The Conservation Fund

Looking for a way to double your impact on clean water, wildlife habitat, rural economies, local foodsheds and more this holiday season? If you’re one of the 2.6 million people whose workplaces will match your personal donation to various nonprofits, you’re in luck! Use our free tool to see if your employer matches donations, and considering donating to The Conservation Fund to leave your mark on our planet: bit.ly/4fxWEia. ?? Addison Hill

The Conservation Fund and our supporting organization, Sustainable Conservation, Inc., are applying for the five-year renewal of our accreditation with the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance. A public comment period is now open until March 22, 2025. To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit https://lnkd.in/dxDx6tP. ?? Ian Shive

Did you know The Conservation Fund has prioritized conservation of working farmland, ranchland and forests since our founding in 1985? Of the nearly 9 million acres across the U.S. we have protected, over 3 million acres are working lands that generate economic value and jobs in local communities. And in Georgia, we've secured over 1,100 acres across 22 farms in the region. Learn more about how we sustain working farms in Georgia and across the country: bit.ly/402pClE.

"Solving for great challenges like climate mitigation and the energy transformation, as well as loss of habitat and biodiversity, the protection of safe drinking water, and the vitality of rural economies. This is about taking risks and saying “Yes.”? Focusing not on what conservation can prevent, but what it can do.?" -Lawrence A. Selzer, President and CEO Learn how The Conservation Fund is defining conservation today, and into the future: bit.ly/3B0lQPn.

Last month we had a great conversation about The Conservation Fund's approach to philanthropy and impact investing. Check out this conversation with our CFO John Gilbert and Amy Blackwell, a UK-based impact investor. bit.ly/4hRynpa.

The Conservation Fund is looking for our next Senior Analyst, Capital Investments to help advance our enterprise-level impact investment products and strategy. If you have experience creating financial models, developing pitch decks, and conducting comprehensive research and data analytics, this role is for you. Learn more and share with your network: bit.ly/3ZgPrxD.

Our innovative approach to sustaining small and mid-sized working farms is protecting threatened farmland in metro areas, providing affordable land access and business support to a diverse generation of farmer entrepreneurs, and growing more resilient local food systems. Last year, our Farms Fund connected 38 farmers to farmland in the Chicago/Midwest region alone. Learn more about how we sustain working farms: bit.ly/402pClE.

The Conservation Fund is looking for our next Mid-Atlantic Field Representative. If you have experience in land conservation real estate, working with landowners, as well as local, state, and federal land acquisitions, this role is for you. Learn more and share with your network: bit.ly/3UJADVy.

After Tuesday’s election results you may be asking...what’s next? We have seen administrations that have leaned into our mission and those that have leaned away. Regardless, we remain confident in our ability to deliver on our mission. While approaches and priorities might differ, all Americans want clean air and water, thriving wildlife, economic resilience and special places protected. Referendum results from across the country this week bear this out – from California, where voters approved billions in funding for water, wildlife and land protection, to Martin County, Florida, which passed a sales tax increase to purchase land for conservation. The Conservation Fund’s dual mandate to drive both land protection and economic vitality has shaped a brand of conservation that is powerful, bipartisan and effective. No matter what comes next, together, we can protect the places and spaces that sustain us, and do the conservation work that advances America. Full statement from President & CEO, Larry Selzer: bit.ly/3NZYRH7. ??: National Park Service

Helping build economic opportunity for Black and brown urban food growers, mitigating food insecurity and increasing access to high quality, affordable, culturally affirming and nutritious food has been the focus for Urban Growers Collective. This Black and woman-owned nonprofit organization has tripled the land it has for cultivation in the Chicago area. Read more from Chicago Tribune’s third and final piece of the 3-part series about our #FarmsFund program: bit.ly/3NttKU6.