Join the Blue Sky Funders Forum from October 8-10, 2024 to celebrate our 10th Anniversary. 

We are thrilled to celebrate Blue Sky’s 10th anniversary with you! Join us from October 8-10, 2024 in the Bay Area for a special gathering with our amazing community of members and partners. We will bring together 70 philanthropic and movement leaders to conspire, strategize and celebrate Blue Sky members’ remarkable impact to date. Over the past decade, your dedication and support have played a pivotal role in expanding our collective impact, driving more than $500 million in funding for environmental education and meaningful outdoor experiences. Thank you for being an integral part of our community.

Register

Questions

• Contact Onika Abraham Lee for any questions related to the programming 
• Contact Berkeley Bryant for questions related to logistics and registration

Design Team

A big thank you to our Design Team of incredible Bay Area leaders for their invaluable partnership and collaboration in shaping this year’s agenda. 

• Abigail Sahm (she/her), Sahm Family Foundation
• Ash McNeely (she/her), Sand Hill Foundation 
• Francis Mendoza (he/they/sila), JEDAI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Accessibility and Inclusion) Consultant; Save California Salmon
• Carol Olson (she/her), Environmental Education Funders Collaborative 
• José González (he/him), East Bay Regional Park District
• Justin Steele (he/him), Google.org
• Kaitlin Levenstrong (she/her), Oakland Goes Outdoors 
• Alexis Llamas (she/her), 11th Hour Project
• Onika Abraham Lee (she/her), Blue Sky Funders Forum 
• Berkeley Bryant (she/her), Blue Sky Funders Forum
• Sarah Shimazaki (she/her), Blue Sky Funders Forum

Agenda

Tuesday, October 8, 2024 

Wednesday, October 9, 2024 

Thursday, October 10, 2024

Hotel

Hotel Highlights

• Complimentary Standard Guest Room Internet Access
• Complimentary Access to Fitness Center
• Complimentary Breakfast
• Quick walk to parks and natural spaces, food and drinks, the Downtown Berkeley BART station, and the David Brower Center 

Book Your Room 

We have secured a limited number of rooms at the discounted rate of $209/night + tax. Book your room by September 13, 2024 to lock in this special rate. 

Speakers

Sponsors

[Note of gratitude to sponsors] Thank you to our sponsors for powering our 10th Anniversary Celebration and investing in the future of outdoor access and environmental education.

Please join the leaders above in investing in this event, and the future of our movement, by donating to Blue Sky Funders Forum’s 10th Anniversary Fund.

FAQ

I’m not a funder. Can I attend? 

Blue Sky’s work thrives on the deep relationships and collaboration we share with movement leaders, nonprofits, legislators, and community leaders. To foster meaningful connections among our funder members and network, we’ll be extending special invitations to key movement leaders, and registration for this particular event will be limited. However, we warmly invite you to join us for a free screening and discussion with the producers of the Earth Seed film on X date and time at X location.

More about the Earth Seed film:

A timely inquiry, if not its own urgent prayer, “What is the future of survival?” EARTH SEED: A People’s Journey of Radical Hospitality is a pilgrimage through California from present-day Los Angeles to the Mendocino Woodlands. Lifting up the people and places who are forging models for survival and a collective future. Octavia Butler’s Parables series, the living legacies of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense, and the diaspora of the global south, serve as canonical wisdom for the frontlines of activists of color, artists, educators, farmers, youth, and elders who are dreaming, reimagining, and building survival practices for tomorrow. 

Are non-Blue Sky members able to join?

Yes! We welcome all funders and grantmakers interested in or already funding environmental education, outdoor access, and meaningful experiences in nature. You do not need to be a Blue Sky member to join the celebration. 

Will this event be accessible? 

Blue Sky Funders Forum strives to make every event accessible and inclusive for all participants. During registration, you’ll be asked about any accessibility needs. Please let us know if you require additional accommodations or have specific requests. Your wellbeing is our top priority and we want to ensure a comfortable and supportive experience for everyone.

What is the attire? 

There is no formal dress code, but we recommend business casual. Please prioritize your comfort and check the weather, as the East Bay (where most of our events will be hosted) tends to be a bit warmer than San Francisco (where our cocktail party will take place). 

What hotel should I stay at? 

We have reserved a limited number of rooms at the Residence Inn Berkeley. Please see more information here [insert link to hotel page]. 

Where are we meeting?

Through partnerships with fantastic movement leaders and funders, we’re taking you on a mini-tour of the Bay Area. Here is a snapshot of where we’ll meet each day (full agenda and venue locations here) [link to agenda page]. 

• Tuesday, October 8: Google Community Space (San Francisco)  
• Wednesday, October 9: Temescal Beach House (Oakland) for the morning sessions and lunch; followed by a site visit to X place (transportation will be provided) 
• Thursday, October 10: David Brower Center (Berkeley)