Catalyst Fund
The Catalyst Fund is a grantmaking initiative which supplements the foundation's other programs by providing additional support for organizations to develop and implement new strategies that will advance a prevailing conservation ethic in the Northwest. It is aimed at helping conservation advocates build the will of communities and policy leaders to protect the air, land and water of our region.
We are currently limiting Catalyst Fund grants to existing grantees or collaborations that include an existing grantee. Application is by invitation only.
Funded through a special allocation from the foundation's endowment, the Catalyst Fund includes three core elements:
Research and Planning.
Effective strategies start with clear thinking and good information. Yet too often, organizations consider investments in research and planning as luxuries they can't afford. Catalyst Fund planning grants provide support for these activities, so that the development of strategies and tactics are based on solid information, rather than untested assumptions. A planning grant allows conservation leaders to take a hard look at what they are trying to accomplish and to critically assess what it will take to achieve their goals.
Innovative Approaches.
In the private sector, venture capitalists invest in ideas that involve high risk but offer the possibility of large returns. In the nonprofit world, constrained budgets and the day-to-day pressures of advocacy campaigns often stifle innovation and experimentation. The Catalyst Fund is intended to incubate innovative ideas and catalyze new strategies. Through this grantmaking program, we encourage groups to try new approaches, knowing that some may fall short and others will exceed expectations.
Learning Partnership.
This is a unique program, which asks and expects a lot of grant recipients. We encourage a learning partnership between the foundation and its grantees. Foundation staff will provide on-going support to grantees, acting as engaged observers through the planning and implementation phases. We anticipate many opportunities for the foundation to learn from the organizations participating in this program, and we will facilitate the exchange of lessons, strategies and experiences between grantees in different parts of our region.