Dear Friend of the Intermountain West Funder Network,

We hope you enjoy this latest edition of the IMWFN Digest. Send along any news, events and other items to share with your colleagues, as well as any feedback, to Amy Swiatek. Do you have a colleague who would like to receive the IMWFN Digest? Please have them contact Amy to be added to our list of recipients for this monthly digest.

Please be sure to also read the August newsletter from the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities, with a warm welcome to new members of the TFN-IMWFN family, including the Colorado Department of Local Affairs!

Access information on Hurricane Harvey: How to help and the Center for Disaster Philanthropy's response at TFN's blog. And, a reminder that the 2018 PLACES Fellowship deadline to apply is Oct. 31, 2017. Informational calls will be held on September 12 and October 20.

IMWFN Webinar: Solutions Journalism: How Investing in Media Can Drive Positive Community Change on Sept. 20, 2017 at 11am MT. We will explore what is being done to support and preserve the type of journalism that illuminates complex issues and invigorates civic engagement. We'll learn about the award-winning Small Towns, Big Change project of the LOR Foundation and the Solutions Journalism Network, as well as hear from the Democracy Fund about ways foundations across the country can support essential journalism. Register here.

IMWFN Funder Networking Series Call on Oct. 5, 2017 at 12pm MT. Join your colleagues for a conversation on Land Trust Capacity led by Russell Schnitzer of the Gates Family Foundation on the collaborative and innovative land trust capacity building work underway in Colorado. This call is the first in a series of conversations with a peer group of interested funders focused on the broad topical area of conservation/environment while being inclusive of related issues. To learn more click here and contact Amy at amy@fundersnetwork.org to sign up.

IMWFN Funder Reception INVITE for Oct. 26, 2017 at 4:30-6:30pm MT, in Denver, Colo., with our co-host the Gates Family Foundation. National and local funders and land trust leaders are invited to attend this cocktail reception to build connections, network with like-minded colleagues, and learn about the collaborative and innovative land trust capacity building work underway in Colorado. Please RSVP here. This gathering takes place in association with the Land Trust Alliance Rally in Denver, Oct. 26-28.

TFN EVENTS:

Webinar: Foundation Action: Threats to Clean Water, Sept. 5, 2017. Join CGDB, EGA, and TFN to discuss current national threats to the quality of the nation’s fresh water used for drinking and recreating.

TFN Webinar: Anchored in Place: How Funders are Helping Anchor Institutions Strengthen Local Economies, Sept. 13, 2017. Hear about TFN’s new report on the practice and promise of anchor-driven economic and community development, and how funders can play a key role in the success of anchor initiatives.

GREEN! Working Group Annual Meeting, Oct. 24-26, 2017, San Diego, CA.

EVENTS IN THE FIELD:

2017 Western Planner Conference, Sept. 13-17, 2017 in Spearfish, South Dakota.

2017 Rail~Volution Conference, Sept. 17-20, 2017 in Denver, Colo.

Environmental Grantmakers Association Annual Retreat, Sept. 24-27, 2017, Seattle, Wash.

Heart & Soul Talks: Bridge Divides with Discourse that's Civil, Sept. 28, 2017. Gain insight and practical ideas and tools for advancing civil discourse.

TFN Report: Anchored in Place: How Funders Are Helping Anchor Institutions Strengthen Local Economies offers recommendations for funders to refine their strategies for working with anchors. Among the profiled communities are Albuquerque and Denver. Join us for a webinar on the report, Sept. 13.

“Understanding trust to strengthen democracy,” Democracy Fund, August 21, 2017. Three important lessons investigated on the understanding of trust and its connection to our democracy.

“Salazar’s vision, Bohemian gift combine to create conservation center,” Colorado State University, August 10, 2017. The Salazar Center seeks to improve conservation practices for years to come.

“Investing in collaborative systems change in turbulent times,” Geo, August 8, 2017. The unique roles that funders play when leading in complexity and uncertainty.

Report: Green Infrastructure in Parks: A Guide to Collaboration, Funding, and Community Engagement, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“Minority populations driving county growth in the rural west,” Headwaters Economics, August 2017. A look at minority trends in the rural west.

