Dear Friend of the Intermountain West Funder Network,

Thank you to everyone who completed our funder survey on the Intermountain West Funder Network! We will be sharing out highlights of the survey results and implementing changes based on your input. Look for more details as we approach our April 2017 convening in Bozeman!

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

Read also The Funders' Network January Network Newsletter, and find out what funders are saying about the road ahead in our Post-election News and Resources.

Big Shifts, Local Solutions: 2017 IMWFN Convening in Bozeman, Montana April 26-28, 2017. Hold these dates and watch for more information on the program, registration, and hotel information in the next week! We will explore a number of important strategies on the innovative and transformative work happening at the local level to advance sustainable environmental and economic communities in the intermountain west, and to plan for the road ahead.

Registration is open for the Funders’ Network 2017 Annual Conference in Saint Paul, Minnesota March 20-22, 2017. See the “Saint Paul spotlight: Philanthropy's post-election gameplan” on the opportunities to learn how funders can become even more engaged and effective in the month’s to come.

The Gates Family Foundation announces their five-year Strategic Plan for 2017-2021. The 2017 Strategic Plan represents a continuation and refinement of the foundation’s focus on two primary priorities for impact and outcome-based strategies and tools, (K-12 Education/closing the achievement gap and Natural Resource conservation) and one secondary priority (Community Development).

TFN EVENTS:

TFN Webinar: Water and Equity: How Can Philanthropy Face the Challenges of Today and Tomorrow, February 8, 2017. This call will explore a variety of water equity challenges in the United States and how philanthropy can engage on these issues, such as water affordability, leveraging investments in water infrastructure for community benefits, and equitable allocation of federal disaster recovery following flooding events.

EVENTS IN THE FIELD:

Webinar: Healthy Food, Healthy People: The Relationship Between Food and Real Estate, Feb. 2, 2017 with Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders. Join SAFSF for an engaging discussion of how cross-sectoral partnerships among real estate developers, public sector institutions, universities, restauranteurs, chefs, farmers, and food retailers can support the health of people and the planet.

New Partners for Smart Growth Conference, February 2-4, 2017 in St. Louis, Missouri. The nation’s largest smart growth and sustainability event, the theme for the 2017 conference is “Practical Tools and Innovative Strategies for Creating Great Communities.”

Heart & Soul Talks: Stories to Action--How Listening Can Lead to Change, February 23, 2017. Three speakers, each with different but meaningful experiences, share how storytelling enriches a community and leads to positive change.

“New Bears Ears community engagement fund to support cultural resource protection and community partnerships,” Hewlett, January 12, 2017. The Hewlett Foundation in partnership with Wyss, DiCaprio, Packard, and Wilburforce foundations and the Grand Canyon Trust announce a $1.5 billion fund to strengthen native management of the newly designated Monument in southeastern Utah.

“How can philanthropy help disaster relief and recovery?” The Funders’ Network, January 12, 2017. TFN and the Center for Disaster Philanthropy have been involved in an exciting regional effort to strengthen community foundations in their knowledge of disasters and to empower their leadership in this arena.

“Facing the VUCA challenge – politics & climate – an interview with Steve Whitney,” Carpe Diem West, January 2017. The Bullitt Foundation’s Steve Whitney shares his thoughts on how to bring resiliency, diversity, flexibility, and adaptation to bear in light of today’s national political landscape.

“HUD awards $132 million to five communities to revitalize housing, surrounding neighborhoods,” Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), December 12, 2017. HUD announced the Choice Neighborhood grants, awarding five communities, including Denver, Colo.

“By coming together, communities make change for the better,” Orton Family Foundation, January 23, 2017. An interview with senior fellow at the Urban Land Institute, McMahon talks about the value of bringing residents into the conversation about community development. Read also Orton's 9 Ways to Get Public Input.

“The death rate gap between urban and rural America is getting wider,” Vox, January 13, 2017. Access to healthcare and city or suburban lifestyles seem to be tied to a longer life.

“The hidden inequality of America’s street design,” Fast Company, January 10, 2017. A new report from Smart Growth America shows that pedestrian’s are more likely to die if they’re poor, a person of color, uninsured, or old. Native Americans are one of the most over-represented demographics in pedestrian deaths.

“For tribes, new designations are culturally monumental,” High Country News, January 5, 2017. Obama created national monuments at Bears Ears and Gold Butte, sites with huge significance to Native Americans. Read also HCN’s article on how the Interior canceled oil and gas leases in Montana’s Badger-Two Medicine.

Climate change garners commitments from publc health advocates to land conservationists. The Land Trust Alliance announces a four-year Land Trust Climate Change Initiative to advance lands trusts' strategic response to climate change. The American Public Health Association will focus on the Year of Climate Change and Health to advance climate change strategies that protect people's health.

