photo by Matthew Juneau

Collaborative conservation is often fueled by passion and volunteerism of individuals like those who serve on the WCCN Steering Committee, those who spent many hours on the Confluence Planning Committee, and those who helped out at the event. To all of you: THANK YOU!

Collaborative conservation also usually requires funding, including for events like Confluence. Confluence would not be possible without the generous sponsorship of the organizations and individuals listed below. To these sponsors, we also say, “THANK YOU!“

And, of course, a huge “THANK YOU!” to all of you who shared your time, experience, and expertise at Confluence. You are why staff, volunteers, and sponsors make Confluence happen.

 

Meet Our Benefactor: $10,000 and above

The Center for Collaborative Conservation is part of the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University. Our vision is a resilient world where diverse people work together to conserve nature and build healthy communities. Our mission is to build the capacity of organizations, communities, and future leaders to achieve conservation impact. The values we infuse our work are:

• Conservation impact—bridging scholarship and conservation action
• Honoring diversity—embracing natural and human diversity
• Shared learning—learning with people who study and practice collaborative conservation
• Commitment to relationships—nurturing networks among staff and partners
• Accountability and excellence—honoring the trust supporters and partners place in us

As the main organization staffing core functions of the Western Collaborative Conservation Network, we were thrilled to interact with the organizations and people at Confluence 2024—you!—knowing you share and exemplify this vision and these values.

If you are curious about the other work of the CCC, we invite you to learn about our Fellows Program and the Colorado Forest Collaboratives Network, which is hosting its annual Summit in Durango, Colorado, September 4-6, 2024. To stay in touch with what we are doing and the resources and opportunities we share, please subscribe to our monthly newsletter. Several CCC staff attended Confluence 2024—you can find our contact information on the Confluence 2024 directory of participants.

 

Meet Our Leaders: $5,000 – $9,999

 

Meet the Altar Valley Conservation Alliance

The Altar Valley Conservation Alliance works through a strongly collaborative, science-based, community driven and integrated approach to:

• Conserve healthy and productive working landscapes, including soil and water conservation, wildfire management, habitat conservation and protection of native species, and other environmental initiatives.
• Promote a thriving agricultural economy by encouraging improved ranching and farming practices, diversification and innovation, and by supporting programs and policies that support more effective, long-term economic development.
• Sustain a resilient rural community by retaining and renewing the cultural and historical traditions of the Altar Valley.

You can get a sense for the AVCA’s 25+ year history through pictures HERE. You can read about some of there more recent work in their 2022 annual report. In this report, Executive Director Sarah King, who was with us at Confluence, shared a poignant letter about the meaning of “camaraderie”—the “mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together”—that allowed their community to navigate the 30,000-acre Contreras Fire. If you want to contact Sarah, you can find her email in the Confluence 2024 directory of participants. If you would like to support the Altar Valley Conservation Alliance, you can donate here.

 

Meet the Walton Family Foundation

For more than three decades, the Walton Family Foundation has focused on three core objectives:

• Improving education
• Protecting rivers, oceans and the communities they support; and
• Advancing our home region of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta.

The Walton Family Foundation was represented at Confluence by Jill Ozarski, Program Officer with the Environment Program. The Environment Program rests on the understanding that protecting water during climate change is one of the most important challenges of our time. The Environment strategy seeks lasting water solutions in three key geographies: the Colorado River Basin, the Mississippi River Basin and our Oceans. The goal of this work is to make sure there is enough healthy, available water for people and nature to thrive together.

You can learn more about the Walton Family Foundation, including stories of collaboration and information their programs, by exploring their Our Work web page. If you are wondering about things like “How do I apply for a grant?”, check out these Frequently Asked Questions. Jill is particularly involved in the Colorado River Basin. You can explore stories about threats and solutions in the basin at Water in the West. If you want to reach Jill, you can find email in the Confluence 2024 directory of participants.

 

Thank You to Our Guarantors: $2,500 – $4,999

The Mighty Arrow Family Foundation (link)

Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (link)

National Parks Conservation Association (link)

Office of Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution (link)

Western Landowners Alliance (link)

Wilburforce Foundation (link)

Confluence Collaboration (link)

Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University (link)

The Nature Conservancy Arizona (link)

 

Thank You to Our Champions: $1,000 – $2,499

Heather and Rick Knight

King’s Anvil Ranch

Vera Earl Ranches (link)

National Forest Foundation (link)

New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute at New Mexico Highlands University (link)

Pima County Natural Resources Parks & Recreation (link)

 

Thank You to Our Guardians: Up to $999

Deb Kleinman

Maisie Powell

John Sanderson

Central Arizona Conservation Alliance (link)

Desert Botanical Garden (link)

RiversEdge West (link)

Intermountain West Joint Venture (link)

photo by Miguel Angel