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association, and why our readers should care about your mission? C: Sure!…
An Interview with Jerry VanSant
What fuels your passion (for the environment)? I have no professional background in the environment, rather, my experience lies in the evaluation of nonprofits and the nonprofit sector. I have always cared about the outdoors, even as a young child, and I feel it is an extraordinarily important issue. It is a personal priority, but…
Environmental grants to make long-term impact
The goal: that people in Durham can someday jump into sections of Ellerbe Creek without worrying about what’s inside, and that they can experience nature in a safe way in their backyard. “The impact on the community is long-term,” said Chris Dreps, executive director of Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association. “We’re in it for the…
Environmental Groups Take a Closer Look at the Diverse Populations they Serve
This summer, donors gathered at the Triangle Donors Forum centered around Environmental Advocacy. The event, held at the NC Botanical Garden, led to a discussion with Conservation and Diversity Coordinator at the Conservation Trust for NC, Melanie Allen, about a focus on diversity within organizations like hers. Over the last decade, more and more environmental…