Our region is famous for entrepreneurial and tech-focused approaches to big opportunities. As our economy has boomed, so has the potential for global impact through philanthropy. In a transformation moment for Washington’s philanthropic community, we are excited to announce a gift that will focus on innovative, system-level solutions to some of our planet’s most pressing issues. The gift comes from a Washington donor who recognizes the potential for impact in our own backyard and around the world.
News Coverage
Seattle Times: MacKenzie Scott begins giving away most of her Amazon wealth
MacKenzie Scott has announced a gift of $25 million total — $10 million going to our work on Blue Bonds for Conservation and $15 million toward our work on U.S. Climate Action as part of her newly announced giving strategy. We are proud to be one of her initial partners and excited to focus on the game-changing impact of these gifts.
We’re particularly heartened by the focus on equity and environmental justice in her giving strategy, and we will forward her commitment through our work with frontline communities that are experiencing climate impacts hardest.
Acting on Climate
Climate change threatens every aspect of our world, from the food we eat to the air we breathe. Never has there been a more urgent need for action. This gift will support TNC’s effort towards durable, equitable policies and practices that move us toward a net-zero economy in a way that maximizes the role of nature and accelerates the transition to clean energy while avoiding impacts to people and nature. Specifically, we will invest in:
Catalyzing ambitious action and support from influential constituencies, including business, agricultural and local community leaders.
Advancing state-level policy impact to reduce emissions now, incorporate natural climate solutions and build support for broader action
Fostering bipartisan support and policy action in Congress, tapping the deep, extensive relationships of our state chapter staff and volunteer trustees
This work will be done in partnership with frontline communities and communities of color who disproportionately bear the first and worst impacts of climate change and are often underserved and underrepresented in the implementation of climate solutions. Addressing these inequities is inextricably part of successfully meeting the challenge of climate change. We strive to address issues of equity, both in process and substance, in our efforts to advance ambitious climate policy.
Innovation for Our Oceans
In 2016, the Republic of Seychelles worked with TNC to restructure part of its national debt, freeing up money to reach the conservation goal of protecting 30 percent of its marine territory by 2020. © Roshni Lodhia
Our planet’s oceans have never faced more severe threats. With the help of this gift, TNC’s Blue Bonds for Ocean Conservation will benefit communities around the world with an innovative method or protecting the oceans we all depend upon.
The program refinances debt for coastal countries, on a massive scale. The countries then use their savings to create marine protected areas and conserve huge areas of ocean. Our goal is to bring $1.6 billion in sustainable funding to protect 4 million square km of ocean, which is an up to a 15 percent increase in the amount of protected ocean on the planet today.
Philanthropy is the key that unlocks Blue Bonds—without it, we simply don’t have the capacity to work fast enough to meet our ambitious goals. We’ll use this funding to build a fast-moving, team that can engage multiple countries around the world to structure and close deals quickly; launch the science and planning work that turns a financial deal into a conservation success; and set up the governance system to ensure long-term protection of huge areas of ocean.
This program includes a highly inclusive process that touches down in communities all over the world – communities that are depending on the ocean for their livelihood and culture.
From Seattle to the World
Together these two gifts are transformative, in the U.S. and around the world. We are deeply grateful for the trust in TNC and the commitment to impact demonstrated by these gifts.
