Land Conservation

A healthy natural environment is crucial to healthy human communities, but natural land is scarce, threatened and, once lost, may be gone forever. We support long-term partnerships that bring together people from diverse backgrounds who value, nurture and protect the natural environment.

The foundation’s work is designed to advance the following strategies:

  • Preserve, restore and protect strategic lands that contribute to the health of the regional ecosystem.
  • Build and support constituencies that value and engage in land stewardship.

Because we encounter the efforts of many groups, we are able to recognize opportunities to connect people working towards a common goal. When these situations arise we can do more than make grants, so we organize our work into initiatives.

Descriptions of initiatives (below) are designed to inform you about how we work. You do not need to consider how a proposal fits into an initiative, but you should consider how your work advances one of the land conservation strategies above. 

Land Conservation Initiatives

View all Land Conservation grants »

From the Blog

An introduction from David Farren

As I compose this initial post as Judith Stockdale's successor, I'm delighted by the warm welcome I've received in my new role, both here in Chicago and in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Although it can sometimes sound like a cliché, the opportunity to lead GDDF truly is a "dream job" for me. Read More »

18 years of foundation growth: Reflections and thanks from Judith Stockdale

A New Year is about looking forward, but at the end of 18-plus years at the foundation, I find myself looking back at my great learning curve and many challenging, fun, funny and marvelous experiences. Read More »

Laura Donnelley thanks Judith Stockdale for 18 years of service

A note from board chair Laura Donnelley as Judith Stockdale steps down as executive director after 18 years at the helm.  Read More »

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