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Dear Friend,

Last month we brought you the stories of the incredible activists honored with the 2009 Goldman Environmental Prize. I had the privilege of attending the ceremony and meeting with some of the winners, whom we are proud to include in our community of grantees. Each year, this moment of celebration reminds me of the great power of committed and dedicated grassroots groups, and the importance of the patient capital that helps them achieve victory in the face of near-impossibility. I also remember why I believe so strongly in the mission of Greengrants, and recommit to playing my part to build an ever increasing flow of resources to support the work of grassroots leaders around the world.

But these tough economic times have made that mission all the more difficult. Like all non-profits, we have seen a drop in our revenue in the past year, though we are in better shape than some. We are immensely grateful to those donors who have continued to support our work despite their own financial setbacks, and we are committed to doing the same for our grantees. We are cutting administrative expenses where we can, and we are dipping into reserves to increase our grant budget over the previous year, if even just by a little amount. Our grantees have the fewest options for funding, and Greengrants’ ability to remain consistent for our partners is critical in supporting their long, patient struggles. By taking this long-term view, we remain deeply optimistic that together, we will weather this economic storm, and come out on the other side with a greater appreciation for the power of small, well-timed infusions of much-needed resources.

We’re just completing work on our annual report for our fifteenth year as an organization. Over these years, our support has reached a phenomenal array of grassroots groups around the world—nearly 5,000 all together. Each has its own story to tell, of patience and commitment and the ups and downs that communities must confront as they work towards a brighter future. Look for these stories in your mailboxes and on our website soon.

With Gratitude,

Kelly Purdy
Director of Development and Communications