Resource: “The clean energy policy guide for State Legislatures,” by the Center for the New Energy Economy (CNEE) is a how-to resource for state clean energy policies. States have led the shift to cleaner energy and that trend is likely to continue.

Report: “Beyond the source: The environmental, economic and community benefits of source water protection,” developed by The Nature Conservancy, this report analyzes the source watersheds of more than 4,000 cities around the world to demonstrate the health, climate and biodiversity benefits of source water protection. See also the new Protecting Water Atlas.

"Obama’s lasting legacies in the west," High Country News, December 26, 2016. Under president Obama, the West re-examined its relationship to energy and the climate and set in motion a new course for the future.

“Reversing course, E.P.A. says fracking can contaminate drinking water,” New York Times, December 13, 2017. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finally spoken out about the risks posed by fracking to drinking water supplies.

“Federal hiring freeze hits western land agencies,” High Country News, January 25, 2017. It’s not clear what will happen with seasonal hires such as wildland firefighters.

“Breaking down Trump’s Dakota access decision,” High Country News, January 25, 2017. The memo sends a strong message to green light the pipeline. Read also HCN's article on making sense of Trump's energy plan.

"Congress moves to give away national lands, discounting billions in revenue," The Guardian, January 19, 2017. The House of Representatives passed a new rule that assumes federal lands have no value, which eases the way to transfer federal lands to states, local communities or Indian tribes. Read also the High Country News article on this new development.

“Bill would penalize utilities for wind-powered electricity for Wyoming customers,” Billings Gazette, January 11, 2017. A bill proposed by six state lawmakers would charge utilities a penalty if they use wind or solar energy to provide Wyoming consumers with electricity.

“Trump tax promise is already affecting affordable housing,” Next City, January 23, 2017. The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) established under Reagan has financed millions of affordable rental housing units and is being affected by the promise of lower corporate tax rates. Read also Next City's article on the future of placemaking grant programs of the National Endowment for the Arts.

“How Mormon principles and grassroots ideals saved Utah,” Politico, January 18, 2017. Fearful of rampant growth, officials put control in the hands of citizens who preferred collaboration to government dictates.

“Nature cities: Wellness and public space,” Placemakers, January 17, 2017. When nature is integrated into urbanism, wellness surges. A look at the benefits.

“New Mexico: What can a city do when its development process is fundamentally broken? Start again!” Western Planner, January 6, 2017. Albuquerque’s city council is embracing an opportunity to think more comprehensively about growth and overhaul its development review process.

“Las Vegas uses new markets tax credits to rehab historic former school,” Next City, January 5, 2017. New Market Tax Credits (NMTC) is being used by cities like Las Vegas to help fill in the gaps in the funding cuts, and allow state and local governments to finance community development.

“Riding the trail to revitalization: Rural and small town trail-oriented development,” Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design, January 20, 2017. Trail-Oriented Development (TrOD) is a tool which capitalizes on trails as community amenities and leverages the placemaking and development potential adjacent to trails.

Guide: “Small town and rural multimodal networks” by the Federal Highway Administration as a guide for rural transportation practitioners to enhance livability in rural communities.

“Bicycle tourism in rural Oregon,” The Western Planner, January 17, 2017. Bicycle-related activities contribute a growing share of total travel expenditures in rural regions in Oregon.

“More states are looting federal funds for walking and biking,” Streetsblog, January 6, 2017. The Transportation Alternatives program is designed to give states power over federal transportation funding for pedestrian and bike infrastructure projects. A loophole is defeating that purpose.

The BUILD Health Challenge aims to foster community collaborations with hospitals and government agencies to address social and environmental factors that influence health, such as air and water quality, housing, and early-childhood development. Two-year, $250,000 grants will be awarded to 17 partnerships. First-round applications are due by February 21, second-round applications by May 23.

Creating Inclusive Communities: 2017 Western Places/Western Spaces Conference of the Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute will be held in Denver, Colo. March 16-17, 2017. The theme focuses on the challenges and strategies available to cities—large and small—to plan for and build communities in which everyone can find their place.

Smart Partnerships for Fast Times: Healthy Headwaters Leadership Convening in Aurora, Colo. Friday, March 31, 2017. Carpe Diem West invites you to join them at their annual convening! Check out the agenda and speakers. Contact Kimery Wiltshire with any questions.

About the IMWFN:

The mission of the Intermountain West Funder Network (IMWFN) is to inspire, strengthen, and expand funding and philanthropic leadership in the Intermountain West that engages people in decisions that result in more environmentally sustainable, socially equitable, and economically prosperous regions and communities.