Membership

Membership in Blue Sky Funders Forum offers funders opportunities to connect, align, and collaborate with peers. Membership is open to all staff, board, and trustees of grantmaking organizations.

Membership Benefits:

• Networking, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration with peer funders in the Blue Sky community
• Access to Tracking the Field – a searchable grants database for environmental literacy and connections to nature
• Access to member-only resources on website
• Member-only calls and listserv
• Ability to help shape the Blue Sky strategy, programs, and events
• Discounted registration fees for Blue Sky events
• Access to and engagement opportunities with practitioner leaders through the Blue Sky Program Committee
• Ability to contribute to Rethink Outside™ services, stories, events, and Fellowship; and access to research and resources informing the shared narrative campaign
• Access to Blue Sky staff for ideation, connections, and resources to support your grantmaking
• Eligibility to serve on the Blue Sky board

Membership Contributions

Blue Sky Funders Forum welcomes members from all types of philanthropic entities – private foundations, family foundations, community foundations, corporate giving, government agencies, individual donors, and donor-advised funds.

Recommended levels of support are assessed based on members’ total grantmaking in the last full fiscal year related to environmental issues, environmental literacy, equitable outdoor experiences, and connections to nature. Contributions may be paid in annual dues, as a grant, and/or as special support for specific activities and/or events. Member contributions help support and sustain Blue Sky operations and activities.

Annual Minimum Suggested Membership Contributions

Annual Grantmaking	Suggested Contribution	New Member Discount – Year 1
Less Than $499,999	$1,100	$880
$500,000 – $999,999	$2,750	$2,200
More Than $1,000,000	$5,500	$4,400

Community Foundations

Community foundations may contribute $700 with an intention to gradually increase annually to match the minimum contribution level for other funders.

Public Funders

Government and public funders may contribute financially through a grant or event sponsorship, or consider in-kind contributions such as grants data, research and evaluation resources and expertise, and convening space as feasible.

Membership Criteria

• Give at least $50,000 for supporting outdoor experiences and learning, and connecting people to nature amongst at least five groups per year
• Grant out more funds than raised for internal expenses

Entities that grant funds but do not act primarily as grantmaking institutions are not eligible for membership. Interpretations of these criteria is at the discretion of Blue Sky’s board.

Please contact us for specific details about membership contribution levels or any additional information.