National and International Environmental Grantmaking

The Trust is fortunate to have the Henry Phillip Kraft Family Memorial Fund, whose purpose is to support environmental projects of national and international significance, and supplements our local environmental grantmaking.

Grants from the Kraft Fund are made to:

Minimize climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions through local, state, and regional commitments; through efforts by private businesses and institutions to become more sustainable; and through development of alternative energy sources and energy conservation. Our focus in 2009 has shifted to getting a national commitment to reduce greenhouse gases.

Preserve biological diversity through habitat conservation by supporting the preservation and restoration of ocean, estuarine, coastal, and wetlands habitat; promoting land conservation and smart growth strategies; and altering destructive agricultural and industrial practices.

Reduce or eliminate toxins that are hazardous to human health by implementing clean production practices; adopting the precautionary principle; protecting drinking water quality; and conducting research to establish links between hazards and public health. In 2009, we are focused on getting stronger federal protections from toxic chemicals. 

Internationally, we will support only U.S.-based organizations that are building the capacity of government, institutions, and nonprofits to protect biodiversity, improve environmental health, and reduce greenhouse gases around the world.

Accomplishments of Kraft Fund Grantmaking: 1997-2010

• Assisted in creating the mandate for all western states to map and conserve core habitats and wildlife corridors.
• Established successful projects in Latin America, Africa, and Asia to save endangered species, led by conservation biologists and veterinarians.
• Supported the establishment of a historic United Nations international treaty to ban twelve of the most dangerous chemicals in the world.
• Helped over 140 cities reduce greenhouse gas emissions by ten million tons per year.
• Strengthened the field of environmental health science and helped establish landmark health-protection policies.
• Provided pioneering support for regional efforts to reduce greenhouse gases, in New England, the Midwest, and New York.
• Highlighted the potential of waterfront brownfields redevelopment in New York City and State.
• Won the adoption of pollution limits for New York City drinking water reservoirs through successful litigation, and encouraged the City to purchase 18,000 acres of watershed land for protection.
• Achieved an agreement with McDonald's and poultry growers to use fewer antibiotics.
• Convinced leading catalogue retailers to use recycled paper to save endangered forests.
• Helped a group of public investors and insurance companies to convince large corporations, whose stock they own, to consider climate change a business risk.