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U.S. Rolls Out First National Ocean Biodiversity Strategy

The National Ocean Biodiversity Strategy calls for a stronger, more unified and inclusive approach to ocean conservation. Written by a team led by the Smithsonian and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the strategy was announced by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy June 3.

Lois DeBacker to retire after 33 years in environmental philanthropy

The Kresge Foundation announced yesterday that Lois R. DeBacker, managing director of the Environment Program, will retire effective September 27, 2024, after serving more than 16 years with the foundation and 33 years total in philanthropy.

Astrophysicist Amber D. Miller named next foundation president

Amber D. Miller, an astrophysicist and pathbreaking university leader who has served as a dean at both the University of Southern California and Columbia University, has been named the next president of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

Swift Foundation moves “from sunset to sunrise”

The Swift Foundation has launched its new website, explaining its plans to spend down and transfer the family wealth to Indigenous wisdom-keepers.

Meet the 2023 Goldman Environmental Prize Winners

It’s been just over a week since the 2024 Goldman Environmental Prize winners were announced, seven ordinary people who took extraordinary actions to protect their environments and communities.

Chile Conservation Funders Group Meets in Chile

The Chile Conservation Funders Group, a working group of BFG, convened in November for a transformative meeting aimed at advancing environmental initiatives and forging collaborative pathways in Chile’s conservation landscape.

New thinking about economics for a world in polycrisis

Jo Swinson, Director of Partners For A New Economy writes, “Just as many funders mobilized and adapted strategies to respond to Covid-19, or found ways to provide uplifts to grantees facing massive inflation, so philanthropy has to look ahead and prepare for a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world. WINGS rightly explores this in its current four-part seminar series ‘Embracing the Unpredictable: How is Philanthropy Navigating Complex Interconnected Crises?’ as part of the Philanthropy Transformation Initiative.”

How Locals Saved ‘the Yosemite of South America’

A decade-long battle between a wealthy industrialist and a band of activists led to a surprising $63 million transaction in Central Chile. This is a landmark transaction that will preserve some of the most ecologically significant territory in South America. One major donor is the Freyja Foundation.

New Report shows how states are leading on conservation

As momentum builds nationally to address the nature and climate crises, state and territorial leaders across the country have stepped up with a variety of measures aimed at conserving lands and waters. Check out this just-released report from the Center for American Progress and National Caucus of Environmental Legislators: State Policy Leadership To Conserve Nature.

2024 Notable Women in Agriculture, Food, and Beverage

Meet 18 women–one of which is Jane Maland Cady, Program director, Global Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems at McKnight Foundation–who are driving innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship in Minnesota companies large and small, while keeping local farmers and makers at the heart of the mission