A Transformational Event for Land Conservation in Illinois

Photos courtesy of the author.

Getting The Call

In January 2023, when I accepted the position as Executive Director of Prairie State Conservation Coalition (PSCC), a not-for-profit association that helps strengthen the effectiveness of conservation organizations in Illinois, I was excited about the future possibilities for the organization. While I like to dream big, I never expected the transformational events that would happen six months later.

While meeting with PSCC Board President Brook McDonald, President/CEO, The Conservation Foundation, he shared some news that would totally change the future of PSCC. “You’re familiar with Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation,” McDonald said. The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF) helped fund many PSCC members over the years, so I was quite familiar with their work. He continued, “They want to give us their final grant of about $40 million.”

Needless to say, I was stunned. Getting this news was a transformational moment for PSCC, for conservation in Illinois and for my role as Executive Director. I could barely contain my excitement. In fact, it took a while to sink in.

“We’ve been talking for years about elevating the collective power of land conservation groups and local conservation agencies in Illinois,” McDonald said. “This grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation will help us do just that and enable Prairie State Conservation Coalition to be an even more effective voice for land conservation in Illinois.”

New Goals

For many years, ICECF has been the major funder of land acquisition statewide. This grant will allow PSCC to take up that mantle and greatly expand the efforts that can significantly impact conservation and natural habitat in Illinois in a very positive way.

Part of our strategic plan (2024-26-PSCC-Strategic-Plan2.pdf (prairiestateconservation.org) is for PSCC to become a source of funding for multiple conservation organizations. While the $40 million will certainly help set us on our way, we now have a bigger goal. We would like to add significantly to that fund so that we can continue the work of funding land conservation in Illinois for many years to come. To accomplish this, over time, we would like to increase the fund to $100 million.

Why the Change at ICECF?

“From the beginning, it was never expected that the work of ICECF would continue in perpetuity,” said Jerry Adelmann, ICECF board member and President Emeritus, Openlands. “As we began to close in on the end of our run, we wanted to find a way in which the remaining funds could be used to continue to protect and enhance the environment in Illinois. A single large final grant to PSCC made sense.”

Adelmann went on to say, “Land conservation and nature-based solutions are a cornerstone of environmental health. They are a positive solution not only for the environment, but also for people. This grant will provide a solid foundation as PSCC takes up the mantle of helping preserve natural areas and wildlife habitat.”

The Impact of ICECF

For 25 years, ICECF has had a positive impact on conservation in Illinois. “Among its many grants statewide, funding from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation helped secure the property for the Paul Wightman Subterranean Nature Preserve,” said Jim Hill, a member of the board of directors at Clifftop. The grant to the Paul Wightman Subterranean Nature Preserve is one of 716 grants provided to Illinois conservation groups by ICECF over the years. Hill went on to say, “We are pleased to know that Prairie State Conservation Coalition will continue the legacy of providing land conservation grants.”

The Future Impact

In addition to continuing ICECF’s land conservation efforts, PSCC will help grow land conservation organizations led by Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC).

“Land conservation efforts have helped us protect one of the rarest ecological communities on the planet,” said Johari Cole-Kweli, President/Managing Director of the Community Development Corporation of Pembroke-Hopkins Park. “Grants from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation have helped support the Pembroke Heritage Trails and Trees initiative to restore, create, and network existing trails, landscapes, and historic corridors in our disadvantaged community. We are pleased to know that Prairie State Conservation Coalition will continue the important grant program and include a focus to conserve lands in diverse communities statewide.”

PSCC efforts will Include:

• Intentionally supporting BIPOC-led land conservation organizations in land acquisitions
• Identifying BIPOC-led conservation organizations and making sure they are aware of grant opportunities
• Helping traditional organizations grow their BIPOC programs and diversify their boards, staff and programming

The Plan

As I said at the beginning, PSCC receiving a $40 million grant is transformational, but transformation doesn’t happen overnight. We will spend the coming year putting all the pieces in place to effectively manage the funds and develop the necessary programs to help enhance and expand land conservation in Illinois. That means making certain all the appropriate banking and financial systems are in place, hiring staff, setting appropriate criteria, setting up computer systems, and much, much more. There is a lot to do! Currently, our plan is to begin some of our programs in mid-2025 and have full programing up and running in 2026.

In addition to our BIPOC efforts, our focus will be much like that of ICECF’s land conservation program:

• Land acquisition
• Land stewardship
• Organization capacity building

As the anticipation of launching our own PSCC grant program grows, the excitement I felt when I was first told of ICECF’s grant to PSCC continues today. Our entire organization is grateful for the opportunity to support 501(C)3 organizations and local government agencies and create a positive impact on land conservation for generations to come. As “THE Collective Voice for Land Conservation in Illinois,” we couldn’t be more honored to have been chosen for this grant. I hope you will all join us on this exciting journey! Learn more about PSCC at www.PrairieStateConservation.org.

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Cynthia Kanner is Executive Director of Prairie State Conservation Coalition (PSCC). She has a long history of leadership in conservation, including 15 years with Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, Illinois, her last four years as its executive director. Kanner was also director of communications and marketing for Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, and executive director of World Affairs Council–Washington, DC.