Private philanthropy spurs sustainability initiatives at CU Boulder
CU Boulder's momentum in sustainability continues to build with its third significant gift in this area within the past few months.
CU Boulder recently received a generous $1.15 million commitment from the Walton Family Foundation to support two sustainability initiatives: The Water Desk within the Center for Environmental Journalism and the Western Water Policy Program in the Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources.
This award—along with a gift from alum Spike Buckley to establish the Buckley Center for Sustainability Education and a donation of the 476-acre Spruce Gulch Wildlife and Research Reserve from alum Linda Holubar Sanabria—demonstrates the power of donor support to drive sustainability initiatives at the university.
"Sustainability is a core priority of CU Boulder because we want to help every community enjoy access to clean air, fresh water, abundant food and a vibrant natural environment," said CU Boulder Vice Chancellor for Sustainability Andrew Mayock. "We are grateful for partners like the Walton Family Foundation who help us make progress toward that vision through innovative programs like The Water Desk and the Western Water Policy Program. Journalistic coverage of water issues and sound policy development are absolutely vital to our understanding of water issues in the West and preservation of critical resources like the Colorado River.”
Advancing Western water policy
The Walton Family Foundation's commitment will support programs that directly address Western water issues, specifically in those affecting the Colorado River Basin.
A portion of the award will bolster impactful journalism at The Water Desk—a program within the College of Communication, Media, Design and Information. The Water Desk is editorially independent and connects journalists with resources to help them understand and cover issues related to water policy in the West. In doing so, it informs the public and policymakers with fact-based reporting.
Luke Runyon, co-director of The Water Desk, said this grant comes at a critical time for both journalism and water in the West.
"The news industry is facing budget shortfalls and staff cutbacks, while climate change continues to upend how the water cycle functions in our region," Runyon said. "In-depth, high-impact reporting on the Colorado River Basin is more important than ever. The Walton Family Foundation's generous, continued support of The Water Desk gives us the ability to grow a network of media outlets that provides coverage across the West.
"This philanthropic funding for water journalism is essential for informing citizens and decision-makers about problems and potential solutions."
The support will also help the Western Water Policy Program in the Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy and Environment within Colorado Law, and shape the policy and leadership of new river operating rules. The funding will support the center's annual conference, revitalize the Colorado River Research Group and mentor future water leaders in water law and policy.
"Communities need trusted, fact-based journalism and ideas to help make decisions about how to protect water, nature and the people who rely on them," said Ted Kowalski, Colorado Initiative lead for the Walton Family Foundation's Environment Program. "This support for The Water Desk and the Western Water Policy Program will connect local ideas to local leaders."
Leading in sustainability-based programs
Today's students seek opportunities to incorporate sustainability and environmental leadership into their education. Programs supporting water policy align with these student goals and position CU Boulder as a leader in sustainability-based education and research.
Continued donor support helps the university attract top students, support their educational progress, expand their educational experiences on campus and set them up for success after graduation. And sustainability touches more than scientific academic areas: Recent support through private philanthropy demonstrates how disciplines across campus can incorporate programs and initiatives that address society's greatest environmental challenges, empowering the next generation of policymakers, journalists, researchers and innovators to lead in this space.