PARTNERS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Preserving Greater Dayton’s Natural Resources

 

In 2008, The Dayton Foundation offered a special workshop for the region’s conservation organizations to explore ways to collaborate in preserving Greater Dayton’s natural resources. The idea was overwhelmingly embraced by more than 40 environmental organization participants at this workshop. As a result of this meeting, The Dayton Foundation launched the Greater Dayton Partners for the Environment.

The Partners’ purpose is to continue to convene the groups, coordinate communications for information resource and public education purposes, and develop joint grant proposals to further regional conservation.

A past initiative of The Dayton Foundation, the Greater Dayton Partners for the Environment now includes the Miami Conservancy District, with additional funding support from Five Rivers MetroParks and The Dayton Foundation’s Greater Dayton Conservation Fund. The Dayton Foundation committed up to $70,000-$35,000 a year over two years-to make the Partners a reality for some 43 nonprofit, conservation-related organizations that have been identified as potential partners.

The funding of this pilot effort made possible a part-time environmental professional position to identify key funding opportunities to support the work of the collaborating environmental organizations. The Dayton Foundation established the Friends of the Partners for the Environment Fund so that other funding partners, as well as individuals who would like to make a donation, can support the effort. The goal is to enhance the effectiveness and capacity of the region’s organizations and programs to help conserve the area’s natural environment and agricultural resources and educate the public about how they can participate in this conservation effort.