In 2006, The Sierra Fund paid out $246,325 in grants to organizations engaged in protecting and restoring the Sierra Nevada and other worthy enterprises. These grants reflect our mission to increase public and private investment in the Sierra and our goal to promote philanthropy throughout the region. We are grateful to all of our donors. Their generosity and commitment to making substantial investments today, in order to preserve the Range of Light for future generations, have made these grants possible.
Grants are made either through our ISIS Fund – which was created to support the conservation objectives detailed in our Integrated Sierra Investment Strategy – or through one of our donor-advised, restricted or designated funds.
Grants and loans through the ISIS Fund are usually the result of conservation proposals that have been collaboratively developed in partnership with The Sierra Fund. Grants and loans from our donor-advised funds reflect the recommendations of donors to those funds, who suggest disbursements ranging from $1,000 – $100,000 in support of Sierra conservation efforts and other charitable causes.
The following is a list of grants made in 2006 through our Integrated Sierra Investment Strategy (ISIS) Fund and our donor advised, restricted, and designated funds.
Integrated Sierra Investment Strategy (ISIS) Fund
$57,395.84
Californians for Clean Water, Parks and Coastal Protection
$8,484.84
In support of Proposition 84, the Clean Water, Parks and Coastal Protection Bond, an initiative to provide the investment that will ensure all Californians have access to safe drinking water, better protection from floods, and opportunities to enjoy California’s parks, natural landscapes and rivers, lakes, beaches, bays and coastline.
Chico Research Foundation
California State University, Chico
$47,850
To support research on the public health and environmental impacts of mining’s toxic legacy in the Sierra Nevada, as part of a Sierra-wide Mining Toxics Initiative funded by The California Endowment.
Northern California Grantmakers
$125
General support of the association’s work to enhance the effectiveness of philanthropy and strengthen the ties between philanthropy and its many stakeholders.
Tsi-Akim Maidu
$900
To support the Sierra Tribal Convergence, Mercury: In Our Water, Our Fish, & Our People. This two-day conference sponsored by the International Indian Treaty Council, hosted by the Tsi-Akim Maidu Tribe and co-hosted by South Yuba River Citizen’s League, brought together representatives from tribes throughout the region for education and action on the environmental health impacts of mining toxics in the Sierra, and what this means for salmon restoration. Funds generated from The California Endowment.
Donor-Advised, Designated and Restricted Funds
$162,466
(In support of ISIS and related conservation activities)
American Land Conservancy
$1,000
General support for American Land Conservancy’s work to create effective conservation solutions for threatened natural resources.
California Wilderness Coalition
$1,000
General support of California Wilderness Coalition's work to ensure ecologically sound management of California's public lands and potential wilderness
CalTrout
$1,000
General support of California Trout's work to protect & restore wild trout and steelhead and their waters throughout California
Center For Biological Diversity
$1,500
General support of the Center for Biological diversity's work to secure a future for animals and plants hovering on the brink of extinction, for the wilderness they need to survive, and for the spiritual welfare of generations to come
Center for Sierra Nevada Conservation
$1,000
General support of the Center for Sierra Nevada Conservation's work to protect ecosystem values and the long term sustainability of the Sierra’s natural resources for future generations
Earth Justice
$2,000
General support of Earth Justice's work to safeguard public lands, national forests, parks, and wilderness areas; to reduce air and water pollution; to prevent toxic contamination; and to preserve endangered species and wildlife habitat
Environmental Action Committee of West Marin
$1,000
General support of the Environmental Action Committee’s work to protect the natural environment and rural character of West Marin County.
Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics
$1,000
General support of FSEEE's work to forge a socially responsible value system for the Forest Service based on a land ethic that ensures ecologically and economically sustainable resource management
Green Corps
$6,000
General support of Green Corps’ work to train new activists in the skills and experiences it takes to be a leader in the environmental movement
High Sierra Rural Alliance
$24,703
To help build the organizational capacity to participate in the planning and implementation of the Sierra Valley Special Treatment Area.
HEAL Utah
$1,000
General support of HEAL Utah’s work to protect Utah and its residents from nuclear and toxic waste
Land Trust of Santa Cruz County
$1,500
General support of the Land Trust’s mission to work cooperatively with land owners, government entities and other organizations to protect and manage lands of significant value in Santa Cruz County
Mountain Meadows Conservancy
$5,000
To establish a long-term restricted fund to support and grow Mountain Meadows Conservancy and its programs to conserve and enhance the natural beauty and environmental health of the Mountain Meadows watershed for generations to come
Mountain Meadows Conservancy
$3,000
General support for organization’s work to conserve and enhance the natural beauty and environmental health of the Mountain Meadows watershed and secure lasting protection for the Mountain Meadows Basin, north of Plumas National Forest
Organic Center
$50,000
General support of the Center’s work to generate credible scientific information about the benefits of organic farming and products, and communicate these to society, in order to convert agriculture to organic methods and improve the health of the earth and its inhabitants.
