Dear Partners,
We are writing to share an exciting opportunity to join fellow funders in supporting the health and healing of the Klamath River Basin.

In 2023 and 2024, the unprecedented removal of four dams on the Klamath River became the largest dam removal and river restoration project in U.S. history. The removal of these dams is the result of generations of tireless work to restore the Klamath Basin led by Tribes, activists, landowners, agencies, and nonprofits.

There is now another generational task ahead: revitalize the health and healing of the basin so the region can thrive ecologically, culturally, and economically.

With a $10 million dollar gift from the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, Humboldt Area Foundation + Wild Rivers Community Foundation launched the Klamath River Fund in June 2024. Additional support from The James Irvine Foundation, Roundhouse Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust, Tamalpais Trust and an anonymous funder has advanced the Klamath River Fund’s 10-year commitment to invest in and amplify Tribal and local community-driven restoration and revitalization priorities in the Klamath Basin.

By channeling resources to the region through a pooled fund, we will facilitate effective community engagement, strategy coordination, technical assistance, and grantmaking, and increase philanthropic and public resources to meet the demands of this monumental moment. Our collective efforts will demonstrate how river restoration, of which dam removal is a first step, is an investment in climate resilience, community resilience, and restorative justice.

We invite you to join the Klamath Philanthropic Funder Collaborative, either as a pooled or aligned funder as described on the following page. Together, philanthropy can play a critical role in leveraging resources and shared values, and continue the legacy of work that has come before us. We hope you will join us in this exciting and timely opportunity.

In Solidarity,
Gina Zottola
Vice President
Advancement & Philanthropic Innovation
GZottola@wildriverscf.org

Pimm Tripp-Allen
Vice President
Programs, Community Partnerships & Tribal Relations
PimmT@hafoundation.org

The Klamath River Fund is a pooled fund managed by Humboldt Area Foundation + Wild Rivers Community Foundation (HAF+WRCF) serving as a vehicle for centralized grantmaking and programmatic systems in the Klamath River Basin. Efforts are streamlined through HAF+WRCF’s management, oversight, accountability, and due diligence. By working together, our philanthropic community can be more effective in supporting the health and healing of the Klamath Basin, with shared goals of furthering climate resilience, community resilience, and restorative justice.

Efforts are focused on community engagement, strategy coordination, technical assistance, grantmaking, fundraising, and leveraging resources. Grants have been awarded from the fund since March 2024. Investments are focused on community healing, Tribal self-determination, science and restoration, storytelling, climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, and environmental stewardship. A minimum of 60% of funds will be directed to Tribes and Indigenous led- or serving- organizations. Grantmaking focus and decisions are made by internal staff and guided by the soon to be created Klamath River Fund advisory committee. Our values around consistent outreach and communication will ensure we continuously center the basin’s Tribes and communities hopes, needs, opportunities, priorities, and wellbeing at the heart of our work.

Both Pooled and Aligned funding partners will participate in & benefit from activities & resources of the Klamath Philanthropic Funder Collaborative, allowing us to learn from each other, streamline resources, increase investments, and expand impact.

Resource Sharing: Bi-annual newsletters (Summer/Winter) and collaborative meetings (Spring/Fall) to share updates, facilitate mutual learning, and coordinate resources.

Learning & Impact: Opportunities for site visits to the basin to meet with local leaders and
observe projects and better understand impact.

Expert Management: HAF+WRCF manages over 900 funds with an impeccable audit and strong track record of investment practices that have enabled growth in assets to over $180 million, while granting out over $100 million to the community over the past 50 years.

Local Expertise: Programmatic and community engagement efforts are led by HAF+WRCF Vice President of Programs, Community Partnerships & Tribal Relations, Pimm Tripp-Allen (Karuk/Yurok), and Senior Program Officer, Holly Hensher (Karuk/Konomihu), both from the Klamath Basin. In addition, an advisory committee of community leaders will be formed to help guide the fund and provide local oversight.

Dedicated Fundraising: Klamath River Fund staff will work to ensure there are ample grantmaking and programmatic resources for the 10-year duration and long-term vision of the program. Fundraising efforts are led by Vice President of Advancement & Philanthropic Innovation, Gina Zottola, and Department Director of Advancement & Philanthropic Innovation, Keytra Meyer, both focused on developing and maintaining relationships and trust, opportunities for collaboration, shared learnings, and accountability.

Public/Private Coordination Hub: HAF+WRCF will serve as a hub to help coordinate philanthropic efforts in the basin, while at the same time working with public agencies to advance public-private partnerships and help leverage unprecedented levels of public funding currently available in the region.

We invite partners to join the Klamath Philanthropic Funder Collaborative as either a Pooled or Aligned Funder.

Collaborative Grantmaking as a Pooled Funder:

• Contribute directly to the Klamath River Fund pool to support grantmaking via the structure described above
• Commit to a contribution of $100,000 or more annually for at least one year.
• Contributions to the pooled fund are made in alignment with the goals and strategies of the fund without additional restrictions, except where organizational restrictions such as geography are required.
• Reporting for the pooled fund would come from a common template in November of each year; however, we do understand that specific reporting needs may be required from some foundations.

Coordinated Grantmaking as an Aligned Funder:

• Make grants directly rather than contributing to the pooled fund.
• Share information on where your foundation is funding in the Klamath Basin and participate in meetings twice per year to discuss funding gaps and opportunities and coordinate on grantmaking.
• Commit to participate in the Klamath Philanthropic Funder Collaborative for a minimum of two years and provide at least one grant to the Klamath Basin annually.

Contact us today to learn more: KlamathRiverFund@hafoundation.org