Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation

"Thirty-five years ago, prompted by the threat of a 1,000-unit development on Edisto Island, a group of private landowners and land conservation organizations came to the table for a conversation that would permanently shape the relationship between the land and the people of the Lowcountry." Happy 35th anniversary to the ACE Basin! Learn more about this incredible feat of conservation in an op-ed from GDDF Executive Director Arnold L. Randall in the The Post and Courier. #landconservation #conservation #ACEBasin #Lowcountry #philanthropy

The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation is steadfastly committed to supporting the collective work that we believe speaks to our humanity: the art that inspires us, the narratives that shape us, and the land that sustains us. Indeed, we believe this work is more important than ever. To our grantee-partners, we are here for you. The Foundation remains committed to the vital values of equity and trust that guide our work.  We will continue to provide our grantee-partners with the support they need to do their work as effectively as possible, recognizing them as experts in their fields and important voices in their communities. - Arnold L. Randall Executive Director of the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation 

We are pleased to announce the results of our new Chicago Small Arts Sector Survey! It is the only one of its kind to focus exclusively on Chicago's small arts sector. The survey reveals that the city's small arts organizations are thriving artistically even as they grapple with the ongoing challenges of rebuilding post-pandemic. These small arts organizations are vital contributors to the city's cultural life, economy, and vibrancy. They produce in 62 of the city's 77 community areas, employing more than 4,500 artists, and presenting more than 1,800 works. The data was collected in August 2024 from 77 small arts organizations spanning artistic genres, all with operating budgets under $1 million. Respondents are all grantee-partners in our Chicago Artistic Vitality Program. Learn more about the state of this critical piece of Chicago's cultural life in the 2024 survey results. And thank you to our grantee-partners who shared their time and insights in this year's survey! #chicagoarts #chicagosmallarts #GDDFchicago #GDDfdnarts #artisticvitality #philanthropy

Investing in our future through land conservation is vital and protected natural areas are critical to the Chicago region’s quality of life. They help to clean our water and air, provide wildlife habitat, absorb stormwater, and allow people to spend time in nature. But protecting, preserving, and restoring these areas take a lot of work and a lot of money. As one of the only place-based funders in the Chicago region that provides consistent and sustained support for land conservation organizations and efforts, we are proud of the role we play. Yet private funding from philanthropic foundations like ours is not nearly sufficient given the scale of need for land conservation. This work requires support from multiple levels of government including permanent funding solutions that can support conservation year after year. Learn more about the resources needed to support land conservation and the importance of permanent local, state, and federal funding in this piece from Chicago Conservation Program Officer Rebecca Judd.    It really does take a funding village to ensure healthy and vibrant landscapes for both people and nature to thrive. #GDDFland #landconservation #philanthropy #chicagoland

Important read in the The Post and Courier (subscription) on the vital role land conservation, land trusts, and conservation easements play in the face of rapid development in the fastest-growing state in the country. Conservation benefits lands, communities, and culture. We're proud to support the organizations like Coastal Conservation League, PEE DEE LAND TRUST, Open Space Institute and The Nature Conservancy South Carolina and celebrate the work of important partners like South Carolina Office of Resilience and the South Carolina State Conservation Bank.

GDDF is proud to support 69 organizations in the Chicago region and the Lowcountry with more than $3.9 million in funding in our spring/summer 2024 grant cycle. Executive Director Arnold L. Randall shares:  “We are proud to support a vibrant array of organizations that play such a vital role in their communities. Collectively, their work speaks to our humanity: the art that inspires us, the narratives that shape us, and the land that sustains us.” GDDF is committed to trust-based practices and offering partner-grantees steady, sustained support that recognizes their expertise in their fields and regions. 68% of grants offer multiyear general operating funds  13 new grantee-partners  56 returning grantee-partners  43 in the Artistic Vitality program  12 in the Broadening Narratives program  14 in the Land Conservation program 

A great day on the river! Thank you to Urban Rivers, Shedd Aquarium, and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for hosting us and other members of the Chi-Cal Rivers Fund. So proud to support your work.

"Meaningful and successful conservation efforts engage diverse audiences and local communities. Decades of successes demonstrate that cross-sector cooperation is vital, and that the most successful efforts involve impacted communities. Land conservation efforts must continue to convene, collaborate and center the needs and participation of the community to ensure that future generations have a chance to thrive and to experience and enjoy the unique qualities of the Lowcountry." Executive Director Arnold L. Randall and Lowcountry Program Director Jason Crowley have an op-ed in the The Post and Courier inspired by last week's Lowcountry Land Conservation Symposium. Thank you again to all of our speakers, moderators, and attendees for your time and insights. #landconservation #lowcountry #gddfland #lowcountryconservation #conservation #environment #community #communityfocused #philanthropy

We are working to ensure that those whose stories are being told through collections are included in the decisions about how those stories are told. And, we are working to broaden the kinds of narratives being told, paying particular attention to stories that have never been told, been told incompletely, or been told inaccurately. Discover our Broadening Narratives approach to supporting collections work in the latest in our 5 Questions series. #collections #archives #culturalheritage #philanthropy #grants #grantmaking #museums

Grantee spotlight! Happy 25th Anniversary to the Friends of the Forest Preserves of Cook County! For a quarter of a century, they have been championing one of the largest and oldest forest preserves in the country, right here in the Chicago area. They’ve had some major impacts, including a billion-dollar success at the ballot box in 2022. Friends of the Forest Preserves helped spearhead and chaired a coalition of 170 nonprofits, businesses, and other organizations on the Vote Yes for Clean Air, Clean Water, and Wildlife campaign. A whopping 69% of voters voted yes on a tax hike that provides $43 million annually and perpetually to support the Forest Preserves of Cook County. This community-focused funding supports not only land acquisition and restoration, but programming and employment for community members, engagement opportunities, and much more.    More people from more backgrounds are experiencing nature on more acres thanks to the work of the Friends of the Forest Preserves of Cook County.     The photo features volunteers and members of the Preserves’ Conservation Corp crews at Spring Creek Forest Preserve in Barrington. These groups work in the Preserves—and all across the county — to help restore prairies, woodlands, and wetlands for all of us to enjoy.    We are proud to give Friends of the Forest Preserves general operating support so they can continue their incredible conservation work.