Pacific Crest Trail Association
$500
General support of work to protect, preserve and promote the Pacific Crest Trail.
Planning & Conservation League
$1,500
General support of PCL's work to make California a better place to live by lobbying the California State Legislature on a full range of environmental issues and by sponsoring environmental initiatives
Restore Hetch Hetchy
$5,000
General support of the organization’s work to restore and protect the Hetch Hetchy Valley and its associated natural resources.
SRVA: Advocates for Smart Growth
$7,763
In support of SRVA’s work to protect Mount Whitney from inappropriate development and environmental degradation.
Saving the Sierra: Voices of Conservation in Action
$2,000
General support of this community storytelling and public radio project focused on community-based environmentalists and champions of place thoughout the Sierra
Sierra Club
$5,000
General support of the Sierra Club’s work to protect the earth’s wild places and promote responsible use of the earth’s ecosystems and resources.
Sierra Nevada Alliance
$1,500
General support of the Alliance’s work to protect and restore the natural resources of the Sierra Nevada.
Sierra Watch
$20,000
In support of the costs of hiring a staff attorney to expand Sierra Watch’s litigation capacity.
The Trust For Public Land
$1,500
General support of TPL's work to conserve land for people to enjoy as parks, community gardens, historic sites, rural lands, and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come
Tuolumne River Trust
$5,000
General support for Tuolumne River Trust’s work to promote the stewardship of the Tuolumne River and its tributaries, in order to ensure a healthy watershed.
University of California Botanical Garden
$10,000
General support of work to develop and maintain a diverse living collection of plants, in order to support teaching and research in plant biology, further the conservation of plant diversity, and promote public understanding and appreciation of plants and the natural environment.
The Yosemite Association
$2,000
To support the creation of Luminous Mountains: The Sierra Nevada, a book of photographs by Tim Palmer
Donor-Advised, Designated and Restricted Funds
$26,500
(In support of broad range of donor interests, including those outside the Sierra Nevada)
American Heart Association
$1,000
General support of American Heart Association's work to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke
Amnesty International
$1,500
May 2006
General support of Amnesty International's work to promote human rights
Children's Defense Fund
$500
May 2006
General support of Children's Defense Fund's work to ensure every child a head start in life and successful passage to adulthood
Community Bridges
$750
May 2006
Support of Live Oak Family Resource Center
The Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County
$1,500
General support of the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz's work to promote philanthropy that makes Santa Cruz County a better place to live, now and in the future
Doctors Without Borders
$1,500
General support of Doctors Without Borders work to deliver emergency health care to people in more than 70 countries around the world
Madre
$1,500
General support of Madre's work to address issues of health and reproductive rights, economic development, education, and other human rights
Mental Health Client Action Network
$1,500
General support of MHCAN’s work to provide support for people with psychiatric disabilities and carry on advocacy and public education to address societal discrimination toward those who suffer from mental illness. Grant made in memory of Kelsey Photenhauer
Monterey Bay Aquarium
$1,000
General support of Monterey Bay Aquarium's work to inspire conservation of the oceans
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
$500
General support of the NAACP's work to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination
National Women's History Museum
$750
General support of the National Women's History Museum's work to research, collect and exhibit the contributions of women to the social, cultural, economic and political life of our nation in a context of world history
Panetta Institute
$1,000
General support of work to help our communities and our country meet the challenges of the 21st Century
Parkinson Disease Foundation
$1,000
General support of the Foundation's work to advance understanding of Parkinson's disease and to provide education and support to people with the disease
Planned Parenthood
$1,000
General support of Planned Parenthood's work to provide comprehensive reproductive and complementary health care services in settings that preserve and protect individual's rights and privacy
Rockridge Institute
$10,000
General support of work to strengthen democracy in United States by providing intellectual support to the progressive community.
Save The Redwoods League
$1,000
General support of Save The Redwood League's work to permanently protect hundreds of thousands of acres of redwood forestland
United Negro College Fund
$500
General support of the United Negro College Fund's work to strengthen access to education by providing financial assistance to deserving students
