Keweenaw Heartlands: Big, Exciting Announcement!
At the October 21st Keweenaw Heartlands Project Public Update, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Michigan and the Keweenaw Community Foundation shared big, exciting news: The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation’s Kigme Fund have each contributed $1 million toward the establishment of an endowment for the Keweenaw Heartlands Community Forest. Taken together, this means that TNC and KCF have secured $2 million for the long-term care of this forest footprint.
The announcement of these generous contributions means that the Keweenaw Community Foundation will hold an endowment designated to support the Keweenaw Heartlands Community Forest. More specifically, the securing of these funds brings the community one step closer to realizing their vision of local, public governance and management for this forest. Progress continues toward that vision, and knowing endowment funds are secured is a big, exciting step in the right direction!
Question of the month: How is the $2 million endowment different from the Keweenaw Heartlands Forest Fund?
The Keweenaw Heartlands Forest Fund (“Forest Fund”), announced in July by the Keweenaw Community Foundation, is a separate fund set-up to support the first 3-5 years of initial operations of the Keweenaw Heartlands Community Forest once it is transitioned into local, public governance and management.
These funds will cover early governance and management expenses of the community forest, such as establishment of a publicly elected board; road and trail maintenance; writing of a forest management plan; and much more. While the Forest Fund covers those first few years of the community forest, the endowment will continue to grow. Once the Forest Fund is fully spent, the endowment’s annual distribution will then contribute toward the operating expenses of the community forest.
To date, the community has raised $318,000 toward a goal of $600,000 in the Keweenaw Heartlands Forest Fund. Those interested in supporting the start-up of the Keweenaw Heartlands Community Forest can contribute by visiting the Keweenaw Heartlands Forest Fund, or by contacting Robin Meneguzzo, Executive Director of the Keweenaw Community Foundation, at robin@keweenawgives.org.
In the News
The Mining Gazette: Heartlands Update: Legislation would shift local governance
WLUC-TV: $2M endowment fund established for Keweenaw Heartlands Project
WKAR News: $2 million stewardship fund created for Keweenaw Heartlands
MLive: Keweenaw Peninsula conservation project gets $2 million endowment
MLive: A massive wilderness project in the U.P. is changing how Michigan’s public forests are managed