Update From the Executive Director

After a successful and inspiring board retreat in December, in which we came away with priorities for 2023, we’ve had our heads down working on an implementation plan. The word for the year is Amplify. Amplify funding, impact, membership, grantees, and network.

It’s important to note that in 2020 and 2021, during the acute phase of the pandemic when travel came to a virtual stop, the ATCF continued to support critical communities progressing their conservation efforts. The need was great and the organization felt a responsibility to help where it could. In 2021, we also reached the milestone of having distributed $500,000 to 33 projects in 27 countries around the world. In 2022 we worked on rebuilding the organization, which had been hard-hit by the pandemic along with the travel industry, and re-engaging our communities. 

For 2023, our two primary focus areas are:

• Reconvene our community - bring our membership back together, bring in new partner businesses from the travel and outdoor supply chain, and convene our grantees. Work has begun on several fronts.

• Evolve our grant program - bring in stronger elements of communities who are supporting climate mitigation, consider our geographic reach of projects that qualify for funding, and integrate the ability for individuals to earmark additional funds to projects that align with their priorities. A new and energized Grants Committee is hard at work. Look out for the announcement of our 2023 grant program by May.

There is lots more news to come including our annual Travel Conservation Auction, planned for the fall!

Please reach out to me with any questions, comments, or ideas. 

Soraya Shattuck

ATCF Executive Director