Strategic Global Solutions

Prior to his death in 1984, Frank Weeden, the Foundation`s founder and chief benefactor, asked that the resources of the Weeden Foundation be used to address the adverse impact of growing human populations and overuse of natural resources on the biological fabric of the planet.

From its inception in 1963, the Foundation embraced the protection of biodiversity as its main priority. Population growth, particularly in the United States, and overconsumption have also evolved into major program interests in order to more fully address the factors driving biological impoverishment. Organizations supported to date range from those that protect ecosystems and wildlife to those that increase awareness about family planning.

The Foundation financed the first debt-for-nature swap protecting the Beni Biosphere Reserve in Bolivia and is particularly interested in new and innovative efforts that help to develop sustainable models for conservation action. Projects which serve as catalysts inducing others to lend support receive priority consideration.

Domestic Biodiversity Program

The Weeden Foundation’s geographic and programmatic interests have many facets reflecting the diverse convictions of its directors. However, a few general themes pervade. Central to these is the conservation of unique western terrestrial and aquatic habitat. Much of the abuse in the Western United States occurs on public lands, reservoirs of biodiversity and a legacy for all Americans, even when they occur on private land they frequently violate the public trust through externalities such as air and water pollution.

International Biodiversity Program:

General approaches and targeted natural systems for international grantmaking are not substantially different from those in the domestic program and include mature forest ecosystems, riparian corridors, and riverine/aquatic environments of demonstrated ecological significance. There is also a strong orientation towards facilitating the designation—and enhanced management—of protected areas, including national parks and private reserves.

Land Acquisition Program

The Weeden Foundation made its first grant to acquire threatened biologically diverse habitat in 1983, and over the next decade has supported on average two to three land acquisition projects per year. While efforts were initially aimed at domestic sites, the Foundation soon came to realize that even with a growing investment portfolio its ability to support the purchase of critical habitat in the United States was severely constrained by high land values. As a result, the late 1980s saw a shift in emphasis to international target sites, mostly in Latin America.

Population Program

Population growth, both within the U.S. and abroad, is pushing—or has surpassed—the limits of sustainability, and it is a threat to the quality of life we seek for ourselves, our descendants, and all people of the planet. The Foundation supports high leverage population projects with advocacy components to influence policy makers and opinion leaders. Additionally, our funds have supported the creation of educational materials, site-specific demonstration projects [frequently near biological reserves], and innovative media approaches to raising awareness about reproductive planning both in the U.S. and abroad.

Consumption Program

While the Foundation made its first energy conservation grants more than fifteen years ago, promoting sustainable consumption patterns has only recently become a high priority. This new emphasis is largely the result of a fuller understanding of the factors driving biological impoverishment, in particular the rapid pace with which U.S. industrial corporations must exploit resources all over the globe to supply the insatiable American consumer.