Our mission of Land Conservation and Artistic Vitality for communities in the Chicago region and the Lowcountry of South Carolina honors the values and legacy of our founders Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley by focusing on a healthy natural environment and artistic expression.

Where We Work


How We Work

No organization creates change on its own. In both land conservation and artistic vitality we partner with many organizations. We are particularly interested in collaborations that recognize the value of diverse groups working together. In these situations we do more than make grants, by organizing our work into initiatives. Within initiatives we commission and share research, using data to best understand the issues. We support coaching to build the strength of organizations. We connect people through convening, encouraging them to work together. We employ strategic communications to help larger audiences better understand challenges and opportunities.


Applying for a grant

If your organization is considering a grant application, please review our Programs section to make sure your proposal is relevant to our mission and regions. While we organize the bulk of our work into initiatives, your proposal need not fit into any particular intiative to be eligible. To learn more, visit the Grants section. We do not have a Letter of Intent (LOI) process. Instead, we encourage you to call us with questions as you shape your proposal.

From the Blog

Sewee to Santee eyes smart growth through regional branding

For rural communities suffering from poverty, development can seem like a no-brainer: if you build it, they will come, bringing jobs and opportunities with them. But as sprawl across the country has shown, development can come at the expense of a rural community’s own character and sense of place, and can leave areas ravaged when companies that built there leave for cheaper pastures. In the Sewee to Santee region of South Carolina, a vision is forming: a better quality of life for its residents built on the belief that a rich rural landscape is an opportunity, rather than an obstacle to be overcome. Read More »

A new way forward for South Carolina’s rural communities

South Carolina’s beautiful rural landscape belies an unfortunate reality of poverty. How can the state's rural communities take advantage of existing assets to achieve long-term prosperity? Read More »

Celebrate National Park Week at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

National Park Week is April 21-29, 2012. You don't have to go all the way to Yellowstone or the Everglades to participate: Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is just an hour outside of Chicago. Learn more about what the National Lakeshore has to offer. Read More »

Recent Tweets

16 May
In Charleston, @puretheatre and Holy City Shakespeare collaborate on a casual, refreshing "Twelfth Night" http://t.co/cRAQAznD

14 May
Neat to see collaboration among Chicago's dance companies-- in this case Muntu and DanceWorks: http://t.co/ZpRvYhqS

14 May
In case you missed it: on Friday we posted this story about regional branding efforts in #rural SC: http://t.co/1insWBMl #Sewee #Santee

11 May
Thx, happily aboard! RT @chiwilderness #FF newest members of the Chicago Wilderness alliance: @GDDonnelley, @willconserve, @WaukeganPrkDist