Funding Areas

The Brainerd Foundation’s mission is to protect the environment of the Northwest and to build broad citizen support for conservation. We accomplish this by investing in nonprofit organizations in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and the Yukon Territory within the following funding areas:

  • Alaskan who supports the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009.Photo by Alaska Conservation Alliance

    Conservation Policy

    Achieving policy gains at theregional, state (or provincial) and local levels that ensure protection of our region's air, land and water.

  • Fisherman on the North Fork Skykomish River in the North Cascades.Photo by The Wilderness Society.

    Place-based Conservation

    Achieving landscape and wildlife protection through community engagement and empowerment. Our current priority landscapes are: the High Divide, the North Cascades, Crown of the Continent, and Central Oregon.

  • Institutes for Journalism and Natural Resources, Wind River Institute.Photo by Maggie Allen

    Conservation Capacity

    Improving the ability of conservationists to communicate effectively, advance legal strategies and strengthen overall organizational capacity. This program area supports service providers, strategic research, and organizational efforts that build stronger institutions.

Other Grant Programs

  • Catalyst Fund

    Providing special support (above and beyond the scope of a typical grant) for organizations to develop and implement new strategies to build the will of communities and policy leaders to protect the air, land and water of our region.

  • Grassroots Fund

    Strengthening small Northwest conservation organizations confronting critical challenges in their communities. This fund supports groups offering innovative approaches at the grassroots level and working in geographies or on issues that build on the foundation’s current strategies and goals.

  • Opportunity Fund

    Supporting Northwest organizations confronted with a timely opportunity to protect critical ecosystems, impact significant conservation policy debates, or address critical organizational issues.