“Mexicali fluye: Getting good things flowing in our communities,” Sonoran Institute, August 2017. A drainage and park project in the city that greatly improves the health and quality of life in a low-income neighborhood while also benefiting the environment.

“Is your community at risk from wildfire?” The Western Planner, August 23, 2017. Examples of community tools for land use planning that reduces wildfire risk.

Watch the LOR Foundation’s video on the Rio Grande Water Fund, which was created to help invest in the long-term restoration of northern New Mexico’s forested lands and watersheds.

Report: An Equitable Water Future, U.S. Water Alliance. This national briefing paper provides examples of how to create climate-resilient and equitable water systems. Read more: Capital Scan: Climate Resilient & Equitable Water Systems.

“MAP: How much climate change will cost each U.S. county,” Governing, August 23, 2017. For the first time, researchers have calculated global warming's potential economic impact on each county.

“How farmers can help keep salt out of the Colorado River,” High Country News, August 11, 2017. The solution to a basin-wide problem may fall to individual irrigators.

“A legal snarl in Idaho portends future conflicts over water,” High Country News, August 4, 2017. As the climate changes, dams face new challenges for water rights and releases.

“Economy surprisingly dependent on non-labor income,” Headwaters Economics, August 2017. A look at non-labor income in the rural west and its implications.

“Wind and solar power are saving Americans an astounding amount of money,” Vox, August 18, 2017. The benefits of renewable energy are worth quite a bit, especially in certain regions of the U.S. and low-income communities.

“The role of P3s in resilience planning,” Smart Cities Dive, August 17, 2017. With looming climate changes and a growing possibility of natural disasters, cities should look to the private sector to aid in planning.

“Who wants to run that mom-and-pop market? Almost no one,” New York Times, July 2017. Tiny town mom and pop markets are at risk of closing. Long-time owners in San Luis, Colo. are struggling to sell their store, and in Walsh, Colo. a new model is emerging for towns trying to save their local grocery store.

“Lifelines in Lincoln: Hard-working town seeks new ways to make a living, ” Independent Record, July 2017. A Montana town is finding a new way forward that is not dependent on the boom and bust economy.

“Blame for wildfires gets pinned on ‘environmental extremists,’” High Country News, August 25, 2017. Montana’s lawmakers slight climate change as a main driver for the state’s blazes.

“Details emerge on proposed monument cutbacks,” High Country News, August 23, 2017. Interior Secretary Zinke says he will recommend reductions to some monuments, but not eliminations.

“In solar scuffle, big utilities meet their match,” High Country News, August 21, 2017. Solar advocates win a surprising victory in Nevada.

“Scientists fear trump will dismiss blunt climate report,” New York Times, August 7, 2017. Scientist are concerned that a congressionally mandated climate assessment may not be released by the Trump Administration. Read more: censoring the use of the term “climate change” at the USDA.

“A Colorado city in the Smart Cities Collaborative partners with Uber for a ‘quicker way to deploy transit to our residents,’” T4America Blog, August 22, 2017. A small Denver suburb launched a pilot project to add an on-demand transit component through a partnership with Uber.

“Two new Bronx murals encourage pedestrians to take the stairs,” Next City, August 21, 2017. New York City departments of health and transportation team up to commission new murals on outdoor staircases to encourage exercise and beautify the streetscape.

“The not-so-secret trick to cutting solo car commutes: Charge for parking by the day,” Seattle Times, August 11, 2017. Spurred by state law, Seattle-area employers see promising results in keeping cars off the road.

“An exciting time for bus rapid transit,” T4America Blog, August 7, 2017. A study on a BRT system in Oregon demonstrates the economic development benefits for the region.

Slow Money: SOIL, Brining our money back to the earth, Oct. 16-17, 2017 in Boulder, Colo.

21st Century Energy Transition 2017 Symposium: Tackling, Solving & Addressing Grand Challenges, Oct. 30-31, 2017 in Fort Collins, Colo.

SHIFT, Nov. 1-3, 2017 in Jackson, Wyo. on how investments in outdoor recreation and the conservation of public lands create local economic prosperity and contribute to vibrant, resilient communities across the U.S.

Colorado Impact Days, Nov. 15-17, 2017 in Denver, Colo. A state scale impact investing marketplace.