Jim Kane, Director of Sustainability & Outreach, Exito Travel
For more than two decades, I've been an outspoken ambassador for transformational travel and a change agent working at the intersection of food, travel, and positive impact.
My roles as founder of an award-winning boutique tour operator (Culture Xplorers), creator of a PBS TV docuseries (The Food Principle), and sustainability director for an adventure travel industry flight partner (Exito Travel) provide me a with a uniquely broad perspective and singularly diverse network.
Making a positive impact has always been at the heart of my philosophy and mission. As such, I've supported various NGO's over the last 20 years. One long-term collaboration was the co-creation of an annual Weavers Awards, together with the Peruvian textile NGO CTTC, that involved hundreds of indigenous textile artists in 10 remote Andean communities. These awards, judged by leadership of the CTTC coop and supported financially by Culture Xplorers, ran for a decade, distributing over $60,000 in prize money to dozens of mostly female weavers, helping resuscitate this ancient tradition while raising weavers' self-esteem, and earning them increased respect and recognition within their home communities.
Another project I'm proud of was a cross-cultural food festival and chef collaboration in Kansas City called Peru Meets the Prairie that brought together 2 chefs from Peru with 4 from KC. Over 4 days of food, culture and community events, we raised $11,000 for a Peruvian NGO (Por Eso) that worked to improve health outcomes for economically challenged high-altitude Andean communities through community vegetable gardens, greenhouses, school kitchens, student lunches, clean cookstoves, and clean water systems.
Collaborations with international conservation champions and NGO's continue to be a key part of my role at Exito Travel -- whether sponsoring an impact accelerator flight grant for the co-founders of a Danish NGO promoting regenerative maritime gardens (Havhøst) to committing Exito to join 1% for the Planet, to crafting pop-ups with purpose from Asheville to Panamá and from Denver to Patagonia to raise awareness and funds for outstanding locally-based NGO's in those destinations.
Describe any previous or current experience you have working with nonprofits, foundations or conservation organizations.
Describe any current or previous experience in fundraising and development.
Most of my fundraising and development experience has centered around creating inspiring community events offering a deep sense of place and purpose -- from a 4 day food & culture festival in KC called Perú Meets the Prairie to 4 pop-ups with purpose I've had the pleasure of craft in locales as diverse as Asheville, Denver, Panamá City and Puerto Natales.
While it is possible for each of us to make a positive difference on our own, I believe the most powerful way to accelerate change at scale is to join a passionate, purpose-driven community of conservation champions. I believe the ATCF board is one such community.
Why are you interested in serving on the ATCF board?
My wide-ranging background as a tour operator, industry partner, documentary storyteller, food systems ambassador and experience creator offers a singularly diverse perspective within the conservation travel, food and storytelling ecosystems. I'd be honored to bring that perspective and associated network to bear in service to fostering ATCF's mission.
What specific skills, perspectives, or networks would you bring to help advance the ATCF’s mission and impact?