Wright Foundation for Sustainability and Innovation

The Wright Foundation for Sustainability and Innovation (WFSI) exists to foster innovative sustainability initiatives that make a positive impact on our planet. WFSI wants to find solutions to the complex challenges facing our world today. The Foundation’s vision is to facilitate positive action toward sustainable and innovative solutions in agricultural and environmental sectors that reduce carbon footprints and minimize risk for our communities.

In 2024, WFSI announced the grantees for its fourth grant cycle, focused on improving the tree canopy and best regenerative agricultural management practice adoption. WFSI awarded a total of $162,376 to three organizations including: Friends of Des Moines Parks, The Nature Conservancy of Iowa and University of Northern Iowa Center for Energy & Environmental Education. Since the Foundation’s inception in Fall 2020, $687,376 has been awarded to eight organizations that further WFSI’s mission through their projects and initiatives.

Friends of Des Moines Parks

Friends of Des Moines Parks (Des Moines, IA) received a $50,243 grant to plant 150-250 trees to address the decline of mature trees in the city’s public golf courses and cemeteries. The proposed project seeks to offset the effects of Burr Oak Blight, Emerald Ash Borer, age and wind events with a 12-year reforestation plan.

UNI Center for Energy & Environmental Education

UNI Center for Energy & Environmental Education (Cedar Falls, Iowa) was awarded $62,133 to plant 3,000 trees in urban and rural communities impacted by climate disasters throughout Iowa with the goal of strengthening the state’s tree canopy focusing on neighborhoods that lack tree diversity and tree equity in public and right-of-way spaces.

The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy (Des Moines, IA) was awarded $50,000 to target two lakesheds in Northwest Iowa with a multifaceted partnership approach by
improving the adoption of conservation agronomy practices through the formation of a farmer-led peer learning network, providing local technical support via a dedicated conservation agronomist, and restoration efforts.