An endowment created to support the work of Sky Island Alliance into the future.
Why is this important?
The work we do and the Sky Island region is important. Six biotic influences converge on a range of 55 mountain ranges, towering over desert and grasslands. This incredible diversity of habitat creates a home for more than 7,000 species, including black bears, jaguars, more than half of the continent’s birds, and creatures found nowhere else on Earth.
Over 30 years ago, Sky Island Alliance was formed by a group of passionate people that recognized the need to protect this special region. And in 2022 we took a big step into the future. Through a legacy gift from supporter Andrew O’Dell, we created the Forever Fund in partnership with the Arizona Community Foundation.
For a nonprofit like ours, this is the roadmap toward organizational sustainability — so we can keep doing our work through science, education, advocacy, and volunteerism in the Sky Islands. It also means we are working to create better conditions to combat the boom and bust of the nonprofit sector through a known and abundant source of funding for base costs, such as staff and operations.
What are our goals for the fund?
The primary goal of Sky Island Alliance’s Board of Directors for the Forever Fund is creating long-term organizational sustainability.
Over the next 10 years, our goal is to raise 8 million for the fund. This amount is the threshold where the income generated would provide 50% of our operating costs a year sustainably.
Where is the fund held, and how is it invested?
We have partnered with the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) as the home for the Forever Fund. ACF’s mission is to “lead, serve, and collaborate to mobilize enduring philanthropy for a better Arizona,” and they manage over 1.4 billion in assets. Needless to say, we are in good company. You are welcome to talk to ACF staff about the fund by contacting Senior Regional Director Angie Laskarides at [email protected] or by calling her at (520) 505-3676.
The Forever Fund is socially and environmentally screened for investments. We are committed to creating a better world in the Sky Islands, but our investments are part of a larger system. That is why we committed to 100% investment in ACF’s Socially Responsible Pool, which grows capital through funds screened for environmental, social, and governance factors. It fits with our mission and values.
How can I give to the Forever Fund?
We can work with you for most any type of gift. The most common types of gifts are:
- Electronic Fund Transfers
- Stock
- Donor Advised Funds
- Qualified Charitable Distributions
- Retirement Plan Beneficiary
- Life Insurance Beneficiary
- Gifts From Will or Estate Plans
- Charitable Gift Annuities
- Real Estate
If you do decide to include us in your will or estate plans, please let us know. We have a notification form you can fill out and return, which helps us understand your wishes.
If I have more questions, who can I talk to?
If you want to learn more about the Forever Fund, please contact Amy Amoroso at [email protected] or (520) 624-7080 ext 77.
Our Tax ID is 86-0796748