Program

National parks are the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best.”

– Wallace Stegner

Program

The invitation-only Wildlands Philanthropy Forum provides an unparalleled opportunity to share new ideas and explore transformative strategies for supporting the natural world in the 21st century. With a highly interactive format, the agenda is designed to foster solution-oriented discussions by thought leaders in the areas of philanthropy, conservation, and sustainability. The program is designed to enhance an ongoing national dialogue that situates our planet’s parks and wildlands at the center of American and global philanthropy.

Agenda

11:00am – 1:30pm Check-in
12:00 – 1:30pm Lunch and Keynote Address
1:45 – 2:45pm A Century of Giving: From Muir Woods to Karukinka America’s wildlands philanthropy tradition, while little known, has benefited every citizen. What are the values that drive this grand tradition, and how has the past century of conservation giving shaped the future of public and private conservation lands?
  • Moderated by Tom Butler, Author, Wildlands Philanthropy and Editorial Projects Director, Foundation for Deep Ecology
  • Valer Austin, Co-Founder, Cuenca Los Ojos Foundation
  • James Levitt, Author, Walden to Wall Street and Director, Program on Conservation Innovation, Harvard Forest, Harvard University
  • Robert W. Righter, Author, The Battle Over Hetch Hetchy and Crucible for Conservation: The Creation of Grand Teton National Park
2:45 – 3:30pm The Case for Conservation Philanthropy Now: Threats and Opportunities What are the gravest threats to public natural areas and private conservation lands that nongovernmental organizations and individuals can most effectively address? How is conservation philanthropy an important tool for inspiring and generating solutions to combat the causes and consequences of environmental problems? Does the looming energy challenge threaten America’s conservation legacy?
  • Christopher Elliman, CEO, Open Space Institute
  • Mark Shaffer, Program Director for the Environment, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
  • Rand Wentworth, President, The Land Trust Alliance
3:50 – 4:05pm Experiencing Conservation
4:05 – 4:50pm Giving Naturally, Acting Globally The rapid pace of technology and population growth is placing unrelenting pressure on the world’s natural resources. Ensuring the future of wild nature is a global mission that has motivated diverse leaders in philanthropic foundations, corporations, and the entrepreneurial sector to work outside and across national boundaries. What are the challenges of giving globally to conservation efforts? What opportunities exist for transnational and multicultural public-private partnerships to protect wildlife and wildlands?
  • Moderated by Steven J. McCormick, President and Trustee, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
  • Daniel Janzen, Professor of Biology, University of Pennsylvania
  • Kristine McDivitt Tompkins, Founder and President, Conservación Patagónica, and Former CEO, Patagonia, Inc.
4:50 – 5:40pm Next Generation Philanthropy Conservation philanthropy, and the mission it serves–a diverse and healthy planet for nature and people–must grow with ever changing threats and opportunities. Standards of excellence in organized philanthropy are ratcheting upward in an era that demands both innovation and collaboration. What is the new thinking, new strategies in contemporary philanthropy for wildlands?
6:00 – 8:00pm Reception: Celebrating A Century of Conservation Philanthropy Callippe Terrace and Foyer

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