Sustainable Forests and Communities Guidelines
Mission
The Mission of the Sustainable Forests and Communities Initiative is to
promote the creation of environmentally and economically sustainable
forest communities in the regions in the United States where the
Weyerhaeuser Family's business interests originated.
Context
For the past fifteen years the Sustainable Forests and
Communities Initiative of the Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation has sought
proposals responding to the triple needs in forest communities for
forest conservation, for economic development, and for healing deep
rifts that federal reductions in timber cuts opened. The Initiative
supported projects within specific communities that promoted, in an
integrated fashion, forest ecology, the creation of jobs or businesses
based on sustainable forestry, and public consensus-building on how
best to go forward in these areas.
The Foundation notes that there has been real progress
in many communities as consensus on integrated approaches to
conservation and successful forest-based enterprise has emerged.
Multiple benefits from forest restoration and sustainable silviculture
have been realized. But we also note how a deep US recession, changes
in world markets, and continued Federal forest problems have placed
obstacles in the paths of forest communities' progress. Communities
have found it particularly difficult achieving business growth, new
business formation, and job creation. We continue to encourage
proposals in these areas.
As part of the Initiative's Mission to promote environmental sustainability and financial viability in forest communities, the Foundation is seeking proposals in the area of Forest Ecosystem Services. Many vital public benefits are derived from forests, but their costs and values are either completely ignored or partly underpriced and undervalued in the wider economy and in local forested communities. Thus we encourage proposals that aim to include forest ecosystem costs and values in market-based pricing in order to improve ecosystem benefits or halt their degradation, thereby leading to greater forest and economic sustainability.
2012 Guidelines
The Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation through its Sustainable Forests and
Communities Initiative is interested in supporting organizations that
work in forested landscapes to enhance the environment, the economy,
and community. Implementation of integrated approaches in these areas
that also enhance market valuation of forest ecosystem services is
favored. Thus, the Foundation is looking for projects that
promote vibrant forest-based communities by focusing on the following:
- Environment: Employing sustainable forest management, conservation, and ecological restoration,
- Economy: Developing and encouraging enterprise-based sustainable economic activities,
- Community: Using innovative social and locally-based business processes to meet agreed-upon environmental and economic sustainability goals,
- Forest Ecosystem Services: Using innovative business or policy models to better establish prices and markets for ecosystem services. (Forest ecosystem services can include, but are not restricted to, carbon sequestration, forests' role in the carbon, nutrient, and water cycles, providing habitat to support biodiversity, and providing aesthetic, educational, and other cultural services.)
- Creation of local market-based jobs for in-forest activities (such as sustainable forest management, forest restoration, or sustainable silviculture),
- Development of demand for certified wood and for products made with sustainably produced forest resources (e.g., wood, boughs, biomass, mushrooms),
- Promoting sustainable forest management alternatives to conversion of private forested land to other uses,
- Creating value in forests and forest communities through developing, producing, and marketing new forest products or forest ecosystem services,
- Advancing community-wide long-term planning for monetizing the full range of forest values, including explicit valuation of and creation of markets for forest ecosystem services.
Geographic Scope
The Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation supports activities in the regions
in which the family's business interests originated: Idaho, Oregon,
Washington, northern California, western Montana, Minnesota and
Wisconsin.
Locally based organizations within these geographic areas are eligible to apply. Regional and national organizations promoting the integration of ecology, economy, and community, and which are working with local partners operating within the Initiative's geographic area, are also eligible to apply.
Types of Projects
The Foundation will provide project support. New or recently initiated
projects (within their first three years) will be considered.
Restrictions
Please note the following restrictions that apply to the general
program, also apply here. The foundation will not consider proposals in
the following areas:
- Books or media projects, unless the project is connected to other areas of Foundation interest
- Capital projects
- Individuals, scholarships or fellowships
- Ongoing projects or general operating support for an organization
- Organizations located outside the United States
- Land acquisitions or trades
- Lobbying activity
- Research projects
Application Process
The Letter of Intent is the first step in the application process and
should be no more than two pages, to which you must attach a one-page
budget summary and an Application
Cover
Sheet
- Sustainable Forests and Communities Initiative.
In addition, a copy of the applicant's letter from the Internal Revenue
Service regarding exempt status should also be included with the Letter
of Intent. Be sure to review Guidelines and Restrictions.
The Letter of Intent should contain the following information in a concise form:
- Brief background on the applicant organization
- Statement of sustainability benefits of the proposed project
- Plan to implement the project
- Time frame
- Budget for the project
In order to be considered, proposal writers must make a clear case as to how the proposal fits with the announced interests of the Foundation.
Deadline
Letters of Intent for the Sustainable Forests and Communities
Initiative program must be received by the Foundation office no
later than April 1, 2012.
In fairness to all applicants, the Foundation will strictly adhere to it's deadlines. Material received after the established deadlines will not be considered.
Foundation Process for Decision Making
The Board of Trustees will review all letters of intent at their
meeting in June and will notify applicants in July of the Board's
decision regarding the initial application stage.
Selected organizations will be invited to submit a full proposal which must be received by the Foundation office no later than August 1, 2012. Grant decisions will be made in November and funds will be distributed by year end.
Each grant proposal must carry the signature of the appropriate administrative officer of the tax-exempt non-profit applicant.
Organizations receiving grants are expected to assume proper fiscal responsibility for the expenditure of grant funds as well as to assure the Foundation that the purposes of the grants are fulfilled.
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