WE BELIEVE …the long-term health of the land is intertwined with the health of the communities that rely on its natural resources. With this recognition, the AMB West Conservation Fund supports programs, policies, and leadership that enable human and ecological communities in the Paradise Valley to thrive.
Through the AMB West Conservation Fund, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation will invest in innovative projects and local capacity that safeguard the natural resources of Paradise Valley for generations to come. In its community-based grant making, the Foundation adheres to the same values that the Blank Family follows in managing its AMB West ranch properties.
Our community philanthropy is led by Foundation directors that honor these values by listening to and learning from residents; recognizing that navigating tradeoffs require thoughtful, inclusive approaches; and considering grants for program delivery, nonprofit capacity building and advocacy. The Foundation also encourages collaboration among its partners, who all work toward a greater collective impact in the Upper Yellowstone Watershed. Collaboration is our central mantra.
INVESTMENT STRATEGY
The AMB West Conservation Fund supports high-impact projects in the Paradise Valley that enhance the ability of human and ecological communities in the valley to thrive over the long term. The Fund seeks collaborative solutions that consider the Paradise Valley as a system, irrespective of property or jurisdictional boundaries.
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation directors are currently focusing on the Yellowstone River, including the conservation and responsible management of the Upper Yellowstone Watershed.
For 2021, the Foundation is especially interested in breakthrough solutions and partnerships that advance the following priorities for the Upper Yellowstone River and the landscape that surrounds it:
- Engage and mobilize residents through outreach efforts to address rapidly changing land use patterns that threaten the wildlife, waterways, and open space nature of the watershed.
- Conserve and protect working farms and ranches from fragmentation through partnership with landowners and land trusts.
- Foster a local dialogue that addresses concerns and threats that wildlife face as they migrate across the watershed.
- Preserve and improve the health of the watershed, with a special interest in developing a drought response strategy that is informed by locally collected data.
How to Apply for a Grant
The AMB West Conservation Fund welcomes grant inquiries. The grant process begins with nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) designation submitting a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) to the Foundation. In two to three pages, the LOI should summarize the project, the timeline and the budget needs. The LOI should also include notes about any critical partnerships already in place and the status of funding from other sources.
Blank Foundation staff will review and follow-up with organizations submitting LOIs to determine whether to invite a full grant application. Full proposals are by invitation only and will be evaluated based on the proposal’s impact, leverage, influence, and scale, as well as proposed methodology, expected outcomes, and evaluation methodology. The Blank Foundation Board of Directors makes all grant decisions.
The AMB West Conservation Fund does not fund:
Organizations that are not classified as 501(c)(3) public charities by the Internal Revenue Service.
Support for candidates for political office or to lobby in support of or against legislation.
Please direct inquiries to: Peter Brown, Senior Program Officer, AMB West Philanthropies at Peter.Brown@ambwest.